Araceli POV
I closed the contract and said, "Micah, who drew up this contract?"
"It's me."
Micah said coldly, "If it's okay with you, sign it. Aren't you in a hurry to find a partner? It's an honor for you to work with me."
I smiled and stared at him, not saying anything.
Micah looked at me in the eye, blinked uneasily, and looked away.
I didn't know why, but I thought he looked a little chagrined.
"I think there's something wrong with this contract."
I didn't hesitate to say what I thought, in a sincere and serious manner.
I stared at Micah and said calmly, "I'm not going to work with you. You think too highly of yourself."
I said and threw the contract hard on the table.
Micah visibly froze for a few seconds, then looked at me with derision.
His face instantly went much colder, but I didn't feel the least bit intimidated, instead I stared more contemptuously into his eyes.
Micah was Raphael's son, Royal Group's heir, and the future Alpha of Royal Pack.
He had probably never been slighted by anyone before. Like Raphael, he was born with imperial majesty. Almost no one dared to look directly into his pupils. Yet, I never felt fearful of him or even Raphael.
Actually, I also didn't know why.
"What do you mean by that?"
Micah stared at me and said in a cold voice, "What's wrong with the contract? You're being rude!"
"When you handed me this contract, you should have expected me to reject you." I sneered and said, "Did you really think I couldn't see that? Micah, I can forgive you this time. If you ever want to do something like this again, you really should think it over."
I got up, grabbed my bag, and walked out of the cafe.
Just as I reached the door, I turned back and took a bill out of my bag and threw it on the table.
"It's on me. Go back and remember to give my regards to your mother."
I finished and turned to leave without hesitation.
I went back to the office and regrouped and backed up all the confidential information of the company.
When I saw Micah's look and attitude when he sat at the table to negotiate with me, I had a great sense of crisis.
Micah was smart, inherited Melany's cunning, and much smarter than Melany.
What did he want to do?
I frowned slightly, always with a sense of foreboding.
After I strengthened the file encryption system, I drove to daycare to pick up Krish and Valeria.
It didn't take long for us to arrive at the hospital entrance.
"Ms. Chancey! You're really here!"
Essel was lying on the hospital bed, excited and eager to jump off.
"Wow, Valeria! You're here too! I'm really so happy!"
I hurriedly walked over to her. "You're still on an infusion. Don't move around."
Essel immediately lay back, looking at me for a moment and then staring at Valeria, smiling.
She had gauze tied around her head. I could faintly see the blood seeping out. She was getting a transfusion, and the backs of her hands were covered with little purple holes.
Suddenly, a pain came from my heart.
I flinched and covered my chest, not showing it.
But...
This wasn't right...
I felt this same feeling in the fire that night. Valeria was about to suffocate, and I was so desperate I didn't know what to do but pray...
Was it Eve?
Was she back?
I pondered, hearing footsteps and suddenly snapping back to my senses.
Krish pursed his lips and walked over to the hospital bed. He reached out and removed Essel's hospitalization information card from the bedside.
Essel was startled when he reached out.
"What are you doing? Ms. Chancey is here! I'm not afraid of you!"
Krish narrowed his eyes, didn't say anything, and picked up the card and looked at it.
As he walked toward the balcony, he said, "I'm not interested in you."
Essel bristled and didn't say another word.
Valeria walked over and handed a small rabbit doll in her hand to Essel.
"Wow! Valeria, is this the little gift you gave me? It's so cute! I love it!"
I smiled, "This is Valeria's favorite rabbit doll. Essel, for Valeria to give it to you, it means she likes you a lot. She already recognizes you as her best friend."
"Friend? No! I'm not going to be Valeria's friend! I want to be her sister!"
Essel took Valeria's hand, blinked her big eyes, and said excitedly, "Valeria, can you let me be your sister? I will protect you for the rest of my life..."
Valeria opened her eyes in confusion and did not respond.
I was afraid that Essel would be disappointed, so I changed the subject and said, "Essel, where did your daddy go? Why isn't Maddox here either?"
"Daddy stayed with me all night yesterday and went to work today. Maddox said he was going back to the villa to get some clothes for me. Valeria, do you want to eat something? I'll call Maddox and have him bring it over later..."
Essel chattered, like a little bird.
The atmosphere in the ward was warm and amicable.
Krish was standing on the balcony.
I didn't know what he was doing, only that he had a complicated look on his face.
He walked in, put the information card back and sat down.
Essel hummed softly, "What are you looking at? Did you forget what my name is?"
Krish said calmly, "I'm not as stupid as you are."
"Stupid? Are you sure?"
Essel's voice suddenly became louder.
"Krish, listen, I've started taking calculus! No kid my age can learn this! That's a tough one!"
Krish looked calm and said, "I finished it when I was three and a half."
Essel froze for two seconds, her face full of disbelief.
Then, Essel turned her head and looked at me as if she was seeking an answer.
I nodded slowly.
Essel saw my face, coughed awkwardly twice and said, pretending not to care, "So what? My brother could program when he was three! He's much better than you!"