Chapter 12

Melody collapsed onto the ground. "I'm not afraid of being poor or struggling… but there's just no way out anymore…" Noticing the crack in Melody's resolve, Alexia exhaled quietly. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Calvin standing nearby. Grasping at what felt like her last hope, she turned to him, her tone urgent. "Mr. Reed, Melody has worked for Reed Group for five years. She's been diligent and conscientious. She hasn't done anything wrong. You can't just fire her without cause!" Calvin's tone was as cold and detached as ever. "Firing an employee is a decision made by their supervisor. I'm sure there was a reason. Layoffs are a normal part of business. If every person who gets let go starts threatening to jump off a building, should the company stop functioning entirely?" The words hit Alexia like a blow, her heart sinking under their weight. She had known Calvin was ruthless—his cold-blooded efficiency was legendary—but even now, his indifference cut deeper than she'd expected. A tightness gripped her chest, helplessness washing over her like a relentless tide. In the eyes of the powerful, human lives seemed to matter so little. "Mr. Reed, didn't you ask me to kneel and apologize tomorrow? I'll do it. I'll write an apology and kneel in front of everyone. But please… Can you let Melody keep her job?" Alexia began, her voice trembling as she lowered her gaze. Calvin's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression darkening as he studied her pale, pleading face. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his thin lips pressed together. "I'll be waiting," he said. Relief flooded Alexia's chest, an indescribable gratitude coursing through her veins. Without hesitation, she turned back to Melody. "Melody, come on. Mr. Reed has agreed not to fire you. Be good now. Come here, and let's go back downstairs." Her tone was tender and soft, as though speaking to a frightened child. Calvin couldn't help but glance at her twice. Melody's anger and despair seemed to ebb away. She moved to stand, but the slick rainwater pooling across the rooftop betrayed her. As she tried to rise, her footing gave way. Suddenly, her body pitched backward, teetering on the very edge of the building. The world seemed to freeze. Alexia, standing closest to her, acted on instinct alone. Lunging forward, she seized Melody's hand, gripping it tightly. But Melody's weight, combined with Alexia's slight frame, dragged her forward, her shoes skidding dangerously on the wet surface. The dizzying height below promised nothing but certain death. 50, maybe 60 stories separated them from the ground. Squeezing her eyes shut, terror clawing at her throat. The moment stretched endlessly, the tension unbearable. Then, without a warning, a strong hand clamped around her arm, steady and unyielding. Startled, Alexia opened her eyes. Calvin loomed over her, his grip on her firm and decisive. Without hesitation, he pulled her upward with ease. For a moment, Alexia was stunned. She hadn't expected him to intervene—let alone save her. Behind them, Hailey stomped her foot in frustration. Just a little more, and that little wretch would've fallen to her death! By now, the crowd had snapped out of their shock and rushed forward to help. Finally, both Alexia and Melody were pulled to safety. Alexia collapsed onto the ground, her body trembling as a delayed wave of fear washed over her. Rainwater streaked down her face as Alexia sat motionless, frozen in place. Calvin frowned as he looked down at her. "Get up." "My… My legs are weak… I can't…" Alexia stammered. Calvin said nothing, his piercing gaze fixed on her in unyielding silence. Realizing she had no choice, Alexia forced herself to move. But as soon as she stood, her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor again. Without a word, Calvin leaned down, scooped her into his arms, and held her firmly. "Useless," he muttered. Alexia was stunned, her eyes widened in shock. Even Hailey, standing nearby, seemed startled by the gesture. Her anger simmered, threatening to boil over. She wanted to storm forward, to tear Alexia down and leave her in pieces. Alexia's cheeks burned as she came back to her senses. She squirmed in Calvin's hold. "Put me down! I can walk on my own." Grinding her teeth, Hailey said, "Mr. Reed, I can help Alexia walk. Your clothes are soaked—you might catch a cold." Calvin frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to her. "You seem to have plenty of free time during work hours." Hailey froze, stunned into silence. Something about the look on his face—it was wrong. Calvin seemed annoyed with her. Afraid to push her luck, Hailey forced her smile wider. "Mr. Reed, I'll get back to work, then," she said quickly. But before leaving, she threw Alexia a venomous glare, her eyes glinting with unspoken threats. ... Alexia had assumed Calvin would leave her in the break room to recover, but to her surprise, he brought her back to the Reed residence instead. When they walked into the dining room, Victor was already seated at the table, enjoying his meal. He looked up as they entered and greeted them with a warm smile. "Finished with work? Come, join me for dinner." Without hesitation, Benjamin moved to add extra plates and utensils to the table. Victor turned to Alexia. "Lexi, how was your first day at work? Are you settling in okay?" Alexia nodded. "It