Chapter 1170: Chapter 1170: It Shows He Cares About You
Isabelle never expected so many things would happen when she went out with Jeffrey Foster last night, one headache after another. She found a quiet place to answer Fiona Raphael’s call, and heard the surprised voice on the other end, "Isabelle, you liar! You said you had nothing to do with Professor Foster, that he rejected you. If he rejected you, why would he protect you like this?"
"What?" Isabelle was bewildered by Fiona’s words.
"The Office of Government Affairs clarified for you, saying Professor Foster is unmarried and reserves the legal responsibility to pursue actions that damage his reputation. Do you know what’s even harsher? The college revoked Jasmine Gladstone’s bachelor’s degree; she’s finished! Hahaha..." Fiona laughed heartily.
Isabelle often suffered Jasmine’s slander while at school; everyone knew the reason. Isabelle, being magnanimous, didn’t mind, but she didn’t expect Jasmine to run into a brick wall this time.
"Is what you said true?" Isabelle was also shocked. She knew Jeffrey Foster didn’t want too many people knowing about his return to the country; he kept it secret from the school too. So, when the issue arose, she chose to stay low-key and let things cool off, but didn’t expect Jeffrey to be so adamant.
A ripple of emotion stirred in Isabelle’s heart, but recalling the man’s behavior last night, she immediately suppressed that feeling. But Fiona, oblivious, continued teasing, "Professor Foster normally doesn’t care about gossip, especially now since he hasn’t joined the medical school, these rumors mean nothing to him. Yet, he cleared things up with the strongest attitude first. Why do you think that is?"
"Why?" Isabelle’s voice was rigid, as she too wanted to know why.
Fiona chuckled, "You’re such a fool; it obviously means he cares about you!"
"Really?" Isabelle softly questioned, doubting inside. If Jeffrey truly cared, why would he give up on her so easily? He didn’t even keep the promises they’d made before.
"Why do you seem so listless? I thought you’d be happy." Fiona noticed after speaking for so long that she was the only one who was excited.
"I’m very happy, but aren’t you worried about being seen by the director for making calls at work? Isn’t it risky for you not to get promoted?" Isabelle tried to sound cheerful.
She was glad that Jeffrey came out to defend her at this time, but she also knew this couldn’t change their relationship.
Fiona called out softly, quickly hung up, and fled the call.
Isabelle looked at the darkened screen and silently smiled, then went back to work.
But the work that usually felt effortless seemed oppressive today. She knew this neighborhood so well, remembering every detail from when she and Jeffrey walked through it.
When she reached the area around Jeffrey’s villa, Isabelle’s breath grew heavier. She persevered to do her job as usual but couldn’t help glancing at Jeffrey’s villa, hoping he would suddenly open the door like last time, yet fearing he would come out.
In such conflicting emotions, Isabelle finished today’s work. With no reason to stay, she could only move elsewhere.
Click!
Just as Isabelle was about to leave, the door to Jeffrey’s villa clicked open. Though the sound was faint, it easily reached Isabelle’s ears, stirring her heart.
She instinctively wanted to run, yet her feet didn’t move. In her mind, she told herself to just look once, knowing he couldn’t see or know she was there. Just a glance, to see if he too felt any reluctance or sorrow.
"Isabelle, why are you spacing out there? Come in and sit!" In the midst of her internal struggle, Isabelle suddenly heard Aunt Pritt’s voice. She looked over and found it wasn’t Jeffrey who opened the door, but Aunt Pritt.
All the mental preparation she’d done was useless; Isabelle appeared even more dazed. Not until Aunt Pritt spoke again did she respond, "Aunt Pritt, I still have work; maybe next time."
After speaking, Isabelle left hurriedly as if escaping.
Aunt Pritt watched Isabelle leave in haste, muttering curiously, "What’s wrong with this child today?"
At dinner, Aunt Pritt couldn’t resist mentioning it to Jeffrey.
Emotion surged inside Jeffrey, yet his face remained calm, silently eating his meal. Only after Aunt Pritt left did he suddenly release the fingers he had unknowingly clenched.
Isabelle didn’t come to Jeffrey’s side again until off work in the evening.
The next day, Isabelle submitted her resignation to the company.
The leader quickly called someone to fetch her inside.
Isabelle knew the leader called her for a reason; this was the result of her deliberation all night.
