er 7.
Juliette smirked her eyes gleaming with triumph, clearly reveling in her revenge.
Jovana let out a cold laugh, her gaze piercing Juliette like a blade.
“I remember quite clearly,” Jovana said, her tone icy, “that your contract with the company explicitly stated your private life must remain dean during our collaboration, and you are not permitted to have a boyfriend. Yet you’ve been hiding one. I could sue you for breach of contract right now.”
Jovana’s words hit like a thunderclap, draining the color from Juliette’s face. She looked on the verge of collapse, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Jovana let out a cold laugh and gestured to Vonda, who stood nearby.
Vonda stepped forward, her voice crisp. Ms. Palmer, per the breach clause, you owe our company five times the contract fee, and that’s five million dollars. Oh, and you’ll need to publicly disavow any connection with us.”
The words landed like a sledgehammer, leaving Juliette dazed.
She didn’t have five million dollars!
Even if she sold everything she owned, she couldn’t come up with that kind of money.
The crowd around them erupted into snickers and whispers.
Juliette’s face twisted, humiliation burning through her.
Jovana fixed her with an icy stare. As she brushed past, she murmured, “Ms. Palmer, you’re out of your league trying to tangle with me. Better start figuring out how you’ll cover that penalty.”
Juliette’s face darkened with fury, but she didn’t dare fight back.
She had neither the courage nor the means.
She was at a complete loss.
Just then, a commotion stirred at the entrance.
Armando had arrived.
Juliette’s eyes lit up, as if she’d spotted a lifeline.
Jovana’s brow furrowed slightly at the sight of him.
“Ms. Atherton, do you think Armando will back me up?
“I can’t wait to see him ditch you again. It’s gonna be quite the show. Juliette smirked as she said it.
She was full of smug confidence.
Last time, a single message had been enough to make Armando abandon Jovana and rush to her side.
She didn’t see why this time would be any different.
Juliette put on a pitiful expression, her eyes glistening with tears as she reached out and clutched Jovana’s hand.
Sniffling dramatically, she whimpered, “Ms. Atherton, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. Please forgive me. My mom’s sick, and we desperately need the money. I can’t lose this job… Please.”
Jovana couldn’t help but laugh.
Juliette’s performance painted her as the villain. She hadn’t expected such a blatant attempt at emotional blackmail so soon.
“What’s going on?” Armando approached, his brow creased with concern.
Before Jovana could speak, Juliette jumped in, her eyes red and teary.
I’m so sorry, Mr. Dunbar. I messed up and upset Ms. Atherton. It’s all my fault…”
Even as she said it was her fault, tears streamed down her face like a waterfall. She looked utterly pitiful.
Jovana glanced at Armando beside her, her heart already expecting the worst.
To her surprise, Armando stood firmly by her side, his gaze cold as he addressed Juliette.
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“Ms. Palmer, I will ensure that Skylark Media gives us a full explanation for your actions just now. You just admitted to disrespecting my wife. So if you’re at fault, what are you crying for? Shouldn’t you be apologizing?”
Jovana’s eyes flickered with a fleeting tremor.
Suddenly, she was reminded of high school. Back then, Armando would step in front of her, shielding her from bullies with the same fierce protectiveness.
His sharp reprimand left Juliette’s eyes stinging with aggrieved tears. She couldn’t understand why he was being so harsh. Armando was usually so gentle with her.
Biting her lip, she muttered reluctantly, “I’m sorry…”
Armando softened slightly, his hand resting on Jovana’s shoulder.“Vana, she’s apologized. Let’s not make a big deal out of it. Come on, let’s go.”
A flicker of warmth had just ignited in Jovana’s heart.
But hearing his words, her hope was instantly doused.
She thought, “So that’s it? He did that just to make me stop targeting Juliette?
“What a joke.”
Jovana wasn’t someone to be pushed around.
Juliette had picked the wrong person to provoke, and Jovana would make sure she paid for
She brushed off Armando’s hand with a cool detachment and turned to Juliette, who was still sniffling.
“If you want to apologize, do it properly. After what you pulled today, someone’s bound to leak it online. All it takes is a little spin, and it’ll look
like I bullied you. So, here’s what you’re going to do. You need to post a statement on Twitter and clear the air.”
