When Jasmine sent the text, Martin was toweling his hair dry. He heard his phone beeping and was about to take it, but Alessa grabbed it before he could. 

"I'm gonna read the text for you." She gave his phone a little shake, flashing him a sweet smile. 

He couldn't argue with her, so he smiled. "Okay."

He had registered her fingerprint on his phone much earlier. With practiced ease, she pulled up Jasmine's chat window to the screen and saw the latest text. A hint of disdain flashed in her eyes as she tapped on the screen again, deleting the message.

On the first day Alessa returned to Corvalis, she learned about the relationship between Martin and Jasmine. As far as she was concerned, Jasmine was the only one who had invested feelings in it. 

Everyone knew how hopelessly devoted he was to her. He couldn't have moved on from her if he wanted to. So, why would he fall in love with any

To Martin's dismay, the emails from his collaborative partners were right in the trash folder, and they were sent when he couldn't make it to his phone in time. More importantly, Alessa was the only person who used his phone last night. 

Anger swelled up in his chest. She didn't know a thing, and yet she deleted his work emails without asking. Losing this project would mean a loss of 10% profit for Quinlan Group, at least. 

What was more, it was baffling how Jasmine didn't inform him about today's important meeting. In the past, she would've gotten everything prepared in the morning, even if the emails had been sent. 

He would never have lost the collaborative partners that easily if she hadn't been sulking over something trivial. 

Martin dialed Jasmine's number, intending to question her, but she didn't answer her phone. No matter how many times he called, the only response he got w

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.

When Jasmine sent the text, Martin was toweling his hair dry. He heard his phone beeping and was about to take it, but Alessa grabbed it before he could. 

"I'm gonna read the text for you." She gave his phone a little shake, flashing him a sweet smile. 

He couldn't argue with her, so he smiled. "Okay."

He had registered her fingerprint on his phone much earlier. With practiced ease, she pulled up Jasmine's chat window to the screen and saw the latest text. A hint of disdain flashed in her eyes as she tapped on the screen again, deleting the message.

On the first day Alessa returned to Corvalis, she learned about the relationship between Martin and Jasmine. As far as she was concerned, Jasmine was the only one who had invested feelings in it. 

Everyone knew how hopelessly devoted he was to her. He couldn't have moved on from her if he wanted to. So, why would he fall in love with anyone else?

Afterward, Alessa also saw a lot of work emails from his collaborative partners, and she 

Chapter 10