Dumping My Fiancé For His Uncle

Chapter 9

Nicolas turned to Thea and said bluntly, "Miss Rowland, what's your stance on this? The head office has received several promotion requests from you "Are you planning to quit and settle down now that you're supposedly getting married, or are you still going to fight for you career! The choice is yours. Thea was taken aback. She hadn't expected Nicolas to be aware of these trivial matters.

Standing up, she felt the weight of everyone's eyes on her. She glanced at Jake, who sat confidently across from her. "Jake an I were involved in the past, but that's over. As for Miss Terell, she doesn't deserve the deputy manager position. So why shouldn't I fight for what I've earned?" Jake's face darkened, and outside the room. Madelyn began coughing dramatically, her body trembling as though she migh faint.

Idill.

Jake rushed to her side, glaring at Thea in front of everyone. Thea, you already have everything. Why do you need to take away what rightfully belongs to Madelyn?"

Thea felt a moment of disorientation. Not long ago, Jake had been announcing their engagement, but now he couldn't even maintain the act.

Madelyn, ever the performer, cried softly, her voice frail and full of self-pity. "Miss Rowland, my health isn't good. I won't bi able to hold this position for long and will have to resign soon. Please, show me some kindness and grant me this." Thea snapped back to reality, her words colder than before. "No. Why should I? The world doesn't run on pity. I've earned this, and I'm not giving it away" Madelyn closed her eyes as if in utter despair, collapsing into Jake's arms like a lifeless doll.

Jake, his eyes flashing with anger and worry, didn't care about Nicolas's presence anymore. He scooped up Madelyn and hurried out

From that moment,

everyone's eyes.

Thea felt like she had become a joke in

Nicolas leaned back in his chair, watching the drama unfold with a detached, almost mocking expression. "Well, that was quite the performance. Avon Ventures really has nothing but the best for its employees."

He signaled I to Darwin, who placed a document in front of Thea Once you complete this project, the deputy manager position is yours. Of course, if anyone else wants to compete, you guys can get the materials from Darwin." shook their heads.

But everyone the document calmly, offering Nicolas a small, composed smile. "Thank you for the opportunity

Thea accepted the

As the meeting ended and people filed out, Thea caught murmurs as they passed her.

"Cold-hearted and I ruthless, someone whispered.

"You bet. She's about to be Mrs. Hendrix, and this promotion doesn't even matter to her, someone remarked.

"Didn't you get it She's purposely targeting Madelyn, another person chimed in.

She claims to have broken up with Mr. Jake Hendrix, but now she's going after the deputy manager role. We all know what she's really after, someone che added.

"She just wants to compete with Madelyn in everything. It's disgusting another one scoffed.

Half an hour later. Thea's phone buzzed with over a dozen messages and missed calls. It was clear that Jake had heard about Nicolas's offer to her.

Jake knew full well what Thea was capable of. In his mind, this was as good as a confirmation that she would be the deputy manager

[Madelyn's health is really bad. Can't you understand? She's had a rough life, and her biggest dream is to become deputy manager. She won't be able to hold the position for long. Thea, don't be so heartless.] Jake's messages kept coming in. [If you want to stay by my side, I promise you'll be the only woman in my life from now on. I haven't even confronted you about embarrassing Madelyn at the party. Don't push me. You need to come to the hospital and apologize to Madelyn. Then I might reconsider our engagement. His texts continued. Annoyed, Thea blocked his number, finally finding peace.

Her desire for the promotion wasn't about staying by Jake's side or holding onto his affection.

As she read another set of threatening messages from a new number, a bold thought crossed her mind. 'Maybe my ambition hasn't been big enough. Why not go after Jake's position?' she thought.

Thea pushed open the door to the Rowland family home. Everyone was seated on the sofa, and a tense atmosphere hung in the air.

Max's face was particularly grim, and Thea sensed trouble immediately.

Emmalie was sitting with Ivy, gently coaxing and persuading her. As soon as she saw Thea, Emmalie raised her voice. "Thea, you're back Come explain to Mom and Max, and apologize."

Thea frowned, not bothering to hide her irritation. "Apologize? For what? I haven't done anything wrong."

Without warning, a cup was hurled across the room, striking Thea hard on the forehead.

Ivy's throw was so fast that Thea barely had time to react. First, there was a sharp pain, and then she felt the warm trickle of blood

Ivy looked momentarily startled by how serious the situation had I become, but her expression remained cold.

She snapped angrily, didn't r

Thea f

felt a brief stab of f pain

n't realize you were so bold-causing such a scene at the Hendrix family's company, making a fool of yourself. Jealousy has its limits. Will you only be satisfied if you force Jake to call off the wedding?" in her chest, but her face stayed emptionless. She smirked and shot a cold, mocking glance at Emmalie. "Emmalie, you're quick to spread news, aren't you?" she sneered. You know everything I do at the company. The news about me reached here before I even did."

Ivy slammed her hand on the table, her voice sharp. "Emmalie pays attention because she cares about you."

f she's so concerned about me, why does she always speak badly of me to you but never talk about my suffering?"

"Cares about me?" Thea scoffed. "If she really cared, why did she only tell you I fought with Jake out of jealousy? Why didn't she mention that the project and position I've been working so hard for were handed over to someone else by Jake? Theas is voice rose as she spoke, nearly shouting. It was as if her years of pent-up frustration were pouring out all at once, Her eyes were red, but she met Ivy's gaze, unflinching Tin also our daughter. Why is everything I do always wrong? Have you ever, for even a moment, felt sorry for me?"

Ivy looked taken aback, her face showing a flicker of confusion and hesitation.

Just then, Emmalie's soft sobbing broke through the tension. She wept pitifully, her voice small and filled with self-pity. "I'm sorry. Thea. It's all my fault. I just thought you were jealous of Madelyn and upset Jake.

"I only wanted to remind you not to ruin the marriage between our families over jealousy. I was thinking about the Rowland family,

"I know you don't like me, and if I had known things would get so bad, I wouldn't have come back at all. Fine. I'll leave right

now,

She turned away, still crying, and pretended to start packing herbags.

Any guilt Ivy might have been feeling toward Thea vanished instantly. She shot Thea a furious glare. "You're always causing problems"

Ivy hurried after Emmalie, speaking to her in soothing tones, promising repeatedly that even if Thea couldn't get married by the end of the month, they would find a way to have her mose out.

Emmalie finally smiled through her tears. She turned to Thea and asked in a deliberately cautious voice, Thea, are you upset with me?

"I just thought you hated me, and I didn't want us to stay here together causing more fights and upsetting Mom. Don't you think the family would be more harmonious if you moved out?