Chapter 116 A Major Mistake at Work
Harper's expression soured as she watched Jasmine and Ethan leave. "Miss Brown..." the secretary started tentatively.
"I'll wait here," Harper responded all innocence and smiles. "I'll catch lunch with Ethan after his meeting."
And she waited, sitting on the sofa all morning. She had loved Ethan since they were kids, but he had never even looked at her.
Yet, Harper grew up with one thing clear in her mind: Ethan would marry her. Whatever it took, she would make Ethan marry her.
The secretary nodded and exited the CEO's office. Harper sat, lost in thought.
‘How could she push Jasmine out of the company?’
"Ambulance!" The commotion outside the office startled Harper.
She hurried out and grabbed someone's arm. "What's happening?"
"Mr. Douglas had an allergic reaction. He's in shock!"
She paled with fear and rushed towards the meeting room. "Is the meeting over? How could this happen so suddenly?"
"Apparently, the new assistant didn't know about Mr. Douglas's peanut allergy and offered him a peanut toffee after the meeting."
Harper's frown deepened.
‘That Jasmine!’
She hesitated for a moment, and then a cunning smile appeared on her face.
‘What a blunder Jasmine had made. Could she possibly stay at the company after this?’
"Don't worry, Miss Brown, the ambulance is here, and they've taken Mr. Douglas," reassured the secretary approaching her.
Harper nodded, speaking with implication. "Vittoria, how long have you been with Ethan?"
"It's my second year," the secretary quickly answered.
"Ethan is demanding, and you staying by his side this long means he trusts you a lot, you and Liam are the ones he trusts most," Harper remarked as they returned to the office. "But this new assistant... she's been quite unreliable, no real qualifications, and now she's landed Ethan in the hospital. This seems quite serious, doesn't it?"
Vittoria paused for a second, then quickly nodded. "Right, with such an incident at a major conference, it's definitely serious. The board will hold Jasmine fully accountable. She's in trouble now. The staff training must have covered that Mr. Douglas can't eat peanut-based products."
It was obvious that Jasmine was in trouble now.
"The group chat has blown up. Nobody can cover for Jasmine this time. Mr. Howard knows, and he's already on his way to the office."
Harper smiled. "Well, that's how it should be. Careless people shouldn't stay by Ethan's side."
Harper's fingers tapped lightly against her cheek. "Has Uncle Douglas arrived?"
"The sir will arrive shortly," the secretary confirmed with a nod.
"You know, Ethan's assistant should really be handled by a professional. I don't trust anyone else. I'd rather do it myself." Harper planned to volunteer boldly.
"That's true, Miss Brown. You're bound to be Mr. Douglas' fiancée. You being Mr. Douglas' assistant would be even better, wouldn't it? It would surely bring you closer!" Vittoria was astute and understood Harper's intent. "Once Mr. Howard arrives, I'll definitely give you a glowing recommendation."
Harper nodded. "When I marry into the Douglas family, I'll make sure to promote you."
"Miss Brown, with your word, I'm at ease," the secretary said, beaming with joy.
...
Hawaii.
Daniel, who had rushed to Hawaii with Carmen in hopes of taking credit, received a call from the company.
"Jasmine messed up. She apparently didn't know Ethan is allergic to peanuts and gave him peanut candy."
Daniel abruptly stood up, his brow furrowing. "Jasmine gave Ethan peanut candy?"
This was a big deal.
The board wouldn't let Jasmine off the hook.
As he rubbed his temples, Daniel's body tensed up. Surprisingly, his first instinct was to worry about Jasmine.
He chuckled sarcastically to himself, feeling like he was losing his mind.
That day at Richard's, when he saw Jasmine cut her wrist emotionlessly right in front of him, he panicked.
A sharp pain pierced his chest as he realized he couldn't let go of Jasmine despite her many mistakes.
"Jasmine actually gave Ethan peanut candy?" Carmen walked in from outside, her laughter full of mirth. "Daria, you're really something."
"Now, the board will have to deal with Jasmine."
"She's got a criminal record, and it was hammered home during HR training: focus on people with a history. It was pure malice, Jasmine trying to take Ethan out. Call the cops, get her locked up again."
Carmen, sitting on the couch, snorted coldly.
She almost got her son thrown in jail? Well, she'd see to it. Jasmine got a taste of prison once more.
"Mom!" Daniel rushed over, snatching Carmen's phone from her grasp. "What the hell are you trying to do?"
Carmen, taken aback by his sudden move, retorted, "Have you lost your mind?"
"You set Daria up to frame Jasmine? Didn't Daria tell Jasmine about Ethan's peanut allergy?" Daniel's heart raced with an unsettling anxiety.
‘Jasmine... another time in prison might be fatal for her.’
She had attempted suicide once, no pretense about it—her eyes were void of life as if she was walking dead, soulless.
"I did it for you. That Jasmine had the nerve to mess with you, dragging us through the mud. Getting her sent back to prison is letting her off easy," Carmen sneered.
Had Daniel's run-in with the police not tarnished his reputation, would they have been so eager to cozy up to Otis in Hawaii? To wine and dine him and earn his goodwill?
With fists clenched tight, Daniel turned and strode towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Carmen watched in shock.
What kind of madness had overtaken him?
"Back to Silverlight City," Daniel asserted, intent on returning.
He couldn't bear the idea of Jasmine going back to prison despite being capable of hurting her. The memory of accusing her of blackmail in court five years ago flooded him with regret instantly.
Her gaze had been fixed on him, eyes wide with shock and despair.
He regretted it, wanted to retract his statement, and had even recanted, but Jasmine had confessed.
In a hoarse voice, she confessed to being a fraud, admitting she had been deceiving them for money all this time. Jasmine had ultimately brought her own downfall. She spent five years behind bars, and during that time, every effort he made to visit her was turned down.
He regretted it, even now.
"Daniel! I've arranged a meeting with Otis for you. If you dare leave today, you're no son of mine!" Carmen's face darkened with fury. He wanted to go back to Silverlight City right now? Was he out of his mind?
"Daniel!" Carmen watched in disbelief as he left without looking back.
Madness, her son had lost his mind again.
All for that, Jasmine, for whom he had once completely broken down years ago, starving and locking himself in his room in despair.
If it hadn't been for Serena leading him out, Carmen would have thought her son was ready to starve himself to death over some counterfeit trash.
"Spineless fool!" Carmen cursed in frustration.
He kept defying her over some girl.
That Jasmine needed to be dealt with once and for all.
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