Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Will She Really Leave Me?
Cecilia Croft’s reply left Jude Sheridan stunned.
"Cecilia, I know you still have feelings for me. Do you really have to talk to me like this? Our relationship just hit a small incident. I’ll take care of this little incident, so don’t be angry anymore."
He and Cecilia Croft had been together for seven years, not seven days, nor seven months.
Their relationship had long since transformed from romance into a familial bond.
Cecilia Croft had no family left.
In her heart, he was her family.
So Jude Sheridan just thought Cecilia Croft was throwing a tantrum. Once she calmed down, she would come back to him.
After all, this was his fault.
And he was willing to placate her.
"Cecilia, tell me, where are you?"
"Just thinking about you hiding somewhere I don’t know, all alone and sad, breaks my heart. I’m so sorry. You can punish me however you want, but please don’t be sad all by yourself in secret."
Cecilia Croft was so angered by Jude Sheridan’s words that she laughed.
"Who gave you the confidence to think I’d still be sad over you?"
"Didn’t my attitude yesterday make everything clear? If you couldn’t understand what I meant, then let me tell you this, formally. Jude Sheridan, we’re done. Let’s break up."
After she finished speaking, she gave Jude Sheridan no chance to argue further and hung up the call.
Jude Sheridan wanted to say more, but he was met with a series of BEEP BEEP BEEPS. He closed his eyes for a moment, clenching his phone tightly, a flash of frustration in his eyes.
A wave of panic washed over his heart.
He quickly tapped his screen and composed a text to send to Cecilia Croft.
[Cecilia, don’t say things you don’t mean. I could never break up with you. I love you, and you love me, so why should we break up?]
The moment the message was sent, a red exclamation mark appeared almost instantly.
A system prompt immediately indicated that the recipient had blocked his messages.
The message had failed to send.
Jude Sheridan’s hand trembled almost imperceptibly.
A knock came at the door.
He took a sharp, deep breath, suppressing his emotions.
"Come in."
A lawyer from the legal department pushed the door open and entered, a serious expression on his face.
"I’ve already spoken with Miss Croft’s lawyer. She’s adamant about not signing the settlement agreement. She insists on having Ms. Keller and your mother sentenced, and there’s no room for negotiation."
’As for Zane Keller, that’s a lost cause,’ he thought. ’The Sawyer family has their eyes on him, so it’s impossible for anyone to save him. Not that I ever planned to save Zane Keller anyway.’
Jude Sheridan reached up and loosened his tie, unable to suppress the irritation in his eyes.
Seeing his state, the lawyer asked cautiously.
"Were you able to contact Miss Croft?"
Jude Sheridan’s face was grim as he said in a cold voice.
"I contacted her."
’But she hung up before I could even bring it up.’
Seeing this, the lawyer understood. Jude Sheridan probably hadn’t been able to win Cecilia Croft over.
The incident had spread widely within their circle, and numerous videos had appeared online.
The notes Jessica Keller had previously posted online were also dug up, and plenty of people were watching the drama unfold.
Many people were waiting to see the final outcome of this affair.
Some even labeled the incident with tags like "marital security" and "women’s protection."
Although Vantage’s PR department had already removed many of the videos, the damage was already done.
Several partnerships that had already been negotiated were now taking a wait-and-see approach.
Jude Sheridan had turned to Mr. Fisher of Apex Industries, but Mr. Fisher directly refused his proposal, stating that Apex Industries had already partnered with another company and signed a contract.
Jude Sheridan was being pulled in two directions: trying to placate Cecilia Croft on one hand and dealing with Vantage’s various problems on the other. He was completely overwhelmed.
Right now, the only way to completely quell this incident was for Cecilia Croft and Jude Sheridan to present a united front, clarify that this was just a private farce, and show their partners that their personal relationship issues wouldn’t affect the company’s overall situation. Only then could they stabilize Vantage’s current position.
But as luck would have it, Cecilia Croft refused to communicate with him.
"President Sheridan, Miss Croft values Vantage so much. She couldn’t possibly stand by and watch something happen to it."
"Perhaps we can have an employee who was on good terms with Miss Croft contact her and tell her about Vantage’s current situation. The quarterly shareholders’ meeting is in a week, and I believe Miss Croft will likely attend."
Upon hearing this, Jude Sheridan nodded slightly, pinching the bridge of his nose as he gave a quiet order.
"Have Assistant Zimmer contact her."
’For the future of Vantage, Cecilia Croft will definitely show up.’
’I’ll just let her have some peace and quiet for now.’
’Once she’s calmed down, I’ll make it up to her.’
The lawyer was silent for a few seconds before quietly reminding him.
"Assistant Zimmer already went to HR this morning to complete his resignation procedures. He packed his things and left."
Jude Sheridan’s expression darkened instantly.
"Who approved his resignation?"
The lawyer lowered his head. "Miss Croft fired him. The finance department settled his 2N severance package today."
Assistant Zimmer had originally been Cecilia Croft’s assistant, and his employment contract was signed with her. Even though Cecilia Croft hadn’t been to the office in six months, she still held an official position at the company. Procedurally, there was nothing wrong with her firing an employee.
Jude Sheridan’s hands on the desk clenched into tight fists.
’No wonder Cecilia found out about my relationship with Jessica, even though I’d hidden her so well.’
’So it was Assistant Zimmer who tipped Cecilia off all along. And he was the one who tricked Jessica into wearing the wedding dress and brought her to the venue.’
A vicious look filled Jude Sheridan’s eyes. He would make Assistant Zimmer understand the consequences of crossing him.
"Since he doesn’t want a career in this industry anymore, then let’s make sure he can never work in it again. Vantage’s severance money isn’t that easy to take!"
Having reached his current position, it was impossible for Jude Sheridan to be without some methods and connections.
It would be all too easy for him to blacklist a junior assistant.
No one would be willing to offend the president of a thriving company for the sake of a junior assistant.
Even though Cecilia Croft and Jude Sheridan had caused such a scene at the wedding, deep down, no one really thought they would actually separate.
After all, they had founded Vantage together, and their interests were too deeply intertwined.
If they split up, the losses would be devastating for both Cecilia Croft and Jude Sheridan.
In their circle, there were far too many couples who stayed together for personal gain, outwardly harmonious but inwardly estranged.
A flash of surprise appeared in the lawyer’s eyes, but he still lowered his head and replied.
"I’ll give the order right away."
The lawyer and Assistant Zimmer had joined the company around the same time and had known each other for several years. Although he sympathized with Assistant Zimmer, he still had to follow Jude Sheridan’s orders.
Jude Sheridan said no more, sitting in his office chair with a dark expression, his somber eyes filled with an unreadable mix of emotions.
The lawyer didn’t disturb him further. Just as he was about to turn and leave, the silent Jude Sheridan spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Do you think... she would really leave me?"
