Chapter 7

After saying that, Roxanne stepped forward, brushing past Sebastian without the slightest pause. Sebastian was utterly exasperated. Every time they'd had a falling out before, she had always been the one to take the first step toward reconciliation. He had grown accustomed to that dynamic, so the idea of him softening first was unthinkable—even though deep down, he desperately wanted her back. Frustrated and on edge, he called some friends to join him for drinks and unwind. The atmosphere in the private lounge was awkwardly quiet; no one seemed eager to break the silence. News of Lexi being arrested had spread like wildfire recently. Everyone in their circle now knew she had tried to frame Roxanne by planting contraband in her car. They had all misjudged Roxanne, assuming she had indulged in such behavior out of boredom at home. It turned out Lexi, with her innocent facade and delicate demeanor, had played them all. No one had anticipated Lexi's depths of deceit. She had spent three months crafting an elaborate trap just to ruin someone's life. Sitting beside someone like that, unaware of her true thoughts, was a chilling prospect. It had been a hard, cautionary lesson for them all. It was Ambrose who finally broke the silence. "Sebastian, are you and Roxanne really divorced?" His voice was low, carrying a hint of suppressed emotion. Leaning back on the couch, Sebastian still seemed confident. "She's just throwing a tantrum." Ambrose's gaze sharpened. "I think she's serious about leaving you this time." The others looked at Sebastian in unison. The situation with Lexi had indeed been a significant blow to Roxanne. It wouldn't be surprising if she had lost all hope in Sebastian. If she hadn't skillfully defended herself in court, proving her innocence, she might have been in handcuffs behind bars right now. Sebastian thought back to the moment he had seen her earlier that evening. She had deliberately cut her long hair, knowing full well how much he loved it. She must have done it just to provoke him. If she truly didn't care anymore, she would be indifferent. She wouldn't be trying so hard to rile him up. They had been together for seven years, from campus sweethearts to marriage. That wasn't something she could just walk away from. "Drink," he said, dismissing Ambrose's words entirely. But Ambrose's gaze flickered with a trace of something deeper—a glimmer of light. He harbored an eight-year-long secret—an unspoken, forbidden love for Roxanne. … The next morning, Roxanne arrived at the law firm promptly to begin her new job. With prior arrangements made by Jenson, the onboarding process went smoothly. Olivia led her upstairs to a desk near Jenson's office. "You'll be working here from now on." Roxanne nodded. "Got it." "I'll take you to see Mr. Lambert." The office door was ajar. Jenson was on the phone, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. His tall figure was clad in a light gray suit, paired with a dark gray shirt and a black tie. His posture was upright, with broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs. The cut of his suit accentuated his athletic frame and the precise muscle tone beneath. Noticing Olivia and Roxanne, Jenson gestured for Roxanne to stay before continuing his call. Olivia nodded and left his office. His tone gradually darkened, his face clouding over. The call ended with what was an unpleasant exchange. Roxanne had been standing quietly by the doorway the entire time. Jenson approached her, stopping directly in front of her. She instinctively avoided eye contact with the imposing man in front of her, her gaze slightly lowered. "Mr. Lambert." "Organize the files on my desk," he instructed in an even but detached tone. "You have two days to go through all the case files, identify any loopholes, and report back to me." "Understood," she responded quickly. Jenson walked past her without another word, his steps steady and purposeful. As he passed, she caught a faint hint of a cool, woody scent on him. She moved to his desk and gathered the stack of files he had indicated. She had handled all the household chores when she had been married to Sebastian. A heavy stack of papers wasn't much of a challenge. She carried the files to her desk and divided them into two stacks on the otherwise empty surface. Then she sat down and began reviewing them. These were case files from the firm's past cases. Jenson's assignment was undoubtedly a test of her analytical skills—whether she could identify key issues and spot weaknesses. She had always been passionate about this field, and reading through the files was anything but tedious; she found herself thoroughly engaged. The morning passed quickly. Jenson didn't return after he had left earlier. Roxanne continued her work after lunch, determined to make a dent in the two-day workload. That evening, back at her hotel room, she was immersed in her reading when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, she found Vivian, her cheeks flushed and reeking slightly of alcohol. "What's up?" Roxanne retrieved a card from her drawer and handed it to Vivian. "I don't care what you invest in, as long as you don't lose my principal. Any profit is yours to keep." Vivian raised an eyebrow. "How much is it?" "Twenty million." "Whoa." Vivian snatched the card eagerly. "With this, I'm definitely hitting my sales target this month!" Roxanne returned to her files, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Vivian glanced at the papers. "Already handling cases?" "Not yet. I'm listed as a junior associate, but in reality, I'm just his assistant. You know how it goes—it's the standard process in the industry. Still, I figure working under him should teach me a lot." Roxanne took a sip of water. "You still haven't told your parents about the divorce, have you?" Vivian asked, tidying up Roxanne's takeout leftovers. With a sigh, Roxanne replied, "I'll wait a few more days until I've settled into work." Vivian snorted. "I think you've got a lot more to endure." After all, her parents had adored Sebastian. Learning about the divorce would likely send them into a rage. "Don't bring up those headaches," Roxanne said, waving it off. Vivian glanced around the room. "You can't stay in a hotel forever, you know." "I haven't found a suitable place yet," Roxanne admitted. "I'll keep an eye out," Vivian said, sprawling onto the bed. "I'm crashing here tonight." Roxanne smirked. "What about your man? Isn't he going to be lonely?" Tugging the blanket over herself, Vivian quipped, "He'll survive. I don't want to overwork him. Gotta let his waist recover now and then."