My Husband’s “Work Wife” Is Just a SISTER? Let Me Teach Her How Family Trees Work novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I cut her off. “Mom, he yelled at me for an outsider and now wants me to apologize to an intern who keeps crossing the line. That isn’t generosity, that’s enabling,”

A cold snort came from the other end. “You’re just too controlling!”

I did not argue anymore. Some biases were not worth the breath. Better to save my energy for the counterattack.

That afternoon, I was sorting client files when the studio door opened, Jolene stood there with a milk tea, looking timid.

“Lola… I, I came to apologize.”

She wore a plain dress, no makeup, eyes red like she’d been crying.

My assistant, Adalyn Burch, looked at her curiously.

I did not look up, buried in the files. “Get to the point.”

She set the milk tea on my desk, her voice trembling like she was about to cry. “Lola, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have posted that thing yesterday and made you and Marco fight.” “I swear, I really only see Marco as a brother. I don’t have any other intentions.” Tears started falling as she spoke. “This is all my fault. Please don’t be mad at Marco, okay? If you wanna vent, yell at me.”

Adalyn was completely drawn into the performance. The look she gave me already carried a hint of blame.

Like I was some evil stepmother bullying an innocent girl.

“Are you done?” I asked.

Jolene froze, her tears still hanging on her lashes.

“If you’re done, go back to work. Your company pays you to work, not to leave in the middle of the day and perform in my studio.”

Her face flushed bright red. She clearly had not expected me to be that direct.

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“Lola, I… I came here sincerely to apologize. How can you say that?”

“You came here during work hours, bought milk tea with money Marco gave you, and showed up to tell me you have no feelings for him, all while making my staff think I’m a mean, bitter shrew?”

I picked up the milk tea and dropped it straight into the trash can beside my desk. “I

don’t need your apology or your drink. Now please leave my studio.”

Jolene covered her mouth, looking like I’d shattered her heart, then turned and ran out.

Adalyn watched her leave and could not help saying, “Boss, she doesn’t really look like a bad person. Maybe this is all a misunderstanding? What you just did was… kind of

harsh.”

I looked up at Adalyn. “When she came in, her eyes were swollen but dry. That was saline on a cotton swab, fake crying.”

“When she said she came sincerely, her hands were crossed in front of her body,

defensive posture.”

“When she mentioned Marco, her toes pointed toward the door, but her body leaned toward me. She was reading my reaction.”

“Those are standard moves for the helpless-victim pick-me routine. If you don’t want to get caught by someone like this one day, read my [Pick-Me Behavior Guide].”

Adalyn stood there stunned, lost for words.

It did not take long for Marco to call. “Lola Aldrich, I really misjudged you.”

“Jolene ran back to the office crying. The whole department saw her. She went to apologize to you, and you threw away her drink, humiliated her, and chased her out?”

“How can you be this cruel? She’s barely in her twenties. You humiliated her like that, how is she supposed to face people at work?”

“I’m telling you, Lola, this isn’t over. You need to go apologize to Jolene right now, immediately!”

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My husband, the man who had once promised me we’d grow old together, was now telling me to apologize to the bitch who had been plotting every step.

I sat expressionless at my desk, opened the “Light of Justice” group chat, and posted Jolene’s public social media screenshots.

[Do any of you recognize this intern? She’s always very “close” with male coworkers at her company…]

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Chapter 3