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Novel Catalog
Chapter 4
Jenny rushed into the building, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Her aunt, Paula, had just told her about Shawn’s marriage, and she was seething with rage. She was determined to see who this “vixen” was, and once she did, she planned to make her pay. She would scratch her face, rip off her hair, and throw her clothes out onto the street!
Without a second thought, Jenny walked quickly, completely ignoring the wet floor sign. Her high heels slipped on the freshly mopped tiles, and she lost her balance.
“Ah!!” she screamed. “Which one of you blind b*tches wants to hurt me?!”
The employees of Wood Group had grown used to Jenny’s erratic behavior and avoided her at all costs. But Gale, the cleaner, was still going about her duties without hesitation. Jenny’s eyes landed on her, and she quickly marched over.
“You, the one mopping the floor, come here!” Jenny barked.
Gale glanced up and asked, “Are you calling me?”
“Yes! Kneel down and dry the floor!” Jenny ordered, her voice sharp.
Gale frowned but remained standing, which only made Jenny angrier.
“Can’t you understand me? If I fell just now, I would definitely not let you go!” Jenny’s face was twisted with fury.
Gale looked at her evenly. “First of all, you should speak like a human being if you want me to understand you.”
“You!” Jenny’s eyes flashed with fury. “And there’s a sign that says ‘Caution, Wet Floor,’” Gale added. “Can’t you read?”
Jenny’s jaw dropped in disbelief. How dare a mere cleaner speak to her like that! “You’re accusing me? Believe it or not, I’ll fire you right now!”
Gale raised an eyebrow. “You? Fire me? Who are you?”
Jenny smirked arrogantly. “I’m the fiancée of Shawn Wood—Jenny Timothy!”
Well, I’m Shawn Wood’s wife, Gale thought bitterly but kept the words to herself. Jenny was clearly trying to assert her dominance, but if Gale revealed her true identity now, Jenny would surely tear her apart. She couldn’t afford to make an enemy of this woman.
“Hey!” Jenny yelled, her voice rising in anger. “Now you know who I am!”
“Oh, if I remember correctly, President Wood announced his marriage this morning,” Gale replied smoothly. “And I don’t think you’re the bride.”
Gale smiled slightly, her words digging right into Jenny’s pride.
“That news is fake! Shawn can’t possibly marry someone else!” Jenny snapped, her voice trembling with outrage. “Our marriage was arranged by Mr. Wood before he passed!”
Gale’s eyes narrowed, finally understanding. No wonder Jenny feels so confident.
Suddenly, Gale patted her on the shoulder, her tone mockingly sympathetic. “I hope you regain your position as soon as possible. I have high hopes for you.”
Jenny stared at her, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m extremely, very, in support of…” Gale’s voice trailed off as she exaggerated her enthusiasm.
Before she could finish, Jenny looked behind her, a bright smile spreading across her face. “Shawn!”
Shawn appeared as if summoned by her very words. Gale froze and slowly turned around, a guilty knot tightening in her stomach. She couldn’t help but feel nervous, but fear soon overtook her as she realized Shawn must have overheard everything.
Shawn moved toward them with a regal air, his presence commanding the space around him. His expression was cold, a storm brewing behind his eyes.
“Shawn,” Jenny began, her voice dripping with feigned innocence, “this cleaner almost made me fall and talked back to me. You need to help me teach her a lesson!”
Gale lowered her eyes, biting her lip in nervousness. What do you want me to do to her?
Shawn glanced at Gale, his piercing eyes locking onto hers. “Did you hear that?”
Gale nodded, her heart racing. “I heard.”
“Then do it,” Jenny demanded, her voice laced with venom. “Make her kneel and clean up the floor and my shoes.”
Shawn’s gaze was unwavering as he watched Gale. The anger in his eyes was almost suffocating. Without a word, Gale walked over, grabbed a clean rag, and knelt on the floor. She carefully wiped Jenny’s shoes, the cold marble reflecting her humiliated posture.
Jenny smirked, clearly enjoying the sight. As Gale bent down, Shawn’s eyes narrowed, the anger inside him festering. So, this is what it means to be Mrs. Wood? he thought bitterly. Was it really that bad to be his wife? Even if she felt wronged, she had no choice but to endure.
Shawn stepped past Gale, his leather shoes purposefully crushing her fingertips as he walked. Gale stayed still, allowing him to step on her hand, her heart pounding with the weight of his cruelty. Maybe this will calm him down, she thought silently.
As Shawn walked away, Jenny chased after him like a lapdog. “Shawn! You promised my uncle you would marry me…”
Shawn was clearly uninterested. “Yes, I promised my father. You can go complain to him.” His voice was icy and dismissive.
Jenny faltered, her anger rising. “You’re trying to get rid of me, aren’t you?”
“Also,” Shawn continued, his tone colder than ever, “you’re not qualified to point fingers at my employees.”
Jenny stomped her foot in frustration, but Shawn’s words had already cut her deeper than any of her outbursts. To him, she wasn’t even as important as Gale, the cleaner.
The elevator doors slid shut with a quiet hiss, cutting off Jenny’s protests.
…
After office hours, the rain began to pour. Gale’s workload increased as she scrubbed the floors, her muscles aching with exhaustion. When she finally finished, she could barely stand upright.
Meanwhile, Shawn, ever the epitome of wealth and privilege, was waiting. Fiona held an umbrella for him as his driver opened the door of the sleek car for him. They were from different worlds entirely.
Shawn cast a glance at Gale, and his voice was low when he spoke to Fiona. She walked over to Gale, clearing her throat before delivering the message.
“Mrs. Gale,” Fiona said, “Mr. Wood… asked you to walk home.”
Gale blinked, stunned. The drive home was half an hour away, and with the heavy rain, she had no umbrella. If she walked in this storm, she’d catch a cold, or worse, fall ill.
“Okay,” Gale replied simply.
Fiona hesitated for a moment, then said, “Actually, Mrs. Gale, I think… you could show some weakness. Beg President Wood for mercy.”
Gale merely smiled, the weariness in her bones too much to fight against. Blindly showing weakness will get me nowhere. She knew that Shawn didn’t want her to beg—he just wanted to see her suffer.
Without another word, Gale grabbed her canvas bag and dashed into the rain, her clothes quickly soaked through.
From the balcony of Temperley Hall, Shawn watched her. The sight of her drenched clothes clinging to her figure caught his attention, highlighting her delicate curves.
He scowled. This woman is doing this on purpose, he thought bitterly. The more he looked, the angrier he became.
Grabbing his coat, Shawn stormed down the stairs.
Gale was just stepping under the eaves, trying to find some shelter, when she collided with Paula.
“Hey! You almost hurt me!” Paula glared at her, furious. “What kind of careless person are you?”
“Excuse me,” Gale muttered, stepping back to move around her.
But Paula stopped her, eyeing Gale up and down. “Housekeeper, why did you bring such a young, beautiful vixen to Temperley Hall? Or… did Shawn ask you to do this?”
The housekeeper, standing nearby, cleared his throat nervously. “Mrs. Paula, this is Mrs. Wood, the mistress of Temperley Hall.”
Paula’s expression immediately soured. “It’s you? So, it was you who ruined my plans that night!”
Gale looked confused. “Ruined your plans?”
Paula’s face twisted in rage. “I had everything set up for Jenny to climb into Shawn’s bed, but you… you got in the way!”