The Perfect Score That Cost Me Everything Chapter 02

The Perfect Score That Cost Me Everything Chapter 02

Melody’s face turned pale, as if she had suffered a profound humiliation.

The man, who had been suppressed, finally darkened his expression completely.

“Sienna Sterling, that’s enough.”

My back stiffened. He stared at me for two seconds, his voice icy.

“There’s work to do at the office. Calm yourself down,” he then turned to Melody, his tone softening, “Let’s go.”

Soon, the two of them and the dog vanished into the foyer, leaving the house in total silence.

I laughed out of sheer anger.

My chest actually ached from the fury.

My gaze inadvertently swept across the villa’s security monitors and paused.

This villa was a Sterling real estate property; security cameras had been installed when it was first renovated.

But I had never looked at them, because I trusted my judgment in the man I chose.

I believed a man at the top of the pyramid like him wouldn’t stoop to something as scandalous as bringing a woman home to fool around.

But now…

I took a deep breath and walked toward the study, my eyes growing colder.

It was time to take a look.

Opening the footage, I discovered that the frequency of Melody’s appearances at the house was shockingly high.

And I hadn’t noticed even once.

The most recent was three days ago, the day before our trip.

I had gone back to the Sterling family home. She and Julian were in the living room discussing work; when they got tired, she played with Luke.

There was no overtly scandalous behavior, but there was also no sense of boundaries.

For example, Julian, as the boss, personally brought her a specialty latte.

For example, as the secretary, Melody would be seated while he stood indulgently by her side.

Occasionally, while looking at the computer, he would lean over her from behind, placing his hand over hers to move the mouse, their heads nearly touching.

I watched expressionlessly, my grip on the mouse tightening.

I scrolled back further.

A month ago, the day of the financing for the joint venture between Sterling and Vance.

I had been swamped at Sterling for a week and hadn’t come home.

I had even collapsed and been hospitalized from exhaustion.

And Julian, after a hurried visit to the hospital, had Melody waiting for him at home.

Further back.

Six months ago, the day our first child was tragically lost to a miscarriage.

Melody was still there, wearing a white slip dress, waiting for him in my marital home.

After spending half an hour on work, the two of them curled up on the sofa to watch a movie, with Luke snoring between them.

What a beautiful picture.

But my body felt cold.

No wonder Julian hadn’t shown much grief during that time.

I had originally thought men simply didn’t show their emotions and grieved in private.

Turns out, he simply didn’t have the time to think about it.

“Ha…”

A cold laugh escaped my chest. I shut down the computer expressionlessly and checked my phone; there were no messages from Julian.

Silence for two seconds.

I got up, took a relaxing bath, and went to sleep.

The partners were arriving in Kingsport tomorrow; I didn’t have time to deal with this mess.

I didn’t know when Julian came back.

When I woke up, his well-defined hand was draped over my waist, his posture possessive.

I remembered when my father let me choose a partner for the merger, I picked Julian out of the crowd.

Simply because his private life seemed the cleanest.

Thinking this, I looked at him and whispered.

“You’d better not let me down.”

Shortly after, I arrived at Vance Enterprises. The foreign investors had landed and were on their way.

To show our sincerity, the executives were waiting outside.

Julian was there too, with a beaming Melody still following him.

Only when she saw me did she suddenly look cowed.

I had no time for her; the clients had arrived at the corporate entrance.

“Mr. Yorks, a pleasure.”

I smiled and reached out to shake his hand.

Just as I was about to introduce the project, Mr. Yorks’ expression changed drastically. He pointed at Melody, his face flushing with anger.

“You… how could you!”

Melody was stunned. I frowned and stepped forward, quickly snatching the tiger-print hair accessory from her head.

I shot her a frigid look that made her instinctively hide behind Julian.

The man pursed his lips but said nothing.

After I tossed the accessory into the trash, Mr. Yorks’ face finally softened, though he still shot a glare at Melody.

By the afternoon, I had finally confirmed the partnership details. After seeing the clients off, I was so tired I could hardly stand.

And yet, outside Julian’s office, I heard Melody’s aggrieved complaints.

“I know I’m just a junior staffer, but Mrs. Vance was far too much. Am I not a human being?”

“Why did she rip off my hairpiece in public? How is that any different from a public shaming! *Sob*…”

I let out a cold laugh and pushed the door open.

I slammed the files onto Melody’s face, my tone sharp.

“Mr. Yorks’ youngest daughter was mauled to death by a tiger a year ago. As the Chief Secretary of the Executive Office, do you not even know the most basic taboos of our clients?”

Melody’s hair was completely disheveled; she was sobbing, her tears falling uncontrollably.

The man, who had been silent, pursed his lips and stepped forward, moving between us to shield Melody from my pressure.

“This was my fault.”

“I failed in my duty to remind my staff. Sienna, Melody is just a young girl. Don’t hold it against her.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Those words completely cast me as an outsider, while treating Melody as his own.

“Fire her,” I said only two words. “Tomorrow morning, I don’t want to see such an unprofessional person in this company.”

Julian tried to say more, but I interrupted him, enunciating each word.

“Or Sterling pulls its investment.”