Free Web NovelChapter 32: You Owe Me An Apology
Michael gazed at Yvonne, who had relaxed her body into his embrace. There was indeed a red handprint on her cheek. Wendy, on the other hand, had her head slightly bowed, and her chest was heaving.
"There is also a handprint on her face," said Michael calmly when his eyes landed on Wendy.
He did not push Yvonne away.
His words left both Yvonne and Wendy dumbfounded. Based on past experiences, Michael should be defending Yvonne without caring about any of the facts of the situation.
Even though his statement was not explicitly directed at anyone, Yvonne understood that Michael was leaning toward Wendy. Yvonne was so surprised that her mouth hung open.
Wendy, whose head was bowed, could not help but look up. She gazed at Michael with narrowed eyes, as if she were studying him carefully.
She thought, is Michael turning over a new leaf? That doesn’t feel very likely. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Michael, what do you mean by that?" Yvonne finally calmed herself down.
She did not believe that Michael would help Wendy. He clearly hated her.
"Michael, are you doubting what I’ve said?" asked Yvonne as she decided to change her approach. "Do you think that I hit myself and left this handprint on my face?"
Michael was not stupid. He could see through her act. "I don’t think that you hit yourself, but Wendy’s injury was not self-inflicted either. Whoever started this should admit it now so that things don’t become even more ugly"
This was the first time that Michael was publicly dealing so impartially with something related to Wendy. Wendy could not help but feel her heart stir slightly. The corners of her lips turned up into a smile as she said, "Michael, it’s been three years. This is the first time that you’re treating us without bias."
With that, Wendy could not help but sigh. She thought, why did I have to wait so many years to finally receive fair treatment? It was such a pity that Wendy no longer needed this fairness. Or rather, she no longer needed Michael’s fairness.
When Michael heard her, he raised his eyebrows.
The truth was that he knew about everything. He merely allowed Yvonne to bully Wendy in the past without doing anything because he had abhorred the Wendy. Now, he no longer wanted to let Yvonne do whatever she wanted.
The staff members exchanged glances and started engaging in hushed discussions. The way this situation had developed completely surpassed their expectations. However, their rationality still made them take Yvonne’s side.
"Michael, I have only one question for you," Wendy asked seriously as she stared into Michael’s eyes.
Michael nodded, granting her the permission to proceed.
Wendy said, "Just this once, can you agree to be compassionate and check the security camera footage?"
She had endured endless grievances and bullying over the last few years. Before this, she always felt indifferent. But now, she really wanted to dig out the security footage and let the truth come to light. She knew that no one would choose to take her side even if she did this. Regardless, she just wanted a clear conscience.
Yvonne grabbed Michael’s hand. She was starting to feel panicked. In the past, she never had to worry about Michael agreeing, because she knew that he would never take Wendy’s side no matter what. Now, however, she could not be sure anymore.
Recently, Michael had slowly started to grow more concerned about Wendy. If Michael agreed to Wendy’s request, then the hard working, kind, and fragile image that Yvonne had painstakingly cultivated for herself would fall apart.
Biting her bottom lip, Yvonne continued hugging Michael’s arm and started whining, "Michael, this is a private matter between the two of us. It would be embarrassing to resolve this in front of other staff members. Since we are both injured, let’s just drop this matter. It’s not good to distract everyone else from their work."
Yvonne’s suggestion sounded rational, as if she were only doing this so that they would not disrupt other people. People who did not know the truth felt that she was being reasonable.
Wendy no longer wished to accommodate Yvonne’s needs. She always cowered and retreated in the past for Michael’s sake. Now that her love for him had faded, why should she have to continue putting up with this injustice?
"Miss Taylor, I won’t let it go until what happened today has been clarified," said Wendy. Her cheek was still stinging from the pain.
Yvonne bit down on her bottom lip, and with tears in her eyes, she made herself to look as distressed as possible as she said, "Then, let’s just say it’s my fault, okay? We’ve already distracted everyone from their work now, I don’t wish to continue making a big fuss. I don’t want everyone in the company to find out about this. Even if you won’t be thoughtful and caring toward Michael and his time, at least be thoughtful toward the vice-president. You’re his assistant now, and if this gets out, his reputation will be affected too."
Yvonne was deliberately reminding everyone that Wendy was Christian’s assistant so that she could gather their support for herself.
"Let’s just say that it’s your fault?" Wendy sneered, "Are you going to apologize to me while crying next? Yvonne, you’ve been using the same tricks for so long, can’t you come up with something new?"
Without paying any further attention to Yvonne, Wendy gazed straight at Michael with her head slightly tilted. Her past cowardice and weakness had dissolved completely. The present Wendy was just as confident and proud as she used to be during her peak in university.
"Michael, I’m waiting for your answer."
Michael locked eyes with Wendy, and at that moment, he found himself falling deep.
He thought, is this woman standing before me really the same Wendy Stewart that I know? She feels so foreign, but at the same time, I find her... attractive.
For that moment, nobody spoke. All eyes were on Michael. One word from him, or even just one nod, was enough to determine the outcome of the matter.
