Chapter 9: Awakening from a Dream
Three years ago, when Imogen was still in college, she made sure to return to the Marshall family’s mansion every day, despite the distance between her school and the mansion, just to catch a glimpse of Troy whenever he came by.
And one day, she didn’t miss Troy’s arrival. However, she didn’t expect that instead of feeling gleeful at seeing him, her world crumbled as Troy was with someone. And that someone was Sarah. What was worse was he introduced the latter to his family as his girlfriend.
She saw them embrace and kiss in the backyard, witnessing her dreams shatter into pieces. She had always believed that she would only be able to admire Troy from afar, but then fate surprised her. She ended up marrying Troy, and at the time, it felt like a dream, too good to be true.
But dreams always have a way of ending.
Sarah was the one who brought her back to reality.
In her heart, a delicate pain arose, but Imogen managed a faint smile. “Long time no see, Ms. Page. You look even more radiant and charming.”
It seemed she could no longer bring herself to say the word “sister–in–law” anymore. Sarah smiled back and said, “Thank you, you look wonderful too. By the way, Imogen, I remember you’re a big fan of L.X., And coincidentally, she happened to be a friend I met abroad. So before I returned to Canada, I asked her to sign a record for you.” Imogen felt like she had been struck by lightning. The composed and reasonable woman was at a loss, like a clown entertaining everyone with laughs while harboring her own pain.
Her eyes darted hesitantly to Troy, silently pleading for him to clarify that it was he who had arranged the gift, not Sarah.
But Troy looked at her indifferently, delivering a piercing blow to her heart. “What? Don’t you like the gift Sarah brought you?”
Imogen’s face went numb, unable to express any emotion.
After what felt like an eternity, she gathered herself and spoke calmly, “Let’s discuss personal matters privately. We’ve waited long enough; let’s focus on the business at hand.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Sarah agreed and turned to Troy. “Troy, you could go back to the office. Remember to have lunch with me together at noon.”
“Yeah, I won’t forget,” Troy answered and turned to leave.
Imogen watched Troy leave with a bitter taste in her mouth and a heavy heart.
She had believed that maybe, just maybe, Troy held a small glimmer of affection for her.
But it had all been a delusion.
The meeting finally ended at 3 pm in the afternoon. The teams from both sides exchanged handshakes, but beneath the surface, Imogen’s heart remained troubled and broken.
Imogen organized the folders before her and addressed the team, her voice filled with appreciation. “Thank you all for your hard work. I’ll treat everyone to a meal. There’s a new restaurant downstairs that serves really authentic cuisine.”
Ylah Willy, Sarah’s agent, replied graciously, “Thank you for your kind gesture.”
As both teams headed to the elevator together, Ylah walked beside Sarah and inquired, “Ms. Page, Mr. Marshall mentioned wanting to have dinner with you. Why don’t you invite him to join us?”
Sarah smiled, replying, “I’ll ask him, but I’m not sure if he’ll agree.”
Ylah countered, “Oh, come on! He’s always been so kind to you.”
Sarah’s assistant playfully teased, “Ms. Page, don’t be too humble. It’s obvious you have a great relationship with Mr. Marshall. As soon as you returned to Canada, he got you the endorsement from McKesson. That says a lot.”
Sarah brushed off the banter, looking at Imogen apologetically. “Imogen, please go ahead with everyone. Troy and I will join you shortly.”
Imogen felt a flutter of emotion as she saw Sarah’s smile. She nodded silently, placing the folders back in the office. Taking charge, she reserved a private room at the restaurant downstairs, ordered some appetizers, and set the tone for a lively atmosphere. Handling events like these was second nature to her.
The staff from both teams engaged in cheerful conversations and laughter, enjoying the gathering. Ylah then turned her attention to Imogen and asked the group, “I’ve heard of Ms. Forbes for a while now. She must have considerable experience with the company.”
The product manager beamed, patting Imogen on the shoulder with pride. “Indeed! Despite her young age, Imogen has been with us for three years and has achieved remarkable success. She was instrumental in promoting last year’s popular MOBA mobile game as the market consultant.”
Ylah probed further, “I heard Ms. Forbes is related to Mr. Marshall, his sister perhaps?”
The product manager seemed uncomfortable and remained silent. Even though no one explained, it was obvious that Ylah was implying that there had been underhanded means, which was why Imogen achieved all of those.
Even so, Imogen remained composed, offering a warm smile. “That’s true. That’s why I’m truly grateful to Grandpa Henry for taking care of me.”
“You really should because it’s a privilege to have Mr. Marshall’s personal mentorship,”
Ylah remarked, her words carrying a subtle undertone.
Noticing the tension, Imogen’s colleagues looked displeased. However, Imogen maintained her composure. “Well, my father and grandfather were close friends, but despite that fact, I’m still very thankful that I didn’t have to struggle on the streets.”
Ylah persisted, attempting to create an awkward atmosphere. “Is it because your father donated his liver to Mr. Marshall?”