Chapter 177

Giselle slumped over the steering wheel. At the thought of her endless standoff with Donovan, she was utterly depressed. She knew that if she humbled herself and apologized like she used to—even if the plea was fake—he might still give in. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't cross that line. Giving in would betray everything she had endured. Still, her dog had been with her for years. It was her emotional anchor, and she couldn't let it die just for the sake of her pride. After much hesitation, she went home, picked up her sick dog, and took it to her vet clinic for basic treatment. She even thought about asking Gideon to speak to Ethan on her behalf. However, remembering Ethan's past warnings made her even more anxious. By around seven or eight that evening, she still hadn't come up with a better plan. On impulse, she drove back to the branch office to look for Donovan. Most employees had already gone home, so many floors were dark. When she reached Donovan's offi