Chapter 77 Is She Sick?
Returning to the sales department in SY, Juniper turned on her computer and began typing into a blank document.
[Resignation Report]
As she was about to continue writing, her colleague exclaimed excitedly, "They just announced in the big group chat that we're going on a team-building trip this week! I've wanted to go camping in Sherlock Valley for so long, and now we finally have the chance!"
"I thought there wouldn't be any team-building this year since it wasn’t mentioned at the last anniversary celebration."
"Juniper, you're so lucky, you've only been at the company for a month and you just happened to catch the team building event!"
She closed the document and smiled faintly, "Is Sherlock Valley fun?"
"It's a blast! Right next to Sherlock Valley, there's also Sliver Lake. Sliver Lake is huge, crystal clear, like the ocean - taking pictures there is incredibly beautiful."
Like the ocean.
Juniper was tempted.
Truth be told, she had lived her whole life and had yet to see the seaside.
In the past, it was because her family had not been kind to her.
Later, after the fallout with Magnus and the struggles with Jennifer, life had been too heavy a burden, and she hardly ever traveled.
Seeing Silver Lake, as vast as the sea, before she died wouldn't be too bad.
Maybe she would wait until after the team building to submit her resignation.
Juniper was daydreaming when her phone rang.
The caller ID showed William.
She took her phone and walked to the hallway outside her office before answering, "Hello, William? What's up?"
This was the first time William had called her since his transfer from Imperial Capital.
"Nothing much."
It was just that he missed her a bit.
But William was always reserved, not one to speak openly about his longing.
Juniper asked, "How are you getting on at the hospital in S city?"
"It was a bit tough at the beginning, but it's been over a month now, and I'm settling in. And you? How have you been lately?"
"Me? Same old, same old."
William hesitated for a few seconds on the other end before deciding to spill the beans early, "I wanted to surprise you, but now that I hear your voice, I can't wait to tell you."
"What is it?"
"My parents made some calls, and it looks like I might be able to transfer back to Imperial Capital soon."
Oh, right, William's parents had their connections within the government circles.
Juniper grinned, "Well, congrats to you."
"I've got an interview at a pharmaceutical company, and I am planning to work there in the future. The pay will be much better. Juniper, once I'm back in Imperial Capital, I'd like to take you and Jennifer out for dinner."
"That's okay, William. You've helped me out a lot in the past, so it should be me treating you to dinner."
Besides, Jennifer was no longer with her.
William smiled gently, "Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned, but when I go out to eat, I'm not used to letting a lady pick up the tab. By the way, how have you been feeling lately? You've been prescribed Mirtazapine, right? If you've been on it for a while, you should get checked at the hospital. Just make sure you don't take more than the prescribed amount."
Mirtazapine, the antidepressant she had stopped taking a while ago.
She had decided not to take it anymore.
However, she didn't want William to worry, so she said, "Yeah, I haven't taken more than I should, and I've been checked by the doctor. He said everything is fine."
"That's good to hear. I might be heading back to the Imperial Capital next week. I'll bring you some specialties from the city."
"Okay."
That week, Juniper was in a daze. She barely made it to Friday's team-building event.
Early in the morning, several tour buses were parked outside the corporate headquarters. Sherlock Valley was in the suburbs of the Imperial Capital, nearly a three-hour drive.
Juniper slept the whole way there on the bus. She had been suffering from insomnia all week due to not taking her Mirtazapine.
The night before, she had stood on the balcony of her 15th-floor apartment, watching the constant stream of traffic below, and felt a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to jump.
She couldn't control that instinctive impulse.
Just when she was contemplating it, her phone rang with an unfamiliar landline number. She almost hung up but, on an impulse, she answered.
As soon as she did, she heard a familiar little voice calling her "mommy." It was Jennifer who was using the landline from Royal View to call her.
They talked for a long time, at least an hour.
Jennifer said she missed her.
She also said that their dad agreed they could meet that weekend.
After the call, Juniper closed the balcony window. She had people who cared about her, after all.
Jennifer had been away from her for a week, and she was almost out of her mind with longing.
Even just to see Jennifer over the weekend, Juniper held onto that slender thread of hope for this otherwise bleak life.
Before long, the tour bus arrived near Sherlock Valley.
A colleague nudged her awake, "Juniper, wake up. We're at Sherlock Valley. Time to get off!"
As Juniper opened her eyes, she saw the vast and clear blue expanse of the lake through the bus window.
Her colleagues had always said that Silver Lake was magnificent, not far off from the awe the sea could inspire—something Juniper had been skeptical of.
Now, witnessing Silver Lake with her own eyes, she understood that it truly was as vast as the sea.
Stepping off the bus, the breeze from the lake was cool and gentle.
The mountain air was much cooler than in the city, and with the sun playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds, the weather was blissfully pleasant.
By the time they reached Sherlock Valley, it was already noon. Various departments were setting up barbecue grills on the large lawn by the lake.
Juniper was tasked with collecting firewood in the mountains.
Arms laden with a bundle of wood, she was heading back when she stumbled upon Magnus and his group.
Robert and Michael were there.
And so was Patricia.
As soon as Patricia caught sight of Juniper, she couldn't hide her annoyance and started nitpicking, "Juniper, your firewood is all damp. Do you think it will even burn?"
Juniper looked at Patricia's empty hands and responded coolly, "At least I've collected some, wet or dry. It's better than coming back empty-handed, isn't it?"
Patricia held more than just a grudge against Juniper from a past incident.
With a dismissive wave, Patricia knocked the wood from Juniper's arms, scattering it onto the ground.
She wouldn't have dared such a bold move in front of Magnus if she hadn't learned a few days ago that Magnus had made some tough, resolute decisions, giving Juniper no chance at sympathy or favoritism.
It was clear to Patricia that Magnus did not care for Juniper.
If he could treat the mother of his child so harshly, it spoke volumes of his disdain for her.
By harassing Juniper now, Patricia was merely channeling Magnus's own frustrations.
The firewood lay scattered on the ground.
Without a word, Juniper knelt to pick it up.
Michael couldn't stand by and watch. He pulled Patricia back, "Patricia, stop this nonsense!"
"What am I doing wrong? Juniper betrayed Magnus. She deserves it," she retorted.
Michael gave Patricia a stern look, his face cold.
But Patricia didn't care. She always knew that Michael was smitten with Juniper.
She moved closer to Magnus, coquettishly looping her arm through his, "Magnus, there's a lovely spot over there. Shall we walk that way? It would save us from having to look at certain people and getting upset."
Patricia cast a disdainful glance at Juniper, then turned back to Magnus with a smile.
Magnus responded with a cold gaze at Patricia, shaking off her hand with indifference before turning away to leave her behind.
Patricia hurried after him, "Magnus, I'll come with you!"
Once Magnus had gone, Michael bent down to help Juniper gather the wood.
"Juniper, don’t stoop to her level. She's clueless. I'll have a word with her when we get back."
Juniper cracked a smile without showing any regard for Michael's feelings, "You're in your twenties, an adult now. Don't you know any better?"
Feeling guilty, Michael sighed, "About what happened last time, I'm sorry, I should have kept a better eye on her."
"People are responsible for their own actions, Mr. Michael. Don't worry, I can still tell right from wrong."
Juniper gathered her firewood in her arms, preparing to leave, when a small pill bottle slipped out of her pocket.
"Juniper, you dropped something," Michael called as he picked it up.
He glanced down at the label, finding the medication name a bit of a tongue twister: Amitriptyline Hydrochloride.
"What is this? Are you sick?" he asked.
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