Chapter 2

I stared at Jackson.

"What did you just say?"

Jackson's mouth turned down at the corners.

"Ma'am, I was just speaking casually. Don't be so sensitive."

I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"You're a driver. Since when do you get to tell me where to sit or comment on whether I have children?"

Jackson said nothing.

He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.

"I don't like the smell of smoke. Put it out."

Jackson exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Mr. Smith never minded these things. Miss Sullivan never made a fuss like you do when she rode in the car."

"Which Miss Sullivan?"

"Susan Sullivan. Mr. Smith's ex-girlfriend. If she hadn't gone abroad, you wouldn't have had your chance."

I pulled out my phone and called Ethan.

"Vivian, did Jackson pick you up?"

I looked at Jackson.

"He did. But he says the passenger seat is reserved for your former fiancée and I'm not worthy of sitting there."

Ethan paused.

"What former fiancée?"

Jackson immediately turned around.

"Mr. Smith, that's not what I meant!"

I put the call on speaker.

Ethan's voice turned cold.

"Jackson, explain yourself clearly."

Jackson quickly changed his tone.

"Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith misunderstood. I was just worried the passenger seat wasn't safe, so I asked her to sit in the back. As for Miss Sullivan, I only mentioned her in passing. Nothing more."

Ethan spoke up.

"Vivian, don't be upset. I'll have Assistant Blaise come pick you up right away."

"No need."

I pushed open the car door.

"I'll take a cab myself."

"The meeting ends in ten minutes. I'll come find you."

Jackson quickly got out of the car.

"Ma'am, it's blazing hot out here. Don't throw a tantrum. If you leave on your own, Mr. Smith will think I bullied you."

"Didn't you?"

He choked on his words.

He lowered his voice.

"Ma'am, don't be so difficult."

"I've been driving for the Smith family for eight years. The old master used me when he was alive."

"How many years have you been married in?"

I nodded.

"Fine."

"You don't need to do this job today."

Jackson's face darkened.

"What do you mean?"

"Starting now, you're fired."

He let out a scoffing laugh.

"Mr. Smith pays my salary."

"You think you can fire me just like that?"

I waved my phone.

"The salary comes from my personal account."

"I bought this car before I got married."

"Do you still think I'm not qualified?"

Jackson's expression changed.

He laughed coldly.

"Ma'am, don't use money to push people around."

"Mr. Smith values loyalty. He won't fire me just because of one word from you."

"If you make a scene like this, people will just say you can't tolerate the Smith family's old employees."

"Let them say it then."

I turned and walked toward the roadside.

Jackson drove the car after me.

"Ma'am, get in the car."

"If something happens to you in this heat, I can't bear the responsibility when Mr. Smith blames me."

I ignored him.

He suddenly swerved the car and stopped in front of me.

I nearly crashed into the hood.

"Jackson, what do you think you're doing?"

Jackson Hill's face was stern.

"Nothing much."

"Just asking Mrs. Smith to get in the car."

"Don't make this difficult for me."

I took out my phone to call the police.

Ethan's call came through.

Just as I pressed answer, Jackson got out of the car and grabbed my wrist.

"Ma'am, that's enough. A woman crying and making a scene on the street—aren't you embarrassed?"

I shook him off forcefully.

"Touch me one more time and see what happens!"

A black business car screeched to a halt at the roadside.

Ethan got out and strode over quickly.

Jackson immediately let go.

"Mr. Smith, thank goodness you're here."

"Mrs. Smith insisted on getting out of the car. I tried everything to persuade her."

"She even said she'd fire me."

"I was just afraid something would happen to her, so I stopped her."

Ethan walked to my side and held my wrist.

There was a red mark where it had been grabbed.

Ethan's eyes turned completely cold.

"Jackson."

"Who gave you permission to touch her?"

Jackson panicked.

"Mr. Smith, I really didn't mean to."

"Mrs. Smith lost her temper. I was afraid she'd run off."

I pulled my hand back.

"Ethan, I don't want to see him again."

Ethan nodded.

"Alright."

Jackson became anxious.

"Mr. Smith!"

"I've driven for the Smith family for eight years. Even if I haven't achieved much, I've worked hard, haven't I?"

"Are you really going to fire me just because of a few words from Mrs. Smith?"

"It's not just a few words."

Ethan's gaze was extremely heavy.

"You crossed the line."

Jackson stared at me intently.