Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 72

Now that she thought about it, the signs had been there. For days, Luna had been nudging Lydia to confess to Alexander, and she had been subtly hinting to others that Lydia and Alexander were close.

Still, none of that interested Elena. She turned on her computer and prepared to work.

She had barely been seated for two minutes when Lydia's voice cut through the office.

"Elena, in my office."

That could not be good. Elena set down her things and walked in.

The atmosphere inside was tense. Luna was there too, wearing an innocent expression.

"What's going on?" Elena asked.

Lydia's gaze was sharp. "Where were you after the dinner last night?"

Elena did not expect that question.

She paused. Lydia caught the hesitation and became more convinced that Luna was right. The rumors had to have come from Elena.

"I wasn't feeling great, so I left early."

It was vague, but she was not about to say she had been with Alexander.

"What time did you leave?"

"I don't remember."

She kept her tone calm. "Did something happen?"

Her eyes were steady, open.

For a moment, Lydia did not know how to phrase it. Was she supposed to ask whether Elena had spread the story about her trying to confess and getting turned down?

Her head throbbed. "You can go."

"...Okay."

Once Elena left, Luna immediately leaned closer. "I told you it had to be her. You're not exactly on good terms, and she got in here through Ryan's recommendation. She clearly doesn't respect you. Spreading gossip like that just makes you look bad so she can edge you out. Maybe once you're gone, she thinks she can slide into your position. Don't forget, even Mr. Kingsley complimented her last night."

Lydia had been irritated with Luna for encouraging her to confess in the first place.

But now her focus shifted.

Luna's words made a twisted kind of sense. Besides Luna, only Elena had any tension with her. It could not possibly be her own cousin.

"She wants my job? Does she even have the ability?"

Elena was not naive about workplace dynamics.

"My tasks for today are complete. The company policy is nine to six, and I've met my responsibilities within that time. I don't believe I've been negligent. And while organizing files isn't technically my responsibility, I'm open to learning beyond my role. I just genuinely have something scheduled tonight. If it's not urgent, I can handle it tomorrow."

Constantly giving in would only make Lydia push further. From the day she started, she had felt the hostility from Lydia and Luna.

She was not about to indulge it endlessly.

Lydia's face flushed. No one had ever challenged her authority so directly.

"Fine. If you won't do it, don't bother coming in tomorrow."

She dropped the threat.

Elena was about to respond when the office door opened. Ryan, who normally had no reason to be there, walked in.

"What's going on?"

He had heard everything outside but pretended otherwise.

Lydia's expression stiffened. "Nothing. Ryan, what brings you here?"