55 vouchers
Noticing Bailee’s frown, Ruby feigned concern and explained, “Oh, Mrs. Sexton, I hope I didn’t speak out of turn. After working so long with Mr. Sexton, I’ve grown familiar with his preferences. I’m sure you understand.”
Bailee ran her fingers along the rim of her glass, forcing a smile. “Not at all.”
She checked the time and glanced toward the empty doorway, her tone impatient and uneasy. “Why isn’t Jackson here yet?”
Ruby shook her head gently. “Please don’t blame Mr. Sexton. He loses track of time when working. If you’re in a hurry, I can go remind him.”
Bailee shook her head, stood up restlessly, and placed the lunchbox on the table. “It’s fine. He’s busy. I won’t disturb him. Just make sure he eats once his meeting ends. I don’t want him skipping a meal.”
Ruby cast a casual glance at the lunchbox, her gentle smile unchanged, though a faint trace of smugness flickered beneath. “Sure, Mrs. Sexton. I’ll make sure Mr. Sexton gets your love and remind him to eat.”
Bailee offered a strained smile and hurried out almost as if fleeing. Her mind was spinning with confusion, and her steps were unsteady.
Inside the elevator, she frantically pressed the close button. As the doors shut, her thoughts remained chaotic, her breathing quick. She stared blankly at the descending numbers, Ruby’s smile and polite voice echoing in her mind.
Bailee thought, ‘Why did such a gentle, attentive woman leave me feeling so stifled?‘
Suddenly, it hit her. Her eyes widened. She thought, ‘Something’s off here. Ruby seemed gentle but was secretly gloating. She acted thoughtfully, but it felt like boasting. She made me feel like a guest in my husband’s office.
From the moment Bailee entered Jackson’s office, Ruby had started to act like the hostess–detailing Jackson’s preferences, tidying his desk with ease, and flaunting her familiarity and his trust. Though it resembled a secretary’s duties, it felt far beyond.
Bailee thought, ‘Exactly. Ruby acted so naturally as if she were the lady here. I didn’t feel like a wife visiting her husband, more like an outsider watching someone else’s perfect marriage.’
The realization hit Bailee hard. She thought bitterly, ‘After all my upbringing as an heiress, I let a secretary intimidate me into losing composure. How ridiculous!‘
As the elevator descended, Bailee watched the numbers change. Her panic faded, replaced by clarity. She told herself inwardly, ‘No, I can’t just leave. I need to ask Jackson whether there’s something between him and Ruby, or if she’s overstepped on her own.”
Bailee took a deep breath, fixed her hair in the elevator’s mirror, and calmed herself. She pressed the button for the top- floor CEO’s office, already planning how to bring up Ruby with Jackson.
The elevator soon reached the top floor. Perhaps it was lunchtime. The secretary’s area was empty,
Bailee lifted her chin and walked straight toward Jackson’s office to wait inside,
But as she touched the handle and pushed the door open a crack, she heard Ruby’s teasing voice. “Your wife brought you lunch. She said she made it herself and insisted I hand it to you. Aren’t you going to try it?”
“What’s gotten into her? Usually, she’s busy with facials or shopping. Why suddenly play chef for me today?” Jackson’s voice was low and displeased, even through the door.
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7:46 pm
Chapter 90
55 vouchers
4
Bailee froze, stunned to hear such words from Jackson, the man she had lived with for over twenty years.
Peering through the door gap, she saw the intimate scene inside. Her eyes widened, and her hand tightened on the knob as she fought her shock.
In the office, Ruby smiled brightly as she opened the lunchbox and arranged the dishes. Her tone was almost pitiful. “Don’t say that. She cooked and brought the dishes for you. If she ever heard you talk like that, she’d be heartbroken.”
She picked up a piece of meat and held it toward Jackson’s mouth, her expression a little pouty, half–testing him. “Why not try a bite? Don’t waste her effort.”
Jackson turned away in disgust. “Just trash it. The smell makes me sick. Back when we married, I forced myself to eat it. Now I’m the CEO of Sexton Group. Even she depends on me. Why should I even force myself to eat this garbage?”
Ruby was quite pleased by his reaction. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, “That bad?”
Jackson scoffed, “Don’t believe me? Try it yourself.”
Ruby chuckled, “No. You just called it garbage. How could you ask me to eat it?” Then, she dumped all the food and the lunchbox into the trash can.
Outside the door, Bailee was in tears, thinking, ‘Disgusting? Garbage? All that care and effort I put into this meal, and to him it’s just trash.
Bailee’s cooking was clumsy at first, but she had later learned from several five–star hotel chefs and practiced diligently–all for Jackson.
Her dishes might not be gourmet, but they were far from inedible. Every dish was even screened by the house staff. Anything subpar would never reach Jackson. Yet he dismissed the food without even tasting it.
Bailee thought bitterly, ‘Forced himself to eat it? When did I ever make Jackson eat anything he didn’t want? He praised my cooking, and that was why I cooked for him every day. When did everything get so twisted?‘
Suddenly, Bailee understood, and a bitter smile flickered in her eyes. She thought, ‘So that’s it. No wonder Jackson said I shouldn’t bother and just enjoy life. He never really cared about me. He just didn’t want my disgusting food.‘
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