The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1574

“The answer’s easy.”

Andrew leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair, trying to sound offhand. “Because I wanted to, that’s all.”

He would never admit to Shirley that one time he showed up at The Cabinda University unannounced and caught her nearly crying, her face twisted with frustration as she battled with her secondhand laptop from high school.

Shirley fell silent. Her fingers gently traced the laptop’s screen, her emotions all tangled up. She recognized the brand right away. Even the barebones model cost forty or fifty thousand. The one Andrew got her probably cost at least a hundred grand.

All three of their gifts were basically too much. How could she ever pay them back?

“Andrew…”

“It’s your birthday present. If you don’t want it, just toss it,” he replied, not looking at her.

Shirley stared at him, lost for words. After a while, she managed a strained smile and quietly said, “Thank you, all of you.”

She promised herself she would work hard, get somewhere in life, and then—one day—repay everyone who’d ever helped her.

Geneva stood listening from the kitchen, wiping tears from her eyes, overwhelmed with relief. Shirley lost her father at one, her mother at three. She’d bounced around with Geneva, growing up scavenging just to survive.

Meeting kind people like Charlotte and the others felt like a gift from fate. Now, even if she passed away, Geneva truly believed this group would take care of Shirley for her.

***

Elsewhere, inside The Blair Group.

The air in the CEO’s office was uncomfortably heavy. Five or six senior female executives stood in a row, not one daring to look up. Anthony had ordered them here for something important, that much was clear.

They’d all worked at The Blair Group for years, but none of them had ever been called into the CEO’s office to be briefed like this. Every single one of them was wondering if they’d messed up at work. Had something gone so wrong, it needed the CEO’s personal attention?

No one moved or spoke. Finally, one woman with short hair risked a glance at the boss behind his desk.

What she saw nearly made her jaw drop. The legendary, stone-faced Anthony was totally focused on his phone, typing away at someone on the other end.

Suddenly, his lips actually lifted. Was that... a smile?

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