Wendy continued staring straight into Michael’s eyes. She did not shrink back. As long as he had not responded, she would continue waiting. If Michael still chose to take Yvonne’s side and refused to give Wendy a chance to clear her name, then she would accept it completely. She had spent the past three years of her youth on this ill-fated love. If Michael decided to reject her again, it would not make much of a difference.
Under the watchful gazes of everyone present, Michael instructed one of the staff members,
"Mr. Cullen, go and retrieve the security footage."
That simple statement allowed Wendy to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Yvonne’s expression, on the other hand, was completely different from Wendy’s. But since things had already come to this, Yvonne understood very well that Michael would not change his mind. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly.
She could barely stand.
Now, Michael calmly removed the hand that Yvonne had placed on his body. His gesture made her feel even more hopeless.
Mr. Cullen quickly returned with the requested security camera footage. He handed the tablet to Michael first. Michael waved his hand without looking at it. After all, he had guessed long ago that it was Yvonne who struck Wendy first.
Hence, it did not mean anything for him to watch the footage.
The reason why he agreed to Wendy’s request was sole because he found himself wanting to grant her wish just once when he had looked into her proud and determined gaze earlier.
Moreover, he had indulged in Yvonne’s behavior too many times. It was time to teach her a lesson.
Now that the security footage was released, everyone was clear on who had instigated the fight. As they watched the footage, they could not bring themselves to believe that Yvonne, who usually behaved so elegantly, would pounce on Wendy and attack her like a mad woman.
At that very moment, their perception of Yvonne had started to change. They wondered if Yvonne had been putting up an act all this time. Or could it be that Yvonne only struck Wendy because she had some deep-rooted grievances this time?
A light smile surfaced on Wendy’s face. Raising her eyebrows, she looked over at Yvonne and said, "Miss Taylor, I think you owe me an apology."
Yvonne was biting down on her bottom lip. She still looked pitiful and upset as tears started swirling in her eyes. She did not wish to apologize. It would be humiliating for her to apologize to Wendy. After all, she had been the one bullying Wendy all these years. How was she to accept suddenly having to concede to Wendy?
"Michael." Yvonne refused to give up. She decided to pin all her hope on Michael once again.
As long as he helped her get out of this, this matter would pass. After this, she would buy more gifts for the staff members and re establish their friendships so that this spat would not circulate beyond this circle.
"You are at fault for hitting her," said Michael in a neutral voice without any emotions.
"But, Michael, she seduced you first, that’s why was so angry," said Yvonne. The sudden reminder of the phone call she had with Wendy and Michael the previous night made her grit her teeth in anger.
When Michael heard her say this, his cold gaze landed on Yvonne.
Yvonne was so frightened that she lost all courage to continue talking. She knew that she had really fallen into Wendy’s trap this time.
Taking a deep breath, Yvonne gazed at Wendy with hateful eyes. She mumbled an apology through gritted teeth, "I’m sorry."
"What did you say?" Wendy was not one to forgive easily. Moreover, it was rare for Michael to help her like this. She did not know when would be the next time that Yvonne would attempt to frame her. Wendy deliberately said, "You were too soft, I couldn’t hear you." freewebnøvel.com
"Wendy Stewart, don’t push it!" Yvonne clenched her fists. She badly wished that she could punch Wendy’s smug face.
"You’re talking so loudly right now. I want you to apologize to me for using this volume!" As Wendy spoke, her tone grew increasingly sterner.
There was no trace of a smile to be found on her face.
Yvonne’s expression changed. She glanced at Michael, but seeing him unmoved, she could only repeat herself loudly, "I said, I’m sorry!"
Wendy snorted. Without another word, she turned around and left. The show was almost over at this point.
When she reached the elevator, she saw Christian leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.
He pressed the elevator button for her, saying, "I happened to witness a really entertaining Scene."
"You happened to?" Wendy did not believe his blatant lies. She knew that he had arranged everything-from asking her to go to the president’s office, to do it only when he learned about Yvonne’s arrival at the building and was confident that the two women would cross paths.
Christian continued smiling. Even though Wendy had already exposed him, he still nodded with the same expression on his face. Wendy could not be bothered to get even with Christian. After all, she was just a pawn to him.
After Wendy’s departure, the crowd naturally dispersed as well.
Yvonne followed Michael into his office. The moment she entered his office, she cried out loud, "Michael, do you not love me anymore?"
When Michael saw Yvonne cry, he frowned impatiently and said, "It’s working hours now. If you’re here to work, you should regulate your emotions and do your job properly. If you don’t wish to work, you can go and get some rest."
Yvonne did not dare to continue crying when she heard his icy tone.
She thought, Michael used to dote on me endlessly, all I had to do was frown and he would do anything for me. But now, he doesn’t even care when I’m crying so pitifully.
Has he really fallen in love with Wendy?
"Michael, I admit that I’m in the wrong for what happened today. But I’m a woman, a woman who wholeheartedly loves you. What kind of woman wouldn’t feel jealous and upset after the phone call last night?" Yvonne was a flexible person who knew how to adjust her approach if it was not working. She decided to take an emotional one as she said, "When I saw Wendy emerge from your office today, I could not help myself..."
Michael stared at Her. He hummed softly but did not say anything else.
