Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Lewis stood still, not saying a word.
Zoe grew anxious and walked toward Lewis in her seven–inch heels.
“Lewie, I truly love you. Will you give me a chance?” She pleaded again, humbly.
“Zoe, you’ll find someone who loves you and is right for you. In this life, I’ll love you like a sister, Lewis showed her mercy.
“I don’t want to be your sister. I want to be your girlfriend” Zoe’s chest tightened with pain. She was unwilling to give up. “I won’t give up. I will show you my true heart.”
“I’ve said everything. It’s your choice. Lewis turned coldly and walked away.
Zoe tried to follow but was blocked by Janice. “Zoe, let him be for a while.”
She grabbed Janice’s wrist. “Mrs. Hartman, could you please talk to Lewie for me? I’ve loved him since I was a child. My parents like him too, and you all like me, right? I can help him in his career. I can take care of him
“Zoe, you’re a good girl and very capable, but you can’t force it.” Janice felt conflicted.
She had always known that Lewis saw Zoe as a sister, not a lover, so they had never tried to matchmake them.
The Hartman family elders respected their children’s feelings and marriages, allowing them to make their own choices.
While it’s nice to have a match in terms of family background, the Hartman family was now so powerful that they didn’t need their children to sacrifice their happiness for an arranged marriage.
Besides, Lewis was already married to Doris, and the Hartman family had accepted her, so Zoe had no chance.
Zoe’s parents also tried to persuade her. “Zoe, today is the Hartman family’s event. Don’t cause a scene.”
The public confession being rejected was quite humiliating. She did it with no regard for the Wilkinson family’s reputation.
“Mom, Dad, you both like Lewie too, don’t you? You can’t just give up,” Zoe pleaded.
“Feelings can’t be forced,” her father said wisely. “Joseph, take your sister home and let her sober up.”
“Come on, let’s go,” Joseph Wilkinson said, taking off his suit jacket and draping it over Zoe’s shoulders while supporting her.
“Dad, Mom, I’m not drunk. I’m not leaving.” Tears welled in Zoe’s eyes. “You’re my family–you have to help me!”
“Home, now.” The Wilkinson family forcibly took Zoe away.
The party resumed as usual. People went back to eating and drinking, and the incident was quickly forgotten.
Meanwhile, Lewis stepped out to the balcony behind the curtains, sipping his drink alone.
“Lewis,” a gentle voice called his nickname.
He turned around to see his mother, dressed in a tailored navy velvet gown adorned with a diamond orchid brooch on her chest. “Mom.”
Janice approached him. “Mr. Wilkinson and the others have taken Zoe away. She’s still young and impulsive. Don’t hold it against her.”
“If she sticks to being a little sister, I won’t,” Lewis replied, one hand casually in his pocket, standing tall and composed.
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Chapter 46
You could just tell her you’re married, Janice suggested, supportive of the idea
“If I do that, there’ll be countless eyes trying to dig into my wife’s background, which would bring unnecessary trouble to Doris
“She’s just a regular person who wants an ordinary, peaceful life.
“I don’t want her peace disrupted because of me.”
In a year, they’d part ways anyway, so why drag Doris into this and saddle her with the label of being Lewis’s ex–wife?
Janice understood his concerns. He was just trying to protect Doris.
“Tonight, Zoe caused quite a stir. Your dad and I will visit the Wilkinsons to smooth things over, she said.
Thanks, Mom.
After the party ended and the guests left, the hotel staff began cleaning up.
Doris finished her work and stepped outside, only to run into Leon.
He got out of his car and grinned as he reached out toward Doris. “Doris, it’s late. Let me give you a ride.”
Doris avoided his greasy hand. “Thanks, Leon, but I’ll just take the subway.”
Rejected once again, Leon wasn’t pleased. “Doris, if you won’t take kindness, you’ll take the hard way. Just wait and see.”
As Doris walked away, the blister on her heel started to ache.
She gritted her teeth, feeling unlucky.
Just as she was about to leave, someone called her name. “Doris.”
She turned to see Lewis standing by his car. The dim, yellowish light cast an elegant glow on his figure.
“What are you doing here?” Doris asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
“Hartman Group’s event tonight.”
“Oh, right. As a Hartman Group employee, of course you’d attend.” So, he was waiting here for her.
A small, secret smile crept across Doris’s face.
Lewis tilted his head charmingly. “What are you standing there for? Get in. Let’s go home.”
Doris walked toward him, though her blistered heel made her steps a bit awkward.
Lewis noticed and took a step closer. “What’s wrong with your foot?”
“Nothing, just a little blister, Doris said nonchalantly. “I’m tired. Let’s go home.”
When they got home, Lewis brought out iodine and a bandage for her. “Here.”
Doris took them. “You know what?
“Ryan got stopped outside the hotel today and couldn’t get in.
“He was so mad he almost passed out–it was so satisfying.
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Chapter 46
“The Hartman family heir really delivered this time, helping me vent some frustration.
Ryan had the audacity to claim he was friends with the Hartman family heir, but it turns out they don’t even know him. Being kicked out was exactly what he deserved.”
“How do you know about this? Lewis asked, handing her the bandage.
“I saw it with my own eyes at the hotel entrance.”
“Why were you at the hotel entrance? Weren’t you supposed to be in the kitchen?”
Doris sighed, “We were short on a greeter, and my supervisor assigned me.”
Lewis glanced at the wound on her heel, immediately understanding it was caused by high heels.
“Which supervisor? What’s his name?” he asked.
“Leon from the Food and Beverage Department.”
“The guy who wanted to give you a ride?”
Doris nodded. “He’s a total scumbag
Lewis stood up. “Alright, get some rest.”
Doris was indeed exhausted. She quickly tidied up and went to bed.
The next morning, while riding the subway and scrolling through her phone, Doris saw multiple trending searches about Ryan getting kicked out of Hampstone Hotel. It was right at the top.
The comment section was filled with entertaining reactions.
Ryan had completely humiliated himself this time–he was probably fuming.
Doris couldn’t help but feel ecstatic.
Her day started on a high note.
She was on the early shift today, finishing work at 2:30 PM.
As soon as she stepped into the lobby, Lola pulled her aside. “Did you hear? Leon got fired!”
“What?” Doris thought she misheard.
The news was exhilarating.
Her heart raced with excitement.
Lola leaned in and whispered, “I saw the termination notice on the company intranet this morning.
“Apparently, someone sent evidence to Vincent West showing that Leon was taking illegal kickbacks and harassing female employees.
“A few of the women he took advantage of even stepped forward to testify. And it wasn’t just one or two of them!”
“That creep has hurt so many people–it’s about time he got what he deserved!”
“Who had the guts to expose him?” Doris was curious.
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She had thought about reporting Leon for harassment herself if he ever tried to fire her unfairly.
“No idea,” Lola admitted. “Heaven is watching, I guess.”
Just then, they spotted Leon walking through the lobby, carrying his personal belongings.
Lola smirked in amusement–she wasn’t afraid of him.
Leon clenched his teeth, shooting Doris a venomous glare, convinced she had something to do with his downfall.
But Doris stood her ground, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear.
Leon had no choice but to leave in disgrace.
Just yesterday, he had been so arrogant, threatening her job. Doris had braced herself for the worst, thinking she might get fired. But in a shocking twist, he was the one who got kicked out first.
She loved this turn of events.
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