Chapter 144

Madeline snapped the pen in her hand, fuming. Dwayne had just told her that Thea was being shipped off to some remote cosmetics production base in Evernia. The company was clearly trying to push Thea to quit, completely ignoring Madeline's advice.

Madeline leaned back in her chair, rubbing her forehead. She could still hear Thea's desperate pleas, but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was tell Thea to hang tight in Evernia for a bit and promise to bring her back later.

Just as Madeline was stewing in frustration, there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in," she called out.

When Isabella walked in, Madeline's face immediately darkened.

"What do you want? Here to gloat?" Madeline snapped.

Isabella smiled, unfazed. "I just want to talk."

"Well, I don't. If you're here to rub the bet in my face, save it," Madeline said coldly.

Isabella shook her head. "You still don't get it, Madeline. You're a design genius, but you suck at managing people."

Madeline slammed her hand on the table and stood up, leaning forward. "So you did come to mock me!"

Isabella shook her head again. "Do you really think your assistant got transferred because of me? Perhaps you should consider your own actions. How could you allow a subordinate to insult a colleague in front of a client? Your arrogance and your assistant's poor judgment have led to this situation."

Madeline clenched her fists, teeth gritted, glaring at Isabella.

Isabella sighed. "I'm not here to mock you. I want to make peace. I want a stable, peaceful design department. You're incredibly talented, and I'd like to be friends. Together, we can do great things for the company."

Isabella looked at Madeline sincerely. She genuinely believed in Madeline's talent after hearing her product ideas in the meeting. Wasting that talent on hostility was a loss for everyone.

Isabella felt a strong loyalty to the company, not just because the boss had helped her out, but because she believed in the company's future.

"I'll never be friends with you. I don't need your pity or sympathy. Who do you think you are? Still think you're the socialite you used to be?" Madeline spat out.

Isabella could hear the bitterness and a hint of jealousy in Madeline's voice.

Isabella sighed again. "This isn't pity; it's an invitation. Think about it."

Shaking her head, Isabella turned and walked out.

As soon as she was gone, Madeline swept everything off her desk, her office echoing with her roars.

"Why? All this hard work, and I still haven't achieved anything! Is it because I don't have your advantages?" Madeline's teeth clenched, tears welling up.

Madeline's background was worlds apart from Isabella's.

Isabella came from one of the old elite families. Even though they had fallen on hard times, Isabella's life was still wrapped in luxury. The parties she went to, the friends she made-they were all top-tier. And with Mason's promise of marriage, no one dared to look down on her.

Madeline, though, came from a working-class family. She didn't have the luxury, and her only pride was her natural talent for design.

Madeline was fiercely proud because she had outshone the rich kids with her talent. She believed talent could conquer anything.

Her arrogance lasted until she was about to graduate college. A rich girl had sneered at her, "So what if your grades are better? To us, a diploma is just a piece of paper. After graduation, I'll be a manager at my dad's company, while you'll be scrambling for a job."

Those words shattered Madeline's pride, but she didn't give up. She worked even harder, clinging to her beliefs. Eventually, she became the company's deputy director.

Just when Madeline thought she could finally become the director based on her skills, Isabella swooped in and took the job she had always wanted. The irony? She had never even heard of Isabella before.

Madeline thought back to her college classmate.

That rich girl was right. The position she had worked so hard for was something others could get with a few words.

Blinded by intense jealousy and resentment, Madeline ignored Isabella's talent in design.

Isabella could understand Madeline's feelings. But she also knew that changing someone's mindset, shaped by years of experience, couldn't be done with just a few words.

'Anyway, I've shown her my goodwill. The final choice is hers,' Isabella thought with a sigh as she returned to her office to get back to work.

But Isabella had no idea that more trouble was heading her way.

An ambulance was transporting Bianca from prison. Inside, John sat by Bianca's side, holding her hand with a look of deep concern.

"Bianca, it must have been so hard for you in prison. Don't worry, I've paid off your uncle and aunt's taxes, and they've been released," John said, holding Bianca's hand tenderly.