Is this the real reason? He is different from other rich people. Others keep their mistresses outside, but Cassius wants to bring her into his home.
"Well, I could come over occasionally," Lia said hesitantly.
Although she hadn't run into his family the day before, staying at his house all the time would increase the chances of meeting them. That would only make things more complicated and harder to explain.
"I have plenty of rooms at my place. You won't be in the way," he replied, as if it were no big deal.
"But…" Lia started, still unsure.
"Lia, you'll be starting your official job next week. If you stay at my place, it'll be easier for you to commute every day. Plus, food and accommodation are free," he continued, his tone casual but persuasive.
His offer was undeniably tempting. Money had a magnetic pull, and Lia couldn't deny the practicality of it. Without much hesitation, she agreed, feeling strangely powerless to refuse.
"Alright, thank you," she replied, trying to sound confident, even if she didn't fully believe in her own decision.
A slight smile appeared on Cassius's lips. "I'll pick you up this afternoon."
He's coming to pick her up? Lia looked at the door, a little stunned. "Cassius, I can just take a ride here by myself."
"You're not feeling well," he said, as though it were an obvious reason.
He seemed to care for her, but then again, who was the one responsible for her not feeling well in the first place?
...
At the Valen Group Secretary's Office.
"Did you hear? Lia switched jobs!" A few employees gathered together, gossiping excitedly.
"Isn't it normal for Lia to change jobs? Lucas treated her terribly, how could she not leave?" Viola muttered under her breath.
Everyone knew about Lucas's mistreatment of Lia. Despite how hard she worked, he was always picking on her.
"Lia is so beautiful and has such a good temperament. It's a shame to see her go," another employee said wistfully.
After working with her for two years, they all came to appreciate Lia's kindness and were sorry to see her leave.
"What could we do? Lucas didn't like her. Honestly, if it were me, I would've quit a long time ago."
"That's not the point. Do you know where she's gone?" another employee asked, raising her voice in excitement.
"Where?" Viola asked, curious.
"Ravencroft Group. I saw Lia and Cassius from Ravencroft come out of a private room yesterday," the employee said, her eyes wide.
"What? Really?" This caught everyone off guard.
"I saw it with my own eyes. Plus, I think Lia and Cassius are pretty close. She was even wearing his jacket."
The woman clasped her hands to her face, envious. "Do you think they're in a relationship?"
Just as they were gossiping, Lucas walked in, and overheard their conversation. His face immediately darkened. "Jake, what kind of management is this? Are your subordinates always this idle?"
The employees froze in place, no one daring to speak.
Jake shot them all a disapproving look. "Sorry, Lucas. I'll make sure they review their behavior. Why don't you go back to work?"
The employees scattered, returning to their desks in silence.
Lucas walked into his office, scowling. What was Lia to him? It would be better if she left. He didn't care.
Intimate?
That woman was conservative. There was no way she'd get close to another man, especially not one from a competing company.
They must have seen it wrong. Lia wasn't the type to do such things.
Sitting in his boss chair, Lucas rubbed his temples in frustration. He was annoyed by all the disruptions. He'd been woken up early by the servants, and he was fed up. Sooner or later, he'd get rid of all of them.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Alicia walked in without waiting for a response. "Hey, Lucas, what's wrong? Who upset you?" she said in a sugary, flirtatious voice.
She was dressed provocatively, her makeup heavy, and she wasted no time sitting on his lap and running her hands over his chest.
She had been assigned to replace Lia, and today was her first day at the company. She was eager to do anything to get Lucas's attention.
Lucas pinched her chin and looked at her with disdain. "You're dressed like that… Who are you trying to impress?"
Alicia smiled sweetly. "It's for you."
Her hands started to roam, and she leaned in for a kiss. But just then, the sound of a phone ringing interrupted them. The man pushed her away irritably.
"What's that sound?"
"That woman set the alarm," Lucas muttered, rubbing his forehead.
He was irritated. She had been everywhere around him, and it wasn't working.
"Ugh, it's so annoying. Why is she always around?" he muttered.
Alicia pouted in dissatisfaction and wrapped her arms around him again. "Lucas, let's continue."
But Lucas had lost interest. He slapped her hands away. "Work first."
"Lucas," Alicia whined.
"Work. This is a workplace, not a playground," Lucas said sternly.
Alicia fell silent. She knew how he could be—easy-going when he was in the mood, but cold and distant when he wasn't.
...
Later that afternoon, Lia arrived at the Valen household.
Everything felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Lady Selena, now in her 50s, looked incredibly well-preserved. She didn't look a day over 40.
"Madam, Lia has arrived," the servant announced.
Lia stood respectfully at the door, waiting for Selena to acknowledge her.
Selena continued arranging the flowers, not sparing Lia a single glance.
"Come in," she finally said.
"Hello, Madam," Lia said politely, bowing her head.
Without warning, the scissors in Selena's hands were thrown onto the table with a loud clatter, making the servants jump in shock. Lia remained calm, not reacting.
"You all can leave," Selena ordered, her voice dripping with disdain.
The servants quickly retreated, leaving just the three of them: Selena, Lia, and the servant who had been attending to Selena.
Selena looked at Lia, her half-smile a mix of mockery and contempt. "You've grown up, haven't you? Your wings have certainly hardened."
Lia replied calmly, "Madam, thank you for everything you've done for me over the years."
"So, is this how you repay me?" Selena snapped, giving her a cold look.
"Madam, I'm sorry," Lia said, though her voice carried no fear.
It was true that she owed much to the Valen family, especially for the education they had given her. But she wasn't willing to stay in this position forever. She wasn't going to keep acting like a servant, always bowing to them.
"You were never good enough to earn his favor. Who can you blame for that? Don't pretend I didn't give you a chance, Lia. You just couldn't grasp it," Selena sneered.
Lia felt a twinge of hurt, but she refused to let it show. "Madam, I am grateful for your support. But I am also a person, and I deserve to live my own life."
"Do you really think I adopted you for your sake? If it weren't for Lucas, I would never have taken you in. You've disappointed me far too much. If you want to leave, you'd better have the ability to do so," Selena said coldly.
Lia's heart sank. She had hoped for kindness, but all she got was this harsh reality.
"I'm sorry, Madam. Here's the five million you asked for. Thank you for everything," Lia said, placing the check on the table.
"Where did you get this much money?" Selena asked, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.
But before Lia could answer, the door opened, and Lucas entered, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
Seeing Lia there, he smirked. He knew exactly what had happened—she must've come back to complain.
"Lucas, why are you back so early today?" Selena asked, suddenly changing her tone to one of sweetness.
"Mom, no matter what she says, I'm not letting her back into Valen Group. This time, I'm not compromising. If you want her to return, I won't come back home," Lucas declared, his tone final.
His words left no room for discussion. If Lia wasn't going to beg for his forgiveness, there was no chance of her returning to the family.