Chapter 335: Chapter 335

"Rejecting you doesn’t even require our President Hawthorne to step in; I alone am sufficient. After all, you don’t even have the qualifications to stand before our President Hawthorne..."

Shaun Jones’s words were increasingly venomous, like being filled with poison, able to drive someone to suicide within minutes.

Rose Payne’s face twisted and turned pale; she couldn’t believe that everything she prided herself on was crushed to pieces by a mere secretary.

After speaking, Shaun Jones tossed Rose Payne’s proposal back to her with an air of dominance.

"Miss Payne likes to treat trash as treasure; the threshold of the Hawthorne Group isn’t that low. Miss Payne, why don’t you try to find someone who appreciates such things? And also, stop trying to frame our President Hawthorne. Our President Hawthorne rarely drives, so next time, what Miss Payne might offer wouldn’t be a proposal but possibly a life."

Rose Payne’s face burned, feeling as if her dignity was being ripped off and stomped on the ground, repeatedly.

She gritted her teeth, staring at Shaun Jones.

"Secretary Jones, maybe due to Miss Sterling or for other reasons, you might have misunderstood me. But no matter the reason, you can’t deny my talent or the benefits my proposal could bring to the Hawthorne Group. You shouldn’t let personal desires cause Hawthorne Group to miss out on a great opportunity. How can you live up to Mr. Hawthorne’s trust in you?"

Shaun Jones said, "No need for you to worry."

After finalizing matters with the police, Shaun Jones got into Julian Hawthorne’s car, ready to drive away.

Not willing to give up, Rose Payne slapped the car window and shouted hoarsely from outside.

"Secretary Jones! Remember this, one day I, Rose Payne, will make you look at me with new eyes. Today you ignore me, but tomorrow I’ll climb higher than you can reach!"

Ha, slogans. Who couldn’t shout them? He dismissed such childish slogans since elementary school.

This was just a minor issue. Shaun Jones knew Julian Hawthorne wouldn’t take it to heart, so he didn’t even bother informing Julian about the outcome.

However, Paige Sterling did find out about Rose Payne’s antics, and it was Rose herself who brought it up in front of her.

Paige wondered if this woman was toxic—no matter where she appeared, she always managed to bump into this woman.

Even at the golf course, Paige would happen to encounter Rose working part-time there, with Austin Xavier also present.

The relationship between Paige Sterling and Austin Xavier had long been lukewarm—or at least that’s how Paige saw it.

So she and Austin Xavier had no interactions the entire time. On the other hand, part-time worker Rose Payne constantly shifted her gaze between a longing look at Austin and a venomous glare at Paige, which was seriously too complicated.

Paige Sterling twitched her mouth, taking a break in the lounge midway. Official source ıs 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍

It was during this time that Rose Payne appeared, glaring at Paige with anger in her eyes.

"Miss Sterling, playing around with several men and enjoying them revolving around you, do you feel very accomplished?"

Paige Sterling took a sip of water and looked at Rose Payne with a half-smile, "Jealous?"

Rose Payne’s chest heaved, "Are you even a woman? How can you be so shameless? Do you see men as tools to exploit?"

Paige Sterling didn’t respond.

The more Rose Payne felt scorned by Paige, the louder her voice became.

"Paige, did you bribe Secretary Jones and have him hide my proposal, so President Hawthorne didn’t meet me?"

For days, Rose had been holding onto a shred of hope, waiting.

Waiting for Julian Hawthorne to discover the presence of that proposal.

But nothing came; after that day, it was as if the proposal had sunk into the sea.

After thinking it over, the only conclusion she could reach was that Paige Sterling must have bribed someone close to Julian Hawthorne, and that was why Shaun Jones hadn’t told Julian about the proposal.

Paige Sterling, due to jealousy and oppression, didn’t even consider the future of the Hawthorne Group. How could such a selfish person be liked by so many people?

"Miss Sterling, if you think suppressing me would make me give up, you’re wrong. The more you dislike seeing me succeed, the harder I’ll work. Eventually, I’ll let you know that I, Rose Payne, am not someone you can oppress as you please."

Then Rose Payne walked away, full of pride and anger.

Paige Sterling, "..."

Rose Payne really worked hard to prove herself, wandering around with her pyramid scheme proposal, searching for someone to appreciate it.

Regardless of whether she succeeded or not, Paige didn’t care; she had classes in the afternoon and went straight to school.

Unexpectedly, upon leaving school, she ran into Skylar Hughes.

Skylar wasn’t there by chance; her demeanor made it obvious that she was waiting there specifically for Paige.

Seeing Paige, Skylar Hughes instantly acted like a dear friend, rushing over to grab Paige’s arm.

Paige stepped away, and Skylar showed a hurt expression, "Paige, why are you ignoring me?"

Skylar Hughes was quite a celebrity now; many people knew her at school, though their opinions of her weren’t favorable.

Skylar seemed oblivious to the strange gazes of those around her, continuing to act as if she and Paige were inseparable sisters.

"Paige, you must be hungry. Let’s go, my treat today."

Paige remained as cold as ever, though she curbed her sharp tongue in the presence of others and simply declined coolly.

"I have things to do. No time."

Skylar immediately looked hurt, "Paige, I know you have time. I came today specifically to apologize to you. My mom and your dad are married; now my mom is having a child from the Sterling Family—that’s your brother and also my brother. If things get ugly between us, it won’t be good for you, me, our parents, or our brother. I know you’re proud and don’t want to bow, so I took the initiative to come to you. I hope you can forgive me for my past impulsive actions and for us to return to being trusting, loving sisters, alright?"

Is she surrounded by idiots because of some excessive radiation exposure?

"If you won’t even have a meal with me, then you aren’t willing to forgive me."

Not willing to forgive me means you’ll trouble the elders; it means you’re not considering the bigger picture—selfish Paige.

Paige expressionlessly moved to get into her car, but Skylar immediately grabbed the car door.

She was determined to show Paige’s true colors to the students who adored Paige as a teacher today.

Someone who fusses over small matters and doesn’t consider the bigger picture, why should they be praised?

If Paige publicly forgives her, it would be convenient for Skylar later.

If Paige didn’t forgive her, ha...

"Paige, I know it’s not easy for you to forgive me. Today, in front of so many people, let me bow and apologize to you, shall I?"

With that, she didn’t give Paige time to react and bowed down.