"Take a moment to relax. I'll get some ointment for your face."

He grabbed a damp towel and gently wiped away her tears before applying ointment to the reddened area on her face.

"Don't worry about tonight. No one will hear about this except those who were present. This was the company's oversight, and Mr. Zhang is already addressing it. If there's anything else you need-whether from the company or from me—just Let me know."

Catherine slowly raised her gaze, looking at the man who had shielded her time and again.

A strange but comforting warmth spread through her chest.

His every word of support seemed to heal the scars of her troubled past, piece by piece.

Summoning courage she didn't know she had, she closed her eyes and gently leaned her head against Jerrold's shoulder.

Her trembling body gradually calmed.

Jerrold stiffened, glancing down at the woman now resting against him. The hand holding the cotton swab paused mid-air as he resisted the urge to pat her head like soothing a puppy.

The next morning, Catherine woke up, unsure of how she had fallen asleep. She realized she had been carried to the bed in Jerrold's private office and left to rest there.

The room felt both unfamiliar and oddly reassuring.

Gathering her thoughts, she quickly got up and tidied herself.

As for Jerrold, who had just returned home early that morning, he changed into fresh clothes and headed downstairs. Lilah raised an eyebrow at him, curiosity sparking in her voice. "The butler said you just got back. Working late again?"

"No, I wasn't working. I was looking after a friend."

"Oh, a friend?" Lilah's interest deepened. "Male or female?"

"It's my assistant."

Lilah hesitated for a moment. "What happened to your assistant?"

"It's a mistake in managing the company, but it's already been resolved. Gretchen, could you pack breakfast for me? I'll take it to the office."

"Of course, sir."

Hearing this, Lilah refrained from asking further questions, but in her heart, she was already planning to find an opportunity to meet this assistant. After all, aside from family members, she was the first woman to appear by her son's side.

At eight o'clock, Catherine sat at her workstation. By this time, employees had begun arriving at the office in ones and twos.

When Jerrold appeared in Catherine's work area, he tapped on her desk, signaling her to follow him into his office.

Catherine still remembered what had happened the previous evening. Once inside the office, she thanked him again, but instinctively avoided mentioning the events that followed.