Chapter 9

Steven immediately released Irene's hand. When the two of them turned around, they realized that Jordan was already standing behind them.

  Jordan was momentarily stunned when he realized that it was Steven. "Mr. Cook?" he greeted.

  "Mr. Reed!" Steven greeted and smiled awkwardly.

  However, Jordan added quickly with a forced smile, "Why are you holding onto my assistant's hand? Are you harassing her?"

  "Assistant?" Steven repeated and stared at Jordan in surprise before he looked at his daughter and asked, "Irene, are you working for Mr. Reed?"

  "Irene? Why are you addessing her so lovingly? Mr. Cook, I believe my assistant could already pass off as your daughter. Besides, she's not good-looking! It'd be a great mistake to have eyes for her. It'll be terrible to be embroiled in a nasty scandal," Jordon reminded sharply and pulled Irene over to his side as he spoke.

  "Have eyes for her? Embroiled in a nasty scandal?" Steven repeated and quickly realized that Jordan had misunderstood his relationship with Irene.

  However, when he saw how protective Jordan was of his daughter, instead of being angry, he burst into laughter. Jordan was handsome and graceful, the CEO of the Golden Age Group of China. Steven couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if Irene could date Jordan.

  However, now was not the right time to explain his relationship with Irene. Thus, Steven merely looked at Jordan with a profound smile before he replied, "Mr. Reed, I have something on today. I'll have to excuse myself. See you next time."

  Jordan's expression gradually darkened as he watched Steven leave. He then released Irene's hand contemptuously and chided, "Are you a fool? Do you enjoy holding hands with an old man in public?"

  "No!"

  "No? Is that true? I mean, Irene, are you just so desperate for a man that you'd hook up with any old man?"

  Jordan indeed had a vile tongue. Irene could only deny with a bitter smile, "Mr. Reed, it's not what you think."

  "I hope so. As my assistant, you should pay attention to your public image and moral integrity. Otherwise, I'll fire you!"

  "Got it! It won't happen again!"

  Jordan felt quite appeased seeing how submissive she was, and he ordered, "You don't have to attend the gathering tonight. Go back and get some rest. I have something for you to do tomorrow. By the way, make an appointment with Lulu."

  "Ok," Irene replied. It was rare of Jordan to show mercy on Irene and allow her to go back home and rest. Delighted at the huge surprise, Irene headed back home after calling Lulu on Jordon's behalf.

  As Irene's uncle had always been in poor health, she made a trip to the market on her way home and bought some fish, prawns and chicken so that she could whip up something nourishing for her uncle.

  However, when Irene was coming out from the supermarket, a car suddenly rushed towards her from the side of the road. Unable to dodge in time, Irene was hit by the car and fell to the ground.

  Her palm and legs were badly grazed and ached terribly. When she tried to get back on her feet, she could not seem to summon the strength to do so. The driver quickly got out of the car and asked, "Are you all right?"

  "I can..." When Irene saw who the driver was, she stopped short.

  The driver, too, stared at her in surprise. "Young... Young Madam!"

  "Young Madam? Edric already ditched her a long time ago. Mind your words," a loud, arrogant voice interrupted.

  Margaret Moore, who was in the back seat of the car, got out before she approached Irene with an imposing aura. There was not an ounce of sympathy on her face when she stared at Irene. Instead, she merely sneered and remarked, "Irene, did you do that on purpose? You failed to seduce Edric, so you did this to attract his attention, didn't you? How lowly is that?"

  Irene was boiling with rage and retorted, "Madam Myers, you're really good at making irresponsible remarks, aren't you?"

  "Irresponsible remarks? Back then, you seduced Edric using this way, too. Why? Are you nervous now that Edric's going to be engaged to Lily? Are you trying to create trouble for us again?"

  Margaret stared at Irene with contempt. This was the kind of gaze that Irene had been subjected to almost every day for the past three years that she was married to Edric. In the past, she couldn't talk back to Margaret as she was her daughter-in-law. But now that she had divorced Edric, she found no reason to put up with Margaret's rude, unreasonable behavior.

  Irene sneered coldly and rebuked, "Don't worry. I've had enough of an unfaithful jerk like Edric. I'd be crazy to want to have anything to do with him."

  In the past, Irene had always been obedient and submissive to Margaret and would never retaliate no matter how Margaret chastised her. But today, she actually insulted Margaret's son in her presence. Unable to put up with this, Margaret struck her across the face.

  Irene, who was struggling to stand up, fell back on the ground from the impact of the blow.

  By then, a crowd had gathered around them. Unable to tolerate Margaret's bullying, the crowd began to criticize her, "How could she do this? How could she be so arrogant after knocking the lady down? Let's call the police!"