was fine." Victor's gaze shifted to Calvin. "And him? Did he bully you?" Hearing Victor's question, Calvin turned his sharp gaze toward Alexia. Alexia quickly shook her head. "No, Mr. Reed has been very kind to me and took good care of me. He even let me ride back with him in his car." Calvin raised an eyebrow but remained silent, continuing his meal. Clearly, her response had met his expectations. However, Victor was less than pleased. "You're married now. Why are you still calling him Mr. Reed?" Alexia bit her lip, forcing herself to comply. "Cal." Calvin's gaze flicked toward her, darkening slightly. Sensing his scrutiny, Alexia quickly dropped her gaze to her plate and focused intently on her food. Victor, mistaking her reaction for shyness, beamed with approval. His wide smile lit up the room. "That's better! Keep calling him that from now on." After dinner, Alexia returned to her room and took a hot shower. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she unexpectedly came face-to-face with Calvin. Dressed in a simple nightgown, her face was still flushed from the steam, giving her a soft radiant glow. Calvin's gaze darkened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. The air was tinged with a faint, citrusy fragrance—light and refreshing. It seemed familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he'd encountered it before. Alexia glanced down self-consciously at her nightgown. It wasn't particularly revealing—no exposed neckline or waist, just a glimpse of her calves. Yet, under Calvin's unwavering gaze, she felt utterly exposed. Tugging awkwardly at the hem of her nightgown, she broke the silence. "Thank you for what you did on the rooftop today." Calvin, realizing he'd been momentarily distracted, shook it off and responded coldly, "If you've got time to butter me up, use it to work on your apology letter." Without another word, he walked past her into the bathroom, shutting the door with a loud bang. The abrupt sound shattered the fleeting gratitude Alexia had been holding onto. She retrieved some paper and a pen, settling down on the couch with a heavy heart. She started writing, only to scratch out line after line, rewriting, and starting over again. She couldn't focus. Her thoughts were muddled, and her eyelids felt heavier with each passing moment. Shaking her head to keep herself awake, Alexia forced herself to press on. But the drowsiness was overwhelming, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep. When she finally woke, sunlight was streaming through the windows—it was already morning. A soft cough escaped her lips, and she instantly noticed that the dizziness hadn't faded. In fact, it was worse. Her throat felt raw, each swallow more painful than the last. Reflecting on the previous day's rainstorm and how long she'd been drenched, realization dawned on her. She had undoubtedly caught a cold. Alexia lay sprawled on the couch, her body too heavy to move. But the looming thought of work forced her to pry her eyes open. Reaching for her phone, she squinted at the screen. It was already 8:00 am. For a moment, her mind went blank. Then panic struck her like a thunderclap. She bolted upright. Without even bothering to wash her face, she grabbed her bag, rushed outside, and flagged down a taxi to head straight to the company. Earlier that morning at Reed Group, Hailey had already arrived at the office. The moment she saw Calvin, she hurried over. "Mr. Reed, are you upset with me?" Calvin glanced at her indifferently. "Hmm?" "You seemed so cold toward me yesterday. I'm not that unreasonable, you know! It's just… Alexia kept bragging, saying she's your legal wife, and I let it get to me. I lost control and acted foolishly. I promise I'll never behave like that again. Please don't stay mad at me." Her voice was soft and syrupy. "I couldn't sleep at all last night—I know I was wrong." Calvin's face gave away nothing. After all, she was his woman, and minor lapses could be overlooked. "I told you I'd marry you, and I keep my promises. What anyone else says won't change that. But next time, think before you act. Don't let a few words from someone else throw you off balance," he said evenly. Hailey's eyes brightened as she nodded eagerly. "I understand!" "Let's head to the conference room." Her smile widened. "Of course." Inside the conference room, all the senior executives had already taken their seats, each having received the meeting notice. Calvin sipped his coffee, his long legs crossed with effortless elegance. Hailey, seated beside him, was practically glowing with anticipation. She couldn't wait for Alexia to walk in and humiliate herself in front of everyone—groveling like a dog to apologize. But 8:00 am came and went with no sign of Alexia. Ten minutes passed. Still nothing. Calvin's expression darkened, his features sharpening with an edge that sent chills down the room. Hailey's smug grin faltered. She whispered, "Mr. Reed… could it be that she changed her mind?" "Call her," Calvin ordered coldly. Adrian immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Alexia's number. The line rang, but there was no answer. After a moment of hesitation, he reported cautiously, "Mr. Reed… Her phone's off. I can't reach her." Calvin's eyes narrowed, the quiet fury simmering beneath them barely restrained. Perfect. Not only had Alexia deceived him, but now she dared to stand him up.