She studied medicine for five years and, though without much clinical experience, always excelled in her field. Abandoning the internship at the international hospital for Jeffrey was reckless to the extreme. Now without hope with Jeffrey, staying in property management not only lost its initial meaning but also meant she would occasionally see him.
For her current self, it was immensely torturous.
Since that was the case, she might as well resign. Last night, she already asked her mother to help reconnect with the internship hospital.
Her life ultimately needed to return to its proper course. Jeffrey was merely a dream of youth prolonged, and now that the dream had ended, she needed to start living her life properly.
"Sorry, Leader." Isabelle apologized as she entered the leader’s office.
"Is it because of yesterday’s thing? Just for a minor issue like this, you quit your job? I heard you didn’t suffer any losses yesterday," the leader thought Isabelle’s resignation was because the photos were sent to the group yesterday.
Isabelle shook her head, "No, my parents found me an internship hospital. As you know, I’m a medical student, and now there’s a good opportunity I want to try. As for the blind path construction, I proposed it; I will be responsible until it’s completed before leaving."
"Is that so? Indeed, you as a top medical school graduate are wasted here," the leader realized Isabelle was not just a young girl but a graduate from the medical school. Upon hiring her, he never understood the reason. Now, the young lady had a better place to be. As a leader, though reluctant, he couldn’t stop her.
After pondering for a while, the leader agreed but still instructed her to properly handle the blind path issue.
Initially suggested by Isabelle, she had been following up on it. Handing it to someone else left the leader uneasy.
Luckily, constructing the blind path, though troublesome, proceeded rapidly once started, finishing in three to five days without much trouble.
Isabelle originally planned for this. Hearing the leader’s words, she relaxed slightly but felt inexplicable disappointment.
Leaving the leader’s office, Isabelle’s mood remained low. Her male colleague, whom she fiercely insulted yesterday, seeing her like this, thought she was reprimanded by the leader, taking pleasure in her misfortune. Isabelle was too preoccupied to care, only feeling an empty, painful heart.
Still, life had to continue despite her discomfort. Over the following week, she focused entirely on the blind path’s construction, successfully completing it before Saturday.
Meanwhile, her mother also arranged her internship at the international hospital through connections.
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"The office has clarified for you, saying that Professor Foster is unmarried and reserves the right to pursue legal action against actions that damage his reputation. Do you know what’s even harsher? The college has revoked Jasmine Gladstone’s bachelor’s degree; she’s finished! Hahaha..." Fiona Raphael laughed heartily.
Isabelle Martin often suffered slander from Jasmine Gladstone when she was at school. Everyone knew the reason; it’s just that Isabelle was broad-minded and didn’t hold grudges. She didn’t expect Jasmine to hit a wall this time.
"Is what you’re saying true?" Isabelle was also shocked. She knew Jeffrey Foster didn’t want too many people to know about his return to the country, and he kept it secret from the school. So, when the incident happened, she chose to keep a low profile and didn’t explain, letting the matter cool down on its own. But she didn’t expect Jeffrey to have such a strong stance.
Isabelle’s heart rippled for a moment, but thinking of the man’s behavior last night, she immediately suppressed that emotion. However, Fiona didn’t know and teased Isabelle after saying those things, "Professor Foster usually doesn’t care about rumors, especially since he’s not working at the medical university now, these rumors don’t bother him. Yet he clarified immediately with the toughest attitude. Why do you think that is?"
"Why?" Isabelle’s voice was stiff; she also wanted to know why.
Fiona laughed, "Silly, it obviously shows he cares about you!"
"Really?" Isabelle asked softly, but inwardly she was skeptical. If Jeffrey Foster really cared about her, how could he so easily give up on her? He wasn’t even willing to keep their previous promise.
"Why are you so downcast? I thought you’d be happy." Fiona realized after talking for a while that she was the only one getting excited.
"I’m very happy, but aren’t you supposed to be working? Aren’t you afraid the supervisor will see you calling and not make you permanent?" Isabelle quickly tried to make her tone light.
She was happy that Jeffrey Foster stood up to defend her at this time, but she also knew that this defense couldn’t change their relationship.
Fiona listened to Isabelle’s words, let out a small cry, and quickly hung up the phone to make a run for it.
Isabelle looked at the darkened screen and smiled silently, then went out to work.
