Chapter 1567
"Alright, Audrey, I won't push you," Oliver said, glancing at Audrey, sprawled on the couch. Her face was flushed, her hair a mess, and she looked so vulnerable.
Thinking about the progress he'd made today, he decided not to press his luck. He took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Audrey quickly sat up, straightening her rumpled clothes and hair.
Oliver watched her, unable to resist patting her shoulder from behind. "Thanks, Ms. Johnson. For the first phase of the apartment complex, I'll make sure you get the best unit and floor. I promise you'll be happy with it."
Audrey didn't respond. Her face was cold as she pulled away from Oliver and silently walked toward the office door.
Even though Oliver had stopped himself in time, Audrey still felt deeply humiliated. She vowed never to step into Oliver's office again, never to give him another chance to degrade her.
Seeing Audrey leave without a word, Oliver worried she might do something drastic. He hurried to follow her, but as soon as he stood up, he felt dizzy. His vision darkened, his ears rang, and he groaned before collapsing to the floor.
Audrey stopped and looked coldly at the middle-aged man on the ground. After what had just happened, she had no desire to help him. Perhaps this was divine retribution for his actions.
"Ms. Johnson, help..." Oliver's face was contorted in pain as he reached out to her. His limbs felt stiff and numb, his heartbeat slowed, and he saw hallucinations. To him, Audrey appeared as a goddess, surrounded by a radiant aura, her beauty ethereal and untouchable.
Audrey wasn't heartless. After a moment's hesitation, she turned back and asked, "Mr. Jones, what's wrong?"
"I feel dizzy. There's medicine in the drawer. Please get it for me," Oliver said weakly, his face pale.
Audrey walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and found a bottle of pills. She took one out and helped Oliver sit up, placing the pill in his mouth.
After a while, Oliver's condition improved. With Audrey's help, he slowly got up and sat on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.
Audrey frowned, worried that if something happened to Oliver, she wouldn't be able to explain it. "Mr. Jones, should I call 911 and get you to a hospital for a check-up?"
Oliver opened his eyes and waved her off. "It's an old problem. As I get older, all sorts of ailments come up—high blood pressure, heart disease. The doctors have long told me to quit smoking and drinking, but I can't help it. The school needs funding, and I have to entertain guests. I just got too excited earlier. I'll be fine after some rest."
Audrey blushed, silently cursing Oliver for his recklessness. His health was in such a state, yet he still had the nerve to make advances on her. She was also relieved that he hadn't died from excitement, which would have been a scandal for the entire education system.
Looking at Oliver's suddenly aged face, she felt a hint of sympathy. Despite his flaws, he had done much for Sunset Valley High School. He wasn't a good man, but he was a competent principal.
Having just faced a life-threatening situation, Oliver dropped his facade and began to open up to Audrey. He talked about the hardships of his job–waiting all day at the education department for a stamp, drinking wine to please officials, and pushing for new performance-based pay systems that angered many senior teachers. He even mentioned the rumors about his relationships with female teachers, which were attempts to discredit him.
"Mr. Jones, I had no idea how tough it was for you," Audrey said, hearing these stories for the first time. Being a principal seemed glamorous, but it was clearly challenging.
"Audrey, I know you probably think I'm despicable, but I truly like you. From the moment you first came to the school, I was smitten," Oliver said emotionally. "You wore a white dress, bathed in sunlight, looking so shy. I knew I was in love. I wanted to possess you, but you have a husband. I didn't want to ruin your family, so I just watched you from afar. Seeing you made me feel young again. I envied your husband for having your youth, your smile, your loyalty. But I hated him for leaving you alone. Why stay loyal to someone who doesn't care about you?"
"Mr. Jones, please stop," Audrey said softly. "This is between Jason and me. We both have our own lives. Thank you for your feelings, but I'm happy with my life now. I'll wait for him to come back."
Oliver felt a pang of bitterness. What was it about Jason that made Audrey so devoted, willing to endure loneliness without complaint? Did true, unwavering love really exist?
Audrey's words were somewhat hollow. She was content with her life, but not because of Jason. It was because of Kevin. Kevin's presence had filled the void left by Jason’s absence, helping her resist external temptations. Without Kevin, she might have succumbed to Oliver's advances long ago. Last semester, if Kevin hadn't shown up in time, she might have willingly given in to Oliver, and a physical surrender would have been inevitable.
After chatting with Oliver a bit longer, Audrey saw that he was recovering and decided to leave. At the door, Oliver said, “Ms. Johnson, I was impulsive tonight. Thank you for saving me. You saw my condition; I couldn’t do anything to you even if I wanted to. In a few years, I probably won’t even have the desire. Please don’t avoid me. Just seeing you is enough for me.”
Seeing Oliver looking so dejected, like a stray dog hoping for a kind passerby to feed it, Audrey felt a pang of pity. She nodded and said gently, “Mr. Jones, take care of yourself. Don’t overwork. Get a check-up when you can.”
“Be careful on your way home, Ms. Johnson,” Oliver said, watching her leave. He felt a surge of emotion. Audrey was truly different from Vanessa. She was too kind-hearted, and in this harsh world, such kindness often led to hurt. With her husband away, it seemed he was the only one who could protect her.
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