Frank had once again be the mboyant and unpredictable Mr. Smith Just like before.


    Meanwhile, Ryan had used his connections to find a reclusive traditional medicine expert, who came out of retirement to check Grandma''s pulse and attempt to totally cure her. Grandma''sa was rted to the poison affecting her heart and the emergency treatment at the hospital only addressed the symptoms, not the cause...


    That day, after thepany gathering, Megan seemed to intentionallyg behind the other employees, walking beside me with great caution. She then asked cautiously, "Charlotte, did you ever like my brother?"


    I knew she was inquiring on behalf of Frank.


    But Mr. Smith had warned me over the phone yesterday.


    I smiled and said, "No, never."


    "What do you mean never?"


    Ryan walked over and stood tall in front of me. "Honey, I''m here to pick you


    up."


    Lately, he had been acting like the perfect gentleman.


    He had returned to his role of a devoted husband.


    He would drop me off at work and pick me up afterward, regardless of the


    weather.


    However, when we returned to the Frost family''s residence, I would go. straight to the guest room and lock the door.


    He would try various ways to please me.


    He thought of every method to make me happy.


    But for some reason, nothing felt right.


    Sometimes, when the timing was off, everything seems unnecessary.


    It was as if I was looking in a mirror and seeing my former self reflected in


    him


    "Charlotte, open the door. I''ve got a ss of milk for you."


    Ryan stood at the door, knocking. "The servant said that you didn''t sleep at allst night."


    If I didn''t open the door, he would keep knocking.


    Just like at the dining table, if I didn''t eat, he wouldn''t let me leave.


    He thought I was sulking, but I genuinely couldn''t eat; the smell alone made


    me nauseous.


    I opened the door, took the cup, and forced myself to drink it all, then handed the cup back to him. "Happy now?"


    Then I closed the door, locked it again, and ran to the bathroom to throw up.


    After I finished, I picked up the desk calendar and slowly crossed out today''s date with a pen.


    Only seven days left.


    In seven days, no one would be able to control me.


    With only two days remaining, my work efficiency improved significantly.


    Working with Austin, I stayedte to finalize the summer designs.


    At noon, while I was in the lounge making coffee to refresh myself, my hand slipped, and the cup shattered, spilling hot coffee on my foot. My heart raced wildly.


    An extremely uneasy feeling spread within me.


    Later, Jane rushed into my office, looking flustered. "Charlotte, are you okay?


    "Huh? What''s wrong?"Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    I looked up from the design draft, confused.


    Jane silently adjusted her breathing and picked up my phone. "My phone''s dead. Can I borrow yours to y a couple of games?" "You don''t have a charger? I can lend you one."


    moved to unplug it, but Jane shook her head repeatedly. "No need, it''s charging. It''s just that ying while it''s charging gets too hot."


    She was a gaming enthusiast in her spare time. I didn''t think much of it and went back to work. "Alright then.


    Jane, on her tiptoes, sat on my desk, ying game while asking. "Have you had a follow-up appointment at the hospital these days? Have the medications helped any?"


    I didn''t look up. "Much better."


    "There are a lot of orderstely. You haven''t taken your eyes off the drawing board. During breaks, look at green things more, and y less on your phone. Be careful, or you might need a guide dog when you go out."


    "Hmm."


    I felt like she had hidden meaning in her words. I looked at her and asked, Jane, is there something you''re not telling me?


    She shook her head vigorously, "No."


    I reached out, "Give me the phone."


    "I''m ying a game!"


    "You''re ying in portrait mode?"


    I snatched the phone back and scrolled through it. Not seeing anything suspicious, I looked at Jane with suspicion. "Did you delete something?"


    "No."


    Just then, someone in the public office area shouted, "Megan, slow down!"


    I jumped up suddenly, my movement so abrupt that I twisted my ankle slightly.


    But I seemed not to feel the pain, runni happened to Megan?"


    "I don''t know. She just said something


    "It seems like her brother is in trouble."