Forsaking the Years of Longing
Forsaking Billionaire 97

Chapter 21

Daphne's heart was shrouded in a fog of curiosity and unease as she quietly navigated her weekend.

Matthew's messages remained unanswered, overshadowed by Jonathan's intense anger-a barrier she couldn't ignore as she sought to uncover the truth.

On Monday morning, she stepped into the office only to be met with an unusual atmosphere.

The air felt heavy, laden with an unspoken tension, as if everyone were silently sharing a secret.

Daphne moved cautiously through the corridors, each step taken with care, unwilling to disturb the delicate balance.

Yet, her colleagues' stares cut through her like knives, leaving her with an unfamiliar sense of isolation.

"What are you all talking about?" she asked, mustering her courage to break the silence.

Zoey cast her a quick glance before turning away abruptly, almost as if avoiding a plague.

Daphne was left standing alone, a mixture of embarrassment and confusion washing over her.

The glances around her grew sharper, laced with disdain and curiosity.

Seeking solace, she headed to the break room for water, only to replace herself the subject of whispered gossip.

"Daphne's the company's star now-moved up to the top as a phoenix. What's she still doing in our little room?"

"Word is, her success at the financial conference was thanks to Mr. Roberts. It's easy to take shortcuts when you're a woman..."

The cutting remarks struck her like thunder, echoing in her ears.

Startled, she dropped her cup, water splashing onto the floor along with her shock. The two gossiping colleagues froze, their faces turning crimson with embarrassment. They quickly fled the scene, avoiding Daphne's gaze as though guilty of a crime.

Just then, Maia walked into the break room, noticing the scene.

She hurried over to Daphne.

"Daphne, are you okay?" Maia asked with genuine concern, her eyes full of worry. Daphne struggled to focus, her voice trembling.

"What... what were they saying?"

Maia hesitated but, seeing the desperation in Daphne's eyes, decided to be honest.

"They said.. they said you're Mr. Roberts' lover. And that you got promoted through... improper means. Plus, with all the flowers on your desk lately..."

Each word hit Daphne like a hammer, pounding on her heart.

She endured the stares and murmurs for the rest of the day, holding her composure until she returned home. Only in the solitude of her room did she finally let her tears flow freely. She couldn't understand why such baseless rumors had targeted her.

Opening the company forum on her phone, the harsh comments flooded the screen, confirming that the gossip wasn't just idle chatter-it had spread like wildfire.

Matthew had been busy attending a shareholder meeting all day and likely hadn't seen the rumors circulating.

Just as Daphne was drowning in frustration, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Matthew:]

"Come downstairs."

A whirl of emotions stirred within Daphne.

She didn't understand Matthew's intentions but decided to go down, hoping to confront him about the situation and replace a solution.

Changing quickly, she headed downstairs and immediately spotted the familiar Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Opening the car door, she was hit with the strong scent of alcohol.

Matthew sat inside, his face flushed and his eyes unfocused, yet his gaze remained fixed on her.

"Why didn't you reply to my messages?" he asked, his voice laced with both reproach and hurt.

Daphne froze. She had planned to confront him about the rumors and replace a way to resolve them, but instead, here he was -drunk, sitting outside her building, throwing a tantrum.

Her frustration bubbled over. She turned to leave the car but was stopped as Matthew grabbed her hand.

"I miss you so much, Daphne," he murmured, his voice slurred and filled with emotion. "Today is our fourth wedding anniversary..."