As Sean took a seat on the couch, he spoke, "I had already planned to settle the matter, but I never expected that you'd help me resolve it."
"Do you want to join me in visiting Irene at the hospital?" Abigail asked in a soft tone. "I'm heading there in a while."
"Sure."
Sean sensed that Irene was grappling with a difficult situation. She already struggled with low self-esteem, and just as she was starting to make progress, Danielle and Floyd chose to exacerbate her troubles.
Accompanied by Sean, Abigail went to the hospital. In the ward, Irene was alert, her forehead adorned with a bandage.
"How is she?" Abigail directed her question at Kevin, who was beside her.
"She had five stitches," came Kevin's reply, but he had a cold expression.
She sat by the bedside, her gaze filled with guilt as she asked, "Have they been harassing you this whole time?"
"I can't be certain. What occurred today was simply an accident. I stumbled because of my own clumsiness," Irene admitted, placing the blame on herself.
Kevin's anger surged as he rose from his seat. "Stop blaming yourself! They're the ones who stole your diary and spread it around the design department. And yet you're taking the blame? They violated your privacy!"
"I understand they've infringed on my privacy, but didn't you say they'd be dealt with and sent away? Isn't that sufficient? What more do you expect? Are you suggesting I waste my time pursuing legal action against them? Explain to me what the purpose would be." Irene asked Kevin sincerely.
"They need to experience the consequences of their actions. Otherwise, how will they ever learn?" Kevin's discontent was palpable; he couldn't abide any form of harassment, particularly when it concerned someone close to him.
"Why should I bother?" Irene argued. "There will be others to impart lessons when they encounter even tougher challenges ahead. I'm just an ordinary person who cherishes every moment of my time. Why should I squander it on teaching miscreants like them manners?"
Kevin felt stung by her words. She had always been impatient with him and had never shown trust. It seems as though she views me as untrustworthy as well.
"I won't invest my time in teaching them manners. Those who do wrong will face the consequences of their actions. I'll concentrate on what I'm passionate about and strive for excellence." With a deep breath, Irene spoke these words. She then turned to Kevin and added, "Thank you immensely for your assistance today. I'm also grateful for Miss Quinn's support. Meeting both of you has truly been fortunate for me. However, what you've already done is sufficient. I have no desire to be greedy."
She acknowledged the disparity in social status between herself and Abigail, Sean, and Kevin. It was possible that Sean and the others might also consider the places she enjoyed as beneath them, but Irene cherished them nonetheless. Although such concerns had once troubled her, she had learned to embrace them.
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