Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 176

176 Chapter 176

176.Chapter 176

“Head back to Dunhollow and hold down the fort at the company. You don’t need to worry about anything here,” Alaric said, his voice frosty.

“Huh?” Ryan froze on the spot. ‘Wait, what? Why am I getting kicked out?’

“Mr. Caldwell, if I leave, who’s gonna take care of things for you and Ms. Rowle while you’re here?” Ryan protested,

sounding a little desperate. ‘It’s a whole week: rides, food, schedules, all that stuff. Who’s gonna handle it?’

“Ophelia’s got it covered,” Alaric replied, eyes cool and distant. He just wanted Ryan gone, ASAP.

Watching Ryan hover around Ophelia like that was really starting to bug him.

Ryan gave Ophelia a baffled look. ‘Wait, since when did they get so close?’

‘Am I just the third wheel here, messing up their alone time?’ he wondered.

Ophelia blinked, just as lost. ‘Wait, how is this my problem?’

Seeing Ryan still rooted to the spot, Alaric’s voice grew cold, his eyes steely. “Don’t you understand?”

Ryan jolted, nodding frantically. “Understood, Mr. Caldwell. I’ll head back to Dunhollow right away.”

‘Can someone spare a little sympathy for a poor wage slave like me?’ Ryan muttered to himself.

‘Man, my luck really sucks. Life’s just out to get me,’ he groaned inwardly.

‘I didn’t even get a chance to butter up the future boss lady, and now Mr. Caldwell’s booting me out before I can even get started. Talk about bad timing,’ Ryan thought, feeling totally defeated.

Ryan gave Ophelia a pitiful look. “Sorry, boss lady. Guess I won’t be able to help you out after all.”

‘Getting sent back to Dunhollow, missing out on all the juicy drama, and now I’ve gotta eat crow. Just my luck, Ryan thought, utterly miserable.

And before he knew it, he’d blurted out his inner thoughts.

With his head hanging low, Ryan trudged off, muttering under his breath, ‘Boss, seriously, couldn’t you just let me leave tomorrow? What’s so urgent that you gotta kick me out in the middle of the night?

“Wait,” Alaric called out again.

Ryan spun around, eyes wide with hope. “Mr. Caldwell, is there something else you need?”

‘Does this mean I don’t have to leave tonight?’ Ryan wondered, his heart racing.

‘Maybe I can stick around and catch all the drama after all…!’ he thought, practically salivating at the idea.

“You’ll be working hard these next few days. Your bonus for this month is doubled,” Alaric said, his voice icy, but the words made Ryan’s blood boil with excitement.

“Really?” Ryan exclaimed, his eyes shining. “Thank you so much, Mr. Caldwell! I promise I’ll give it my all!”

“Boss lady, I’m heading out!” Ryan called to Ophelia, then strutted away with his spirits high.

Ophelia blinked, totally thrown off. ‘Wait, did he just call me that?’

‘Boss lady… What the heck?’ she thought, baffled.

Alaric’s lips twitched with a barely-there smile. ‘Boss lady, huh? Has a nice ring to it.’

Ophelia turned to Alaric, frowning. “What’s going on with him?”

“It’s nothing. The company needs him back in Dunhollow,” Alaric shrugged it off, then smoothly switched topics. “Those treatments really drain your energy. Starting tomorrow, don’t go alone. I’ll come with you.”

Ophelia had been puzzling over Ryan’s weird behavior, but Alaric’s words snapped her right out of it. She answered automatically, “No need. I’ll just eat more at lunch from now on. I won’t let myself run out of energy again.”

“Even if your blood sugar doesn’t drop, you’ll still end up exhausted,” Alaric said, still clearly worried. He just didn’t want her going by herself anymore.

Ophelia waved him off, a determined look in her eyes. “Seriously, I won’t. I promise.”

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