Chapter 4

Several uniformed security guards walked up to me.

A familiar scene, playing out all over again.

"Hurry up and take her away!"

"I really don't know how someone like that ever wormed her way into our company?!"

"Maybe she used her looks and slept her way up?"

"You should look into this properly!"

"Who knows, you might find out how many balding old men she's slept with!"

Irene urged them on anxiously from the side, spreading rumors with a gloating look on her face.

I didn't shout, didn't make a scene. I just quietly asked one question.

"When is the final signing date for the project?"

The room went silent for several seconds.

A flicker of panic crossed Irene's eyes.

She shouted, trying to cover up the panic inside with her voice.

"What signing date?!"

"Everyone in the company knows you've been in charge of this project the whole time!"

I didn't spare Irene a single glance.

Instead, I looked straight at Ernest.

"Mr. Tanner, you're pinning a hundred-million loss directly on me."

"Asking to see the project contract isn't too much, is it?"

I said it clearly, word by word.

Ernest lowered his brow, irritably loosening his tie.

"Geraldine, don't argue with me!"

"I said you signed this project, so you signed it!"

"Cooperate with the headquarters investigation and try for lenient treatment!"

That familiar anger crept into his tone.

Ernest simply waved his hand for them to take me away.

I stood where I was and took a USB drive out of my bag.

"There's no need to go to headquarters for review. I have direct evidence right here."

I shook the USB drive in my hand, just after I'd finished speaking to the people from headquarters.

Then Ernest's utterly cold voice rang out.

"Geraldine, are you arguing with me again?!"

"I told you, this project is your responsibility, and you have to bear it!"

"You think one USB drive can change anything?"

Spitting out those icy words, Ernest walked over to my side.

He lowered his voice.

"Geraldine, can't you just go along with me for once?"

"Can't you behave?"

His voice was full of helplessness.

Ernest reached out, trying to take the USB drive from my hand.

Sensing that I was gripping it tightly and wouldn't let go.

His eyes held back a surge of anger.

"Fine!"

"You wanted to see the project contract, didn't you?"

"I'll show you!"

The contract was flung out, my name written clearly on it in black and white.

Identical to my own handwriting.

"Miss Swanson, please don't waste our time!"

"Cooperate with our investigation!"

The person from headquarters frowned and glanced down at their watch.

My eyes were fixed on that familiar handwriting on the contract.

My heart clenched beyond my control.

The cramps in my abdomen came in wave after wave.

The pain was so bad I could barely stay on my feet.

I reached out to steady myself on the table, and had just caught my breath.

When the USB drive in my hand was suddenly snatched away.

"Hmph! Evidence?!"

"The project contract is signed in black and white, and Ernest testified, so what evidence are you still going on about?!"

"How ridiculous!"

Irene laughed and tossed the USB drive into the trash can.

The security guards forced my arms down.

My slightly rounded belly struck the sharp edge of the table.

A searing pain hit, and everything went black.

My body pitched forward.

"Geraldine!"

Ernest reached out and caught me.

His brow furrowed, and he murmured softly to comfort me.

"It's just a formality. I already had a word with headquarters."

"You don't need to be so scared..."

But before he could finish.

His eyes suddenly froze.

"Geraldine, why are you bleeding?"

I looked down at the blood spreading rapidly at my feet.

My face was pale and awful.

"Ernest, congratulations—our child has gone off to be reborn."

Ernest's expression froze all at once.

His eyes went completely blank.

His lips trembled, and he was just about to speak.

When the elevator doors opened.

Several police officers stepped out.

Holding the gold-bean popcorn I'd had melted down at the gold shop a few days ago.