Julia believed that promises made by men had an expiration date, only valid during the initial passionate phases of love.
She was always clear-headed; no matter how far her marriage with Max went, she wouldn't lose herself. Sensing that his earlier words had been harsh, Max reached out to hold her hand. "I'll support you in whatever you choose to do," he reassured her.
Max wanted Julia to have the freedom to pursue her own path, and he would always be there to back her up. Julia smiled, "Didn't you mention that we still need to buy a house? It's too much for you to handle all the expenses alone. Samantha also mentioned that if we have children in the future, the costs will be even higher..."
She suddenly stopped, realizing she was rushing into talk about having a baby. Was she too eager? Yet, her future plans, which included him, made Max felt good. From being unsure at first to now including him in her life plans, this change showed she had him in her heart.
Max smiled and asked, "Julia, do you prefer having a boy or a girl?"
Julia knew that answering this question could change their relationship, possibly putting a child on the agenda. She had just found a job, and getting pregnant now could lead to discrimination at work. In today's job market, who wants to hire pregnant women? She thought for a moment and said, "If we have a girl, we could dress her in pink princess dresses, and I'll design unique accessories for her."
Max nodded, "I like the idea of having a girl too." Soon, they arrived at Julia's workplace. Max could only drop her off at the door.
"Julia, I'll pick you up after work," he said.
"Okay," she replied with a smile, "Drive safely."
As she entered the building, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.
"Julia, you've ruined everything for me. I'll make sure you pay for it," came William's menacing voice before he hung up.
Julia frowned, puzzled by William's anger. He had been shameless enough to let Max be taken by the police, so why was he the one who was angry now?
Just as she was pondering this, her friend Samantha called, "Julia, William's company is under investigation, and their factory has been shut down. They're in serious debt, and the news is spreading like wildfire."
"How did this happen?" Julia was shocked. It felt like the world had changed overnight.
"He deserves it," Samantha said angrily. "He's a hypocrite who made money through fraud, even manipulating people for his profit. Now, the creditors are causing trouble at his office."
Hearing this, Julia felt an indescribable emotion. William had done all this for fame and fortune, disregarding the truth and causing harm to innocent people. Such a person deserves punishment. She felt a pang of anxiety, recalling William's earlier threat.
"Who exposed all this?" she wondered. As soon as she and William had become enemies, his scandals came to light. Would he target Max next?
"Maybe someone with a conscience exposed him," Samantha speculated. "The reason he came back from abroad was that he couldn't stay there anymore."
Samantha knew more than she let on but couldn't reveal everything. Some things she had to keep hidden from Julia, especially since Max seemed very protective of her. Samantha's main concern was ensuring that Julia's past didn't destroy her relationship with Max. Julia needed to secure her place as the young lady of the Wellington Family, and until then, the secret had to be kept.
After chatting with Samantha, Julia reported to her office and ran into Lilian, who had interviewed with her previously.
Lilian was surprised to see her. "Julia, you got the job too? That's great; we'll be colleagues!"
Meeting a familiar face in a new environment made Julia feel more at ease.
Julia asked, "Have you reported for duty?"
"Yes, it's time to report in," Lilian replied cheerfully. "Unfortunately, we're not at the headquarters. We're stuck in this subsidiary, far from my dream job."
Julia smiled, "Take your time. You're so talented; you'll catch up soon enough."
Lilian was delighted and took Julia's hand. "When I finally get my dream job, I'll make sure you're promoted to chief designer."
Julia laughed, "I'll hold you to that."
As they chatted, they quickly became friends. Lilian recalled their interview and mentioned, "By the way, the interviewer who interviewed you was fired. Do you know why?"
"No idea," Julia replied, unaware of the interviewer's fate.
"Oh," Sarah said, dropping the subject. "Anyway, hurry and report in. The chief designer, Audrey Carlton, is here today. We might get assigned to assist her."
Being an assistant to Audrey Carlton was a coveted position, a step away from becoming a full-fledged designer.
Julia went to the HR department to complete her onboarding. The head of HR glanced at her information and immediately became respectful, quickly processing her paperwork.
"Welcome to Darius Group's Design Department, Ms. Robin," the HR head said warmly.
"Thank you," Julia replied, puzzled by the politeness. She assumed the company had high standards and was glad they didn't discriminate against her for her high school diploma. The salary was surprisingly high—$15,000 a month during the three-month probation period. Darius was indeed generous.
Lilian was waiting outside, and the two went to the design department together.
Meanwhile, in the Darius Group Building's President's Office, Max was reviewing documents when his brother Sean entered.
"Max, you just arranged an assistant position for Julia and even transferred her to a branch office. Don't you think that's a bit unfair?" Sean asked.
Max replied calmly, "Rome wasn't built in a day. Let her get familiar with the company's jewelry first; it'll be easier for her to take over later."
Lilian suddenly realized, "So, you're paving the way for Julia?"
Max set down the document he was holding. "She'll be the perfect lady of the Stewards Family."
Lilian nodded in agreement, thinking it was wise to support Julia. He smiled mischievously, leaning on the desk. "Max, how was your date last night? Did things heat up between you two?"
Max gave him a stern look. "Your allowance for the first half of next year is canceled."
Lilian gasped in mock horror. "No way! You can't do this to me! I'm starving here!"
Despite his dramatic act, Lilian knew Max had the power to cut off his allowance as the vice president of Darius' group, even though he was a shareholder and board member.
Max looked at Sean, who was clutching his arm theatrically, and said, "Let go."
Sean quickly released him, smiling pitifully. "Did the movie not work its magic? I thought it was supposed to be romantic."
Max sighed. "It was too explicit. The atmosphere wasn't right."
Sean grinned. "Next time, take her to a private theater. Just the two of you, alone. That would be more... intimate."
Max made a move to hit him, and Sean dodged, still grinning. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll go visit Julia. It's her first day, after all. Someone needs to keep an eye on her; she's too beautiful to be left unattended."
"I've assigned Samuel Kerry to the branch office to keep an eye on her," Max said, handing Sean a stack of documents. "Now, focus on these projects."
Sean groaned, taking the papers reluctantly. "Why do you always do this to me?"
In a circle of wealthy families, brothers often vied for the heir's position. But in the Stewards Family, the competition was more about who could avoid work.
Max put on his coat and patted Sean's shoulder. "Think about that while you're working. I'll be spending more time with Julia, so keep an eye on the company's affairs."
Sean pouted. "Why didn't our parents have another kid? Then I could be the lazy one."
Amari, Max's secretary, entered. "Mr. Wellington, the situation with William has been resolved. His factory is shut down, and his law firm is closing. His reputation is in ruins, and his license has been revoked."
"Good. Make sure someone keeps an eye on him. People like William can be dangerous when desperate," Max instructed.
Amari nodded. "Understood."
Max left the building, got into his Rolls-Royce, and headed off to a meeting with a bank president.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, William lay bedridden, severely beaten, with multiple injuries. His mother, Mrs. Tyson, was distraught. Their family was deep in debt, and creditors were circling.