Up until now, for three years, she had stood by Oliver Timmerman during his most difficult times, helping him step by step, and gradually pulling the Timmerman Corporation back on track.
But what did she get in return?
It was Oliver Timmerman's betrayal.
It was a "You're too cold and domineering"...
If she hadn't armored herself with coldness and dominance, how would she deal with the wolves ahead and the tigers behind?
If she hadn't armored herself with coldness and dominance, what would she have ended up looking like after being toyed with by those men?
If she hadn't armored herself with coldness and dominance, if something had happened, the distracted one would still be Oliver Timmerman, and she foolishly didn't want to become a burden to him!
However, the end result only made her even more pathetic and laughable.
She didn't want to be cold and dominating either. She wanted to live like a normal woman.
To be a simple office worker, to dress up beautifully, to call up her close friends for shopping, dining, gatherings, and trips...
But could she?
She couldn't.
She couldn't before, and now, even less so.
Because this time, she truly had no one but herself.
Without strength, who would offer her protection?
Alone in the hospital room, Arabella Vanderbilt eventually just sighed softly.
In contrast to the quietness of Arabella Vanderbilt's room, the room next door where Juliana Vanderbilt was staying was currently overflowing with people.
The Old Madam Rosy Roberts of the Vanderbilt Family, her father Victor Vanderbilt, her mother Naomi Rein, Oliver Timmerman, Leonard Wells, who also helped save Juliana, and several of Juliana's classmates who had been on the boat for the party.
"Your sister went too far. You even apologized to her, yet she actually scalded you with boiling water?"
"Juliana, stay away from your sister in the future. Just looking at her cold demeanor frightens me, let alone how she must bully you when you're around her!"
"Yeah, she's obviously a woman, but she's always wearing dark, stiff professional clothes that are so off-putting. I heard that at Senior Brother's company, she works harder than any man. Does she even resemble a woman? Whoever ends up with her is really in for it..."
Oliver Timmerman, overhearing this, furrowed his brows slightly, his face turning stern.
Juliana Vanderbilt, sensing Oliver Timmerman's change in demeanor, frowned subtly, her makeup-free face easily betraying a hint of fragile sadness.
"After all, she is my sister. She might seem a bit cold and not easy to get along with, but she hasn't done anything too outrageous..."
Juliana's best friend Faye Wright, however, spoke up angrily:
"Not done anything outrageous? Juliana, you're just too kind-hearted. I've told you before, being too kind-hearted isn't good in this day and age! The things she's done to you are known by almost everyone in Krent City! If it weren't for her, you now..."
"Enough!"
The Old Madam Rosy Roberts, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly spoke up sternly and stood up, her expression dark.
Rosy Roberts wasn't very tall, standing at just 1.6 meters with hair that was now completely white, though neatly bun up. Her age-marked face, though spirited and bright-eyed, could not hide the signs of time.
It was apparent that this Old Madam was no easy person to provoke even in her youth.
As the Old Madam's voice carried a natural authority, the previously noisy hospital room fell silent at once.
Rosy Roberts, with a stern face, walked up to Juliana Vanderbilt, who looked somewhat frightened by her approach. The pitiful, weak, and slightly aggrieved expression softened the Old Madam's gaze for a moment.
Finally, she said, "It was right to choose to keep this from the media. After all, she... is also a part of the Vanderbilt Family. Spreading this would cause unnecessary trouble!"
Rosy Roberts paused for a moment, and a distinct look of disgust flashed in her eyes, as if mentioning "her" was an embarrassing matter.
With a face filled with soft sadness, Juliana Vanderbilt nodded obediently, "I understand, Grandma. Actually, I'm the one who owes my sister an apology. It's only right that she'd be mad at me, and besides, it was an accident at that time..."
Hearing Juliana Vanderbilt's words, Rosy Roberts seemed to be reminded of something, and the disgust in her eyes deepened instantly.
"Enough, don't talk about her anymore! Next Friday evening, the Russo Financial Corporation Junior Chairman's inauguration as the Russo Corporation's Global Chief Executive Officer ceremony is being held at the Perkins Corporation Hotel, and you will accompany him!"