Lance tightened his grip around Zoey's arm and took a small step back, his eyes darting nervously between Atticus Sinclair, David, Callum, Thalassa, and Lysander. Noticing Thalassa's gaze fixed on them, Lance's voice trembled slightly as he said, "We're just workers here..." "Lance, take Zoey and leave," Thalassa finally said.
"What?" Zoey was incredulous, staring at Thalassa. After everything that had happened, she was letting them go? Thalassa nodded toward the back door where Wyatt and Payton had disappeared, urging, "Go." It wasn't that Thalassa didn't want to hold Lance and Zoey accountable, but she had always harbored a sense of gratitude towards them. As they said, they were just employees following orders, caught in a situation not of their making. The tfor reckoning was not now, under such tense circumstances.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWith Thalassa's confirmation, Zoey looked at her, disbelief and shock in her eyes. She had never expected Thalassa to let her off the hook so easily. Hesitating for a moment, Lance then led her away. "Um, if there's nothing else, I should probably get going too..." Daryl, who had been frozen in place throughout the confrontation, suddenly snapped back to reality and awkwardly made to leave. Another middle-aged woman quickly followed him, ready to leave as well.
"Stop right there!" Thalassa stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Ah, Thalassa, it's been a while, hasn't it? Let's catch up sother time, I really must be going now..." Daryl said with a nervous laugh, trying to sound casual.
Thalassa, however, was not in the mood for pleasantries, her expression cold as she addressed them. "Daryl, we have no quarrels why target me? And you," she turned her sharp gaze to the woman beside Daryl, "I've never even met you before. Why lie?" The woman looked panicked under Thalassa's intense scrutiny. Seeing Wyatt and Payton had already fled, she realized there was no point in continuing the charade.
With a pitiful look, she explained, "I didn't want to, but Wyatt threatened me. He said he'd fireand blacklistacross the industry if didn't comply. My daughter's in high school and we're really struggling financially. My parents are elderly and sick... Without my job, my family wouldn't be able to make ends meet." Her voice broke as she spoke, the hardship and struggle of her life written all over her face.
Thalassa's expression softened slightly. "You can go," she said. Having climbed her way up from the bottom, Thalassa understood the desperation and hardship that can drive people to act against their better judgment.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Hearing she was free to leave, the woman grasped Thalassa's hand, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, thank En you so much. You're truly kind..." Choking back tears, she bowed deeply in gratitude, "I'm sorry!" After finishing her apology, she quickly left through the back.
Seeing the woman leave, Daryl attempted a placating smile.
m "Thalassa, con we used to be colleagues, friends even. I was misled this time, can't you forgivejust this once?" "Friends, really? And yet, you
conspired against me. I asked if you had any reasons for your actions, but you claimed you were telling the truth gave you a chance, and you chose not to take it," Thalassa said coldly. X