Chapter 228 My Parents Died Too. Does That Warrant Empathy?
Nathan said, “I think both of you are at fault.”
Chloe was at fault for hiding the truth, and Joseph was at fault for not trusting her.
Joseph’s cold gaze pierced through Nathan, his eyes sharp as a knife.
Sensing the intensity, Nathan quickly adjusted his stance. “Although both of you share some blame, the main issue lies with Chloe. Your fault is minimal.”
“Give me a solution.”
“Buy her happiness with money,” Nathan suggested, pausing for a moment before continuing, “I can empathize with Chloe. It’s devastating for a young girl to witness her seemingly perfect family being torn apart by a malicious woman, and now discovering that her biological father caused her mother’s death. These are heavy blows to endure.
“However, Chloe lost control of her emotions for a brief period in the morning and managed to regain composure by noon, immersing herself in her work. Whether she’s putting on a facade of strength or genuinely possesses inner resilience, you should try to understand and empathize with her more.”
Joseph’s voice remained devoid of emotion as he responded, “Empathy, you say? My parents died too. Does that warrant empathy?”
Nathan’s breath caught, his expression shifting abruptly. The topic of Joseph’s parents had always been a taboo one, a subject no one dared to broach for many years.
He held his silence for a few seconds and wisely shifted gears, saying, “But Chloe has a forgiving nature. If you provide her with a generous shopping allowance, she probably won’t stay angry for long. No woman can resist the allure of shopping.”
The correct course of action would be for Joseph to set aside his pride and offer comfort to Chloe, but given his temperament, he would not bend easily. Handing over money seemed like a more practical approach.
After ending the call, Joseph gave instructions to withdraw all the cash the company used for employee rewards for the meeting.
Twenty minutes later, the department managers began to arrive one by one at the conference room. Chloe selected a seat at the back, filled with concern that Joseph might create a scene. Losing face in front of so many people would be utterly embarrassing.
Sure enough, Joseph strode into the room, donning a black overcoat that accentuated his commanding presence. He paid no heed to Chloe, as if she were invisible, and took his place without sparing her a single glance.
Fury surged within Chloe, and she jabbed at her notebook with her pen, feeling a mix of anger and injustice. She diligently took care of walking the dogs whilst he lounged around at home. It was already painful enough to be doubted and misunderstood, but now he was blatantly disregarding her presence. How could this man lack any trace of conscience?!
During the meeting, one of the senior executives made a pointed remark, stating, “The marketing
copy for the new project which was released by the marketing department last week was exceptional. Within a week, it garnered over three million views. Such talent deserves recognition.
Several voices chimed in, expressing agreement. Then, another participant added, “Indeed, I also noticed that. Was it Chloe who was in charge of the proposal?”
Being suddenly called out, Chloe rose from her seat, feeling a mix of reluctance and humility. In a polite and modest tone, she responded, “While I was responsible for drafting the proposal, the collection of data and information was a collaborative effort of the entire department. I merely organized everyone’s hard work. On behalf of Marketing, I express our gratitude for the recognition, esteemed seniors.”
The senior executive nodded with satisfaction, adding a half-joking, half-serious remark directed at Joseph, “Mr. Joseph, it seems fitting to reward this talented young woman with a generous reward.”
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