Chapter 7

Jonathan asked Alex to step out.

Alex looked at me.

I nodded, and he gathered up the papers and left, closing the door so softly it barely made a sound.

Jonathan stood there, his chest rising and falling, trying hard not to lose it. "Susan, do you even realize what you're doing?"

"Yeah, I do," I said, lifting my coffee. The steam stung my eyes a little. "I'm taking a struggling kid under my wing."

"He looks just like I did when I was young," Jonathan said, jaw clenched. "Did you do this on purpose?"

I finally let out a laugh.

"So you noticed the resemblance too, huh, Jonathan?"

His face darkened.

I set my cup down. "Back then, you told me Emily reminded you of me when I was young. You felt sorry for her, trying to fix the regrets from your past. Well, now I'm doing the same. Alex reminds me of you when you were young. His sister's sick, he's drowning in debt, and he's about to trade away his dignity just to survive."

I said, enunciating each word, "I want to help him too."

Jonathan's hand gripped the edge of the table, veins bulging. "Don't use this to get back at me."

"Get back at you?" I tilted my head. "Didn't you call it pity?"

Outside the office, the click of high heels drew closer, then faded away into the distance.

Jonathan closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, his eyes were red with emotion. "Emily and I aren't what you think."

I nodded. "Alex and I aren't what you think either."

He was left speechless.

That afternoon, Emily called me.

Her voice was gentle, a little cautious. "Susan, I heard Jonathan went to see you today. Please don't be upset with him. He just really cares about you."

I flipped through the financial reports. "Miss Lane, is there something you need?"

Emily Lane paused, her voice trembling. "I'm pregnant."

Susan replied calmly, "Congratulations."

Emily Lane seemed caught off guard by Susan's composure, sounding a bit hurt. "I know I shouldn't have come, but the baby didn't do anything wrong."

Susan gripped her pen tightly, the tip carving a deep line into the paper.

The sunlight outside spilled across the desk, so bright it almost hurt to look at.

"The baby's innocent, so what?" I asked. "Are you calling me to ask for a divorce, or to hand over my husband?"

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.

I continued, "Emily, don't act so pitiful. If you want status, go pressure Jonathan. Don't come crying to me. Your tears are worthless."

The call was cut off.

Ten minutes later, Jonathan called.

I put him on speaker.

His voice was barely holding back his anger. "Susan, what did you say to Emily? She's sobbing so hard she can't even catch her breath."

I glanced toward the door.

Alex was standing there, holding some files.

I said calmly, "I told her to stop acting like the mistress is some poor victim."

Alex, standing by the door, lowered his head, a subtle smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Jonathan went completely silent on the other end.

The blow was invisible, but it stung.