Chapter 7 Fruitless Efforts

Since there was still two hours left before the end of her shift at work, Viola was summoned back by the chief editor.

"How was the interview?" Stephanie asked, not even bothering to look up from her desk.

Viola fiddled with her fingers and avoided eye contact. "Mr. Chu was apparently in a bad mood and was too busy to answer any of my questions."

She got nothing from him except his unwillingness to cooperate.

"Viola! What's wrong with you?" Stephanie slammed her hand on the desk and stood up. "You've got into Chu Group successfully, yet you tell me you got nothing? Are you treating me as a fool?"

The murderous aura coming out of Stephanie made Viola unconsciously take a step back. "Please listen to me. I didn't have a choice. Mr. Chu was really too busy to entertain me."

"Busy? Who isn't busy?" Stephanie let out an exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Aren't you acquainted with the CEO? You could have just flirted with him."

She narrowed her eyes at Viola. It was pretty obvious that there was something between her and Maynard.

"Mr. Chu and I are not familiar with each other. He would kill me if I did as you said," Viola muttered.

She shuddered and brushed off the goose bumps that appeared on her arms.

The feeling of being locked up inside the large scary warehouse was still fresh on her mind.

Viola only let out a nervous chuckle and gave Stephanie a pleading look. Stephanie, however, didn't seem convinced. "I don't care what method you have to use as long as you are able to make that interview. Otherwise, you'll be back to the bottom of the ranks and you will stay there for a long time."

With that, Viola was driven out of the room.

It felt like the end of the world for her upon hearing the chief's words. She wore a long face as she slowly sat in her seat.

Viola had worked so hard to get to where she was today. Just because of that man, she had to be demoted.

After letting out a deep sigh, she rested her chin on her left palm. Maybe it wasn't that bad to go back to square one. Unlike what she was doing now, she might at least be able to live a peaceful life.

As soon as she got off work, Viola went back to the apartment she rented with mixed emotions. She gave three soft knocks at the door yet there was no response from the other side.

She stood still in front of the door and decided to wait for a while. Still, no one answered. That was when she turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.

There was a five-year-old boy in a crocodile-shaped coat sitting at the desk. There was a piece of examination paper on the desk and he was staring at it with his large, grape-like black eyes. His little fat hand held a pen tightly as he was writing something.

Even when the boy heard Viola's voice, he chose to ignore her.

"Edgar, why didn't you open the door?" Viola pouted and walked over to the boy with her hand on her heart.

She pressed her hands on the desk and looked at him with a sad expression.

"I was so obsessed with these questions that I didn't hear you!" Edgar Qi explained.

Viola nodded and smiled. "You're a diligent boy, but you shouldn't forget to pay attention to yourself as well and get some rest. Why don't you give Mommy a kiss?"

"Mommy, you are so cheeky!" Edgar pinched her on the cheek.

"Just one kiss," Viola pouted and came closer to him.

Edgar's brows furrowed as he pushed her face in the opposite direction and muttered, "Childish."

Viola rolled her eyes and acted like she was wiping non-existent tears. "Ah, I've sprained my ankle today. It's really painful!"

She pulled a chair, sat down and took off her black high-heeled shoes. As expected, her ankle was swollen.

"It really hurts so much." As soon as she said that, Edgar turned around and fetched a first-aid kit for Viola.

The little boy dabbed some ointment on a clean cotton swab and smeared it on Viola's injured ankle.

Viola let out a painful hiss as soon as the ointment came in contact with her ankle. "It stings!"

"You're always careless. You deserve it." Edgar snorted.

Viola raised an eyebrow and gave her son an amused look.

Trying to stifle her laugh, Viola scolded herself sincerely. "Yes, it's my fault. I will never do that again."

Edgar gave her a quick glance and lightened his touch on her ankle.

Viola's eyes softened as she stared at the back of her son's head. A small smile formed on her lips as she thought of how much he cared for her.

This was the child she brought up by herself. Although he was an expert on not showing any emotion, she knew that he had a soft heart.

He was nothing like Maynard, who had nothing but his handsome face and wealth.

After applying ointment to her ankle, Edgar wrapped it with gauze. "Who bullied you, Mommy? I'll teach them a lesson. After all, I'm the one protecting you! If anyone dares to hurt you, it feels like they hurt me too."

Viola looked at her son nervously. She was afraid that he would really go to Maynard if she told the truth.

"It's okay. I have already dealt with the one who bullied me." She swallowed hard and gave the boy a reassuring smile.

If her son would seek justice for her, he might end up seeing his biological father. That would definitely be a living nightmare.

"Really?" Edgar titled his head and stared at his mother innocently.

Viola nodded solemnly. "I'm not lying and I am also not a pushover."

Feeling guilty with her words, she shifted her gaze away from Edgar and saw the examination paper on the desk. "What's this?"

"I'm solving international math problems." Ann looked at his mother seriously. "As soon as I become successful, I will work had to make money."

Viola grabbed the examination paper and hid it behind her. In a kind voice, she told him, "No, we are not so poor that we have to rely on your talent to be able to have food on our table."

There was a momentary pain in her chest. How could she forget that her son was so smart that he needed proper training?

"Well, if you don't want me to use my talent to make money, I can use my face." What Edgar said just now really surprised her.