But the work that usually seemed so easy to her felt very oppressive today. She was way too familiar with this neighborhood, remembering every detail of the times she walked through it with Jeffrey Foster.
When she patrolled to the area of Jeffrey Foster’s villa, Isabelle’s breathing almost became rough. She patiently did her work as usual, but her gaze couldn’t help but keep drifting towards Jeffrey’s villa. She hoped the man would open the door suddenly like last time but was also scared he’d come out.
In this conflicted state, Isabelle finished her work for the day. With no reason to stay, she could only walk off.
Click!
Just when Isabelle was about to leave, the door of Jeffrey Foster’s villa suddenly clicked open. The sound wasn’t loud but easily reached Isabelle’s ears, tugging at her heart.
Isabelle instinctively wanted to run but didn’t move. She secretly told herself to just take a look; after all, he wouldn’t see or know she was there. Just take a look to see if he was also reluctant or sad like her.
"Martin, what are you standing there daydreaming for? Come in and sit!" Lost in struggle, Isabelle suddenly heard Aunt Pritt’s voice. When she looked, she realized it was Aunt Pritt who had opened the door, not Jeffrey Foster.
All the mental preparation she did suddenly went to waste, making Isabelle appear even more dazed. It wasn’t until Aunt Pritt spoke again that she reacted, "Aunt Pritt, I still have work. Maybe next time."
With that, Isabelle seemed to flee and left the area.
Aunt Pritt watched Isabelle hastily leave, muttering curiously, "What’s wrong with this child today?"
At dinner, Aunt Pritt couldn’t help but mention it in front of Jeffrey Foster.
Emotions surged inside Jeffrey Foster, but outwardly he remained calm and ate in silence. Only after Aunt Pritt left did he suddenly relax his clenched fist, which he didn’t even realize when he had balled up.
Isabelle did not come to Jeffrey Foster’s side again until she got off work that evening.
The next day, Isabelle submitted her resignation to the company.
As soon as the manager saw it, they called her in.
Isabelle naturally knew why the manager called her; it was the result of a night of deep contemplation.
She studied medicine for five years and, although she didn’t have much clinical experience, her professional skills were always good. Giving up an internship at an international hospital for Jeffrey Foster was already the utmost willfulness. Now that there’s no hope with Jeffrey, staying in property management not only lost its original meaning but also allowed her to occasionally see the man.
This, for her now, was a great torment.
If that’s the case, she might as well resign. Last night, she had already asked her mother to help her reconnect with hospitals for an internship.
Her life had to get back on track. Jeffrey Foster was just a dream, an extension of her youth. Now that the dream was over, she needed to start living her life well.
"I’m sorry, manager." Isabelle pushed open the manager’s office door and apologized as she entered.
"Is it because of yesterday’s incident? You’re going to quit your job over such a little thing? I’ve heard you didn’t suffer at all yesterday." The manager thought Isabelle was resigning because of the incident where her photo was posted in the group the day before.
Isabelle shook her head, "No, my parents found a hospital internship for me. You know I’m a medical student, and now there’s a good opportunity, so I want to try. As for the installation of the blind pathway, I proposed it, and I will be responsible for it until it’s completed before leaving."
"I see, indeed a top student from the medical university staying here is a waste of talent." The manager then remembered that although Isabelle was young, she was a graduate from the medical university. He never understood why she applied for a job here back then, but now the young girl has better opportunities. As the manager, although reluctant, he couldn’t stop her.
After pondering for a moment, the manager eventually gave in, but he emphasized the importance of the blind path’s completion.
This project was initially Isabelle’s proposal and she had been following up on it. The manager wasn’t trusting handing it over to someone else.
Fortunately, although constructing the blind path was troublesome, it would be quick once started, completed in three to five days, so it wasn’t too much trouble.
This was Isabelle’s plan all along, and after listening to the manager, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, yet felt an inexplicable sense of loss at the same time.
After leaving the manager’s office, Isabelle’s mood was still down. A male colleague whom she had clashed with harshly the day before saw her like this and assumed she had been scolded. He was gloating, but Isabelle couldn’t be bothered, feeling as if a part of her heart had been chiseled out, aching with emptiness.
But no matter how uncomfortable she felt, life had to go on. In the week that followed, she focused all her energy on the construction of the blind path, finally managing to complete it by Saturday.
Just as her handover was completed, Isabelle’s mother managed to arrange for her to start an internship at the international hospital.