Chapter 9

Nora's eyes flared with rage when she heard Alessa's name. She helped Jasmine to her feet and stormed over to Martin's office. "Alessa, you have gone too far! Jasmine did nothing to offend you. What right do you have to force her to kneel outside for that long? She's Martin's assistant, and she has nothing to do with you. Stop throwing your weight around like you're his wife!" Martin was in the office too. He frowned slightly when he saw the miserable state Jasmine was in. Just as he was about to find out what happened, Alessa threw herself into his arms. "Martin, I didn't do it. I don't have any issues with Ms. Scully. Why would I make her kneel outside for no good reason? Honestly, I don't even know what I did to make her slander me like this." Nora flew into a rage when she heard Alessa twisting the truth. She charged at Alessa and slapped her mercilessly. "That's a load of crap. Jasmine never lies!" This was the first time Alessa had been treated this way in her entire life. Clutching her face, she immediately burst into tears. "Martin, your assistant just slandered me, and now even your sister is taking her side and picking on me. Fine, you guys are a family. I can't say anything about that. It's time we broke up." Martin immediately panicked when he heard what Alessa said. His expression turned frigid as he got up, raised his hand, and slapped Nora. "That's enough! Nora, when will you start acting your age? Alessa is my girlfriend!" Then, he shot Jasmine an icy glare. "Why would you slander Alessa out of nowhere? Don't let this happen again, or I'll fire you!" Nora held her cheek and looked at Martin in shock. Jasmine regretted dragging her into this and hurriedly led her out of the office. She was enraged by everything that had just gone down and fully intended to go back in there and defend Jasmine. Seeing no other way, Jasmine told Nora about her resignation as well as her decision to leave Brindlea. She shook her head, her voice choked with emotion as she spoke. Nora was reluctant to let Jasmine go, feeling utterly disheartened. At this point, she lost the desire to settle her scores with Martin and Alessa. Instead, she pulled Jasmine into her arms, begging her to stay. Jasmine gently rubbed Nora's back, her eyes red-rimmed. "Nora, nothing lasts forever. We have to part ways at some point." Her words only made Nora cry louder. On her last day in Brindlea, they went to a restaurant and shared a last meal together, feeling all kinds of emotions. That night, Nora didn't go home. Instead, she stayed the night at Jasmine's cramped rental. Jasmine had to promise Nora that she would keep in touch with her every day, even if she left Corvalis. Should she have feelings for one of her blind dates, she would also tell Nora about it at once. They talked for a whole night, recounting the things in the past, discussing what happened recently, and thinking about the future. If there was anything to say, they said it. As dawn broke over the horizon, Nora personally sent Jasmine to the airport. As they were sharing their last moments together, reluctantly saying goodbyes, Martin's text came in. He asked her where she was. Still furious and resentful over what happened last night, she fully intended to call him and tear him a new one, but Jasmine hurriedly stopped her. "Let it go, Nora. Let bygones be bygones. You shouldn't fight with Alessa anymore for my sake. When all's said and done, Martin loves her deeply, and she'll be your sister-in-law someday. You have to get along with her." Nora's eyes reddened once more. Before long, it was time for Jasmine to board the plane. She waved Nora goodbye, then turned and made her way to the departure gate. A moment before boarding, she sent Martin a text. "I've been secretly in love with you for eight years, and I've had a ludicrous relationship with you for four years, but it all ends now. "Mr. Quinlan, from here on out, I'm no longer your assistant, nor do I love you anymore. Let's each go back to our own lives and never see each other ever again." After Jasmine sent the text, she decided she didn't need a response from Martin. In a swift motion, she blocked his number, email address, and everything else. Then, she stepped onto the plane without any hesitation.