Once she completed five years, she would be eligible to apply for mid-level associate positions-a milestone she was eagerly anticipating.
Klein nodded thoughtfully. “In my day, many people relied on connections and favors to get ahead. When I took over, I made it a priority to change that.”
“Relax. You want fair competition, right? I’ll make sure you have it,” he added, his tone reassuring.
A wave of relief washed over Whitney, mingled with happiness. “Thank you, Uncle Klein,” she said, her gratitude genuine.
She had complete faith that he would keep his promise. When Klein made a commitment, he meant it. There was no chance he would let her down.
As long as the case remained with PrimeBridge, Ivan would always be the one to secure it.
“Now that we’ve covered business, how about we delve into something a bit more personal?” Klein suggested, his voice shifting to a more intimate tone.
Whitney’s heart skipped a beat, and a sudden wave of anxiety washed over her.
She chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. “Uncle Klein, what do you want to talk about?”
Klein’s dark eyes deepened with intensity. “I heard you told Carter you want to break off the engagement today?”
“You heard that?” Whitney asked, her surprise evident.
Klein maintained a calm demeanor, simply nodding. “Yeah, I caught that while I was passing by on my way to the restroom.”
Since he was already aware, Whitney decided to be open. “Yes, I don’t plan on marrying him anymore. I spoke with Sabrina; she mentioned that James isn’t doing well, so he might need some time to adjust.”
“True, but your wedding is only a few days away,” Klein pointed out, his brow furrowing slightly.
Whitney nodded, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “Yeah, just a few days left.”
After five years of persistence, she found herself on the brink of missing the chance to marry Carter-an unexpected twist in her carefully laid plans.
“You’ve really thought this through?” Klein asked, his gaze steady and searching.
Whitney met his eyes, her resolve firm. “I have.”
Klein responded with a simple, “Okay.”
A flicker of curiosity crossed Whitney’s face. “Uncle Klein, aren’t you going to try to talk me out of it?”
She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘He’s a Harris too; why isn’t he trying to persuade me?’
Klein offered a subtle half-smile. “I respect your decision.”
But then his tone shifted, becoming serious. “However, now that you and Carter have called off the engagement, you probably shouldn’t call me Uncle Klein anymore.”
Whitney’s heart sank at his words, a mix of confusion and sadness swirling within her.
His statement stung, yet she couldn’t deny the truth behind it.
Klein lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Just think of me as your brother. I’m only a few years older than you, after all.”
Whitney blinked, taken aback.
“Mr. Harris” hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she held it back, grappling with the implications of his words.
“Brother? Are you serious?” Whitney thought, her mind racing. ‘You’re from the same generation as my dad. Isn’t that a bit disrespectful?’
After a moment of silence, she forced a stiff smile and looked up. Klein’s eyes bore into hers, close enough that she felt breathless.
They were so intense that it felt like they could pierce right through her soul.
Just as Whitney felt overwhelmed, his voice, laced with warmth, broke the tension. “No rush. Take your time to adjust. You can always change it later.”
Whitney let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, thinking to herself, ‘Unless absolutely necessary, I’m steering clear of solo dinners with this guy.’
“Excuse me,” she said, needing an escape, and headed toward the restroom.
Klein leaned back in his chair, cool and composed, watching as Whitney nearly bolted from the room in a flurry of anxiety. Internally, he sighed. “There’s a restroom right in here, yet she chooses to flee outside.”
“Looks like I pushed too hard. The little rabbit nearly got scared off. I’ll need to tread lightly with her.”
Whitney herself didn’t fully understand why she had rushed out; the atmosphere felt overwhelmingly stifling.
However, the moment Tina entered, she spotted Whitney standing at the sink immediately.
“So it really was you just now?” Tina sneered, her tone dripping with irritation.
But Whitney quickly regained her composure, shooting Tina a mocking glance. “What? You want to get something thrown at you again?”
At her words, Tina instinctively recoiled, her neck tensing as if she could still feel the sting from their last confrontation. She took a step back, clearly wary of Whitney’s reaction.
Whitney couldn’t help but smirk at Tina’s startled response.
“Good, she’s finally scared of me. That’s exactly what I want. She needs to understand that I’m not someone to be trifled with. She better stay out of my way,” Whitney thought, satisfaction coursing through her.
Tina’s face flushed with anger, her posture stiffening as she snapped, “Whitney, don’t get too cocky. Don’t think Carter will marry you, no matter what.”
“And by the way, do you even know where Dad went yesterday?” she added, her voice dripping with malice.
Whitney narrowed her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Just say what you want to say. Stop beating around the bush.”
Tina’s expression brightened with triumph. “Heh, guess what? He went to the nursing home yesterday and brought Grandma back to stay with us.”
“You’d better think twice from now on. With Grandma at home, you’d better watch how you treat us,” she warned, a smirk dancing on her lips.
“What?” Whitney’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Samuel actually went and brought Grandma back home?” Whitney thought, stunned.
A surge of anger coursed through her, igniting a fire in her chest. “Was it really Grandma’s choice to come home? Of course, old folks always want to come home. Do you really think you’re the only one who cares about Grandma? From now on, Mom and I will ensure she gets all the attention,” Tina sneered.
With a mix of threat and sarcasm, Whitney shot Tina a deadly glare, then turned on her heel and stormed off.
She had even made herself the primary contact at the nursing home, yet her father still found ways to undermine her.
Upon re-entering the private room, Klein noticed the fierce look still lingering in Whitney’s eyes.
Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “What happened?”
“Who did she run into to get this riled up?” Klein wondered silently.
Whitney forced a tight smile. “Uncle Klein, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay for dinner after all. Something’s come up at home, and I need to head back right away!”
Klein studied her, his expression unreadable. He nodded and asked, “Do you need a ride?”
“Thanks, but I drove here. Uncle Klein, enjoy your meal. I’ll be going now,” Whitney replied, her voice firm.
Klein didn’t bother correcting her this time. Instead, he gazed at the steaming soup that had been served for her, his smile calm and mild.
“Too bad this delicious soup is going to waste,” Klein thought with a hint of regret.
After being away for a few years, Patricia felt a sense of disorientation as she entered the villa. She squinted, taking in her surroundings.
“Patricia, your room is still on the first floor, so you can easily go outside and soak up some sun during the day. The servants are right next door. If you need anything at night, just call them,” Lama said, her tone sweet and considerate.
Patricia’s cloudy eyes flickered, a faint smile appearing. “Thanks, Lama. Where’s Whitney’s room? I want to see it.”
After Whitney had thrown a fit last time, all her belongings had been tossed out, and she had even installed a password lock on her door.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.