Bella Jefferson and Scarlett Sullivan were college classmates.
Speaking of which, Scarlett had only met Mason Sinclair because Bella had made the introduction.
After graduation, Scarlett had struggled to find a job she liked and proactively asked Bella for help.
Thinking that Meridian Group was a perfect match for their major, Bella had recommended her for a position.
Scarlett successfully entered the R&D department.
She climbed the ranks step by step from an R&D assistant, and within just five years, she secured the position of R&D Director.
Over the years, Bella had heard Mason praise Scarlett’s competence and innovative ideas on more than one occasion.
She had assumed Scarlett had achieved her current success through sheer hard work—after all, Scarlett had been an outstanding student in college.
Thus, Bella had never given it a second thought.
Looking back now, it was utterly laughable.
What competence or design ingenuity did she actually have?
She had merely seduced Mason and leveraged his power to get to where she was today.
And to think Bella had foolishly believed her husband loved her to the bone, and that her best friend had remained loyal to her all along!
Bella met Scarlett’s exquisitely made-up face and looked her up and down.
Scarlett was dressed in a cream-white Armani haute couture business suit, her feet adorned with a pair of three-inch Christian Louboutin heels.
Her makeup was flawless, and her long, wavy hair exuded a mature and enchanting charm.
It really was true that one’s environment shaped them!
Seeing her so extravagantly elegant now, who could possibly associate her with the ordinary girl she used to be?
Bella remained clear-headed; now was not the time to lay her cards on the table with Scarlett.
If Scarlett wanted to put on an act and treat her like a mere pretty face who only knew how to schmooze clients, then Bella would gladly continue playing that role.
She would quietly watch them put on their little show!
She smiled brightly.
“I was afraid of interrupting your work, so I didn’t tell you.”
After a pause, she asked casually, “I’m not sure if I heard incorrectly, but did I just hear them call you the CEO’s wife?”
A flicker of guilt flashed through Scarlett’s eyes, and her grip on Bella’s arm noticeably tightened.
However, she maintained her poised smile.
“You must have misheard.
We were just discussing work-related matters.”
As she spoke, she brushed back her long hair, revealing the necklace around her neck.
Bella recognized it at a glance—it was the exact same one she had seen on feed.
The pendant featured a rare pink diamond.
It was worth millions!
It was a blatant display of showing off.
How could Bella not see through it?
She feigned a reproachful tone, “I saw your post.
You didn’t even tell me you got a boyfriend.
That’s so uncool of you.”
“He’s quite low-key and doesn’t like to be flashy, which is why I didn’t tell you.”
Because of that post on her feed, Mason had lost his temper with her and demanded she delete it. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Scarlett had been extremely indignant.
Just because Mr.
Sinclair favored Bella, Scarlett was forced to hide in the shadows, unable to see the light of day.
Even though she was the one who truly belonged with Mason…
Bella sneered in her heart.
Mason was indeed very low-key.
Otherwise, how could he have successfully deceived her for five whole years, only for the truth to be exposed a few days ago?
Putting on an envious expression, she asked, “Since you’ve found such a generous and loving boyfriend, when are you going to bring him out to introduce him to me?”
“Introduce who?” a deep male voice came from ahead.
Soon after, Mason Sinclair walked out of the elevator.
Bella couldn’t wait to share the good news with him.
“Scarlett has a boyfriend now!
I was just discussing with her when we could all meet up.”
Hearing this, Mason’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He loosened his tie to mask his sudden panic.
“Is that so?
How come I’ve never heard Scarlett mention it before?”
“I only found out after seeing her post.
Her boyfriend really dotes on her—he even gifted her a diamond necklace worth millions.” She smiled and looked at Scarlett.
“I’m guessing it might be one of the top executives in our company?
But then again, there are only a handful of people in our company with an annual income in the millions, and they’re all already married with children.”
Panic-stricken, Scarlett averted her gaze.
With forced casualness in her voice, she said, “He’s not from our company.
I met him outside of work.”
Mason also feigned composure, adding, “We have a lot of projects lately, and Scarlett is very busy.
It’s highly unlikely she’d be involved in an office romance.”
Bella narrowed her eyes, casting a probing glance at the two of them.
“I was just making a casual remark.
What are you two so nervous about?
Don’t tell me it’s actually you guys…”
Mason’s breathing hitched, and he anxiously cut her off.
“Honey, don’t let your imagination run wild.
You’re the only person I’ll ever love in this lifetime.
I would never do anything to betray you.”
His earnest and affectionate demeanor was so convincing he was practically ready to swear to the heavens.
Bella remained silent for a few seconds.
Suddenly, she burst into a laugh.
“PFFT.
Look at how nervous you both got.
Of course I know my husband loves me the most, and how could my dear former classmate ever betray me and seduce my husband to be his mistress?”
With that, she asked with a bright smile, “Right, Scarlett?”
Scarlett clutched the fabric of her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Forcing a strained smile, she replied, “Of course.
I still understand the principle that friends don’t steal friends’ husbands.”
As the tension in the air thickened to a palpable degree, a man in a lab coat stepped out of the door opposite them at the perfect moment.
Mason hurriedly waved him over.
“Anson, come here for a second.”
The man named Anson approached and greeted them respectfully, “President Sinclair, Director Sullivan.”
Mason took the initiative to introduce Bella’s identity.
“This is our newly appointed Project Director.
From now on, you will report the research progress of the new technology to Director Jefferson.”
Before she could speak, Mason continued, “Anson, take Director Jefferson to familiarize herself with the research first, so it’ll be easier for her to report the situation to the Xavier Group later.”
Anson respectfully gestured for Bella to follow.
“Director Jefferson, please come with me.”
Knowing better than to overplay her hand, and being eager to understand the progress of the new technology anyway, Bella smiled, waved at the two of them, and followed Anson to the laboratory.
After walking a short distance, her sharp ears caught Scarlett’s complaining voice.
“Having someone who doesn’t understand research or technology report on our work?
Is this Mr.
Xavier out of his mind?”
Mason’s voice sounded helpless.
“Mr.
Xavier insists on it, and there’s nothing I can do.”
Seeing that there was no one else around, Scarlett took the initiative to loop her arm through Mason’s.
“Mason, have you ever met this Mr.
Xavier?
What kind of person is he exactly?”
“His assistant has been handling the entire collaboration.
I haven’t had the chance to interact with him at all.” After saying that, Mason gently removed her hand and glanced around warily.
“Bella has been a bit sensitive lately.
Keep a low profile in the company and don’t go out of your way to provoke her.”
Although the things Bella had just said were passed off as jokes, they still served as a wake-up call for them.
From now on, they could no longer do as they pleased in the company like they used to.
Scarlett glared in the direction Bella had left, her vicious gaze resembling a venomous snake.
Then, she let out a mocking laugh.
“With that brain of hers, she won’t notice a thing.
Even if she does, you said yourself that she could never leave you.
So what are you afraid of?”
Prior to this, Mason had thought the exact same thing.
But recently, Bella had been acting far too strangely, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
“Just be careful.
Now that Mr.
Xavier has specifically asked for her, if anything goes wrong at this critical juncture, it’ll be bad for both of us.”
Bella walked into the laboratory with a cold sneer, completely shutting out their voices.