"I missed you, so I cto pick you up," Percy said sweet nothings without hesitation despite being surrounded by employees from Brilliant. He did not feel embarrassed at all.
He pressed the elevator button, and the doors slowly opened.
Percy and Nina entered the elevator together.
Nina looked at the people standing outside the elevator doors and asked, "Aren't you guys coming in?"
"Ms. Langdon, we wouldn't want to be a third wheel. We'll catch the next one." The employees chuckled and waved.
Nin's face slightly reddened. Since no one entered, the elevator doors slowly closed and descended.
One of the Brilliant employees could not help but exclaim, "Ms. Langdon and her fiancé have such a good relationship."
"Fiancé? They're legally recognized as a married couple now. It's just that they just haven't had the wedding ceremony yet. Besides, haven't we already received the wedding invitations?" another employee corrected her.
"Con, it was just a slip of the tongue. They're such a sweet couple, and it doesn't seem like there's any problem between them. Who on earth spread the rumor that Ms. Langdon was abused by her husband?" the employee who had just exclaimed suddenly questioned.
Nina's face was swollen back then, and for sreason, a rumor spread in the company that Nina was being abused by Percy.
The parties involved did not say anything, but the rumor spread like wildfire behind their backs.
"Many couples appear loving in public, but who knows what happens behind closed doors until it shows on their faces?"
"So, you mean it might actually be true? But Mr. Mallory doesn't seem like that kind of person."
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Businessmen like them might be violent behind closed doors. A violent person tends to lay hands on those around them. Look at Ms. Langdon. She's so fragile and thin, but she has to endure her husband's fists... for the sake of money..."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOnce these discussions start, even false rumors would be thought of as true.
They were deeply engrossed in their discussion, so much so that they did not even notice Sue standing behind them.
Sue's expression grew darker and darker as she listened to their discussion. She could not bear to listen anymore and said, "How on earth are you all so good at making up stories? Maybe you should quit the architectural industry and becscriptwriters instead?
"The stuff you cup with would be a hit with the soccer moms, no doubt. Ignorance is bliss, but you're already cooking up a whole damn soap opera for Ms. Langdon. You think talking like this will get you off the hook, huh?"
The group was startled and turned around to see a grim expression on Sue’s face.
"Ms. Carter."
"Ms. Carter."
After they greeted Sue, no one dared to speak. They dared to gossip thinking no one was around. Now that they knew Sue was here, they dared not continue.
There was no way this conversation could continue.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Sue looked at them. "I thought you all loved gossiping."
"I’m sorry, Ms. Carter." A female employee explained with a stiff smile on her face, "We're just concerned about Ms. Langdon."
"You’ve got the guts to talk about your superior’s personal business here, so how cyou don't have the guts to say it to our faces?" Sue questioned them.
They fell silent.
"Ms. Langdon's marriage is doing well, and that bothers you, doesn't it?" Sue was not as gentle as Nina was with everyone.
She was downright scary when she was giving someone a dressing down.
Moreover, she would not scold indiscriminately without reason—only when she had a point.
If the other party had not done anything wrong, she would not lash out randomly.
The employees lowered their heads.
Sue added, "You guys shouldn't meddle so much in other people’s business. Whether or not Ms. Langdon is being abused, let's not jump to conclusions. And even if it's true, if she hasn't called the cops, why are you all worrying about it as if you're the police?"
The employees still did not say a word.
They were unlucky to have been caught badmouthing their superiors.
"If you dare to discuss Ms. Langdon's affairs in the company again, I'll record everything you say and let Mr. Mallory listen to you all gossiping about their married life." After scolding them, Sue entered the elevator.
Those people dared not enter.
Sue did not ask them to cinto the elevator either. Her gloomy expression was frightening. Even after the elevator doors closed, she was still displeased.
She really wanted to clarify for Nina that it was not Percy who slapped her but someone else.
However, if she said that, those people would speculate about who it was, and such speculation would have an even greater impact on Nina.
She could not say it was Percy's mother who slapped Nina, could she?
Would that not cause a huge uproar?
Such rumors could turn from marital issues to problems between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
That was why Sue scolded them but did not speak up for Nina. She took out her phone and sent a message to Nina, complaining about those people gossiping about Nina behind her back.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBy the tNina received Sue's message, she was already in Percy's car.
She could not help but let out a laugh when she saw the message.
"What's so funny?" Percy fastened his seatbelt, planning to take Nina out for dinner.
"Sue heard the employees gossiping about us behind our backs just now. They said you're a violent man. You abused me, and you even slappedin the face, which was why my face was swollen.
Haha..." Nina laughed. Suddenly, she could not continue.
She forgot that Percy did not know about the slap incident.
How could she explain why the employees were saying such things behind her back?
"Is that even for real?" Percy frowned and rubbed his chin. "I don't look that fierce. How could they think your swollen face was because of me?"
"You knew?" Nina widened her eyes. Who told him?
"Nina, do you think I wouldn't know if you didn’t tell me?" Percy heaved a sigh. "Actually, someone else toldthis time. It was the leader of the property's security team who told me. He usually gets a lot of perks from me, but this time, he let someone in, and it was his negligence.
"He was worried I would hold him accountable and he would lose his job, so he confessed. He told me after my mother left," explained Percy.
Nina sighed. "He actually told you."
"Even if he didn't, many others would tell me." Percy touched her face. After stime, the swelling had gone down, and it was not obvious she had been slapped.
"When something like this happens, you shouldn't hide it from me. I'm your husband. It's only natural forto stand up for you. You shouldn't do this," added Percy.
"I know, but the one who slappedwas your mother. Your relationship with her has gotten pretty tense because of me. I didn't want you to know because I wanted you two to patch things up a bit.
"Forget it, I won't hide anything from you in the future. I can't hide it anyway." Nina let out a sigh. Hiding something from Percy? It seemed impossible.
This man was too shrewd.
He had eyes everywhere. She could not hide anything from him.
"Yes, don't hide anything fromin the future. We're husband and wife. We're supposed to be one. Con, lettake you to the restaurant you wanted to go to before." Percy started the car and drove away.