The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 12

Ellinor had swapped her top for a guy’s T-shirt. Feeling a bit cold due to the open car window, she decided to also wear the suit jacket that the man just draped over her.

“I heard that you lost your job?” Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

While aimlessly staring out of the car window, Ellinor heard Theo’s deep voice.

Ellinor smirked, “Yes, all thanks to you!”

Theo nonchalantly flipped through the files in his hand. “I gave you guys a chance, but you messed up. By my standards, that plan was not worth investing in.”

Feeling a bit sleepy, Ellinor yawned.

“Oh! I’m no longer a Nexus Industries employee, you don’t need to justify anything to me.”

Theo flipped another page, casually saying, “If you’re looking for an internship in a company….”

“Mister, could you stop up ahead?”

Ellinor cut him off, looking out of the window as if she spotted something. The moment the driver stopped the car, Ellinor hopped out. She ran to the bus stop up ahead and jumped onto the bus that just pulled in.

She found a window seat, stuck her hand out of the window, gave the Mercedes behind her a thumbs– up, and then slowly rotated it 180 degrees downward in a dismissive gesture.

The bus slowly drove away, and only then did she pull her hand back in.

Watching this, Collin’s temples were throbbing. This Ms. Mendoza was incredibly bold, no one in Greenhaven would dare disrespect Mr. Blanchet like that.

“Mr. Blanchet, your suit jacket was taken by Ms. Mendoza. You have a project completion ribbon– cutting ceremony this afternoon…”

“Just have someone deliver a new one.”

Theo frowned, his face stern, as he continued to scan through his documents.

“Understood!”

Collin added, “Veronica just called to say she’s been hospitalized.”

Theo looked up slightly, “Why was she hospitalized?”

Collin explained, “This morning, Ms. Mendoza shoved Veronica’s head into the toilet bowl and made her drink a few mouthfuls of toilet water… Veronica is a bit of a clean freak, and she was so disgusted that she’s been vomiting since morning. Now she’s dehydrated and at the hospital for an IV”

“What did the doctor say?”

“The doctor said there’s nothing serious, she’ll be fine after an IV, a good meal, and a couple of days of rest. But, Veronica has been crying non–stop, she insists that you go back and avenge her by teaching Ms. Mendoza a lesson…”

Theo expressionless, “Veronica’s always been spoiled by her grandmother and is used to getting her way. Ms. Mendoza may be a bit hotheaded, but she doesn’t go looking for trouble. Let Veronica taste some hardship this time, she’ll probably learn to restrain herself a

bit. Don’t bother with her.”

Collin was taken aback, noticing that Mr. Blanchet seemed to be particularly lenient towards Ms. Mendoza?

He turned to ask, “Then, since Ms. Mendoza lost her job today, should we find her another one?”

Theo casually replied, “Don’t bother with her, as long as she doesn’t do anything to damage the reputation of the Blanchet family within the next three months.”

“…Understood!”

At first, Collin thought that Mr. Blanchet might have had some special feelings for Ms. Mendoza, but it appeared he was overthinking it.

That’s right, Mr. Blanchet’s heart only had room for Ms. Howard, and that hadn’t changed over the years.

But because the Blanchet family and the Howard family were sworn enemies, their love couldn’t be fulfilled. And so, Mr. Blanchet remained single, which greatly worried his father, forcing him to pressure him into marriage.

Ellinor took the bus home to pack her things. She would be staying with the Blanchet family for the next three months. She couldn’t just keep wearing his clothes.

Upon walking in, she ran into Sheila, who was home because she lost her job.

Sheila always treated Ellinor arrogantly. When she saw Ellinor come back, she immediately put on a haughty attitude.

“Oh, it’s you. I thought it was my takeaway!”

Ellinor didn’t bother to engage Sheila, she just sidestepped her and headed upstairs

But Sheila was relentless, blocking her way and looking at her with contempt.

“Ellinor, you came home wearing men’s clothes? You didn’t come home last night. Did you spend the night with some guy?”

Before Ellinor could explain, Sheila started screaming.

“Dad! Mom! Come quick! Look at what Ellinor is wearing!”

Arnold came out of his room, his face turned serious upon seeing the men’s clothes on Ellinor.

“Ellinor, why are you wearing men’s clothes? Where did you go last night?”

Following him out, Tracy looked shocked at the scene, “This… this is absolutely unacceptable! Ellinor, you’re an unmarried girl, how could you just casually wear men’s clothes? The Mendozas are a respectable family!”

Sheila chimed in, “Dad, Ellinor refused to meet the guys mom set her up with, but she spent the night out with a guy! How could she!”

Arnold’s face darkened even more, he angrily said, “Ellinor, explain yourself right now. What’s the deal with the clothes?”

Ellinor calmly explained to her father Arnold, “Dad, my clothes got wet due to an accident, so I borrowed someone else’s. I’ll wash and

return them.”

Sheila scoffed, “Borrowed clothes? Who would believe that?”

Arnold suspiciously asked. “Then where did you go last night?”

Ellinor replied, “I found a place to rent last night, so I stayed there. I’m here to pack my stuff and move out.”

To her, the Blanchet family was like a rented house. The rent being three months of her time.

Arnold frowned, “You’re moving out? You got a home and you’re not staying? Where are you moving to?”

Tracy mocked from the side, “Arnold, is Ellinor planning to shack up with some man? Living together before marriage isn’t a good habit! What if the girl loses her purity and honor. How can she get married? It could even ruin our family’s reputation!”

Sheila sneered, “Ha, she’s already started not coming home at night and coming back in men’s clothes. What purity is she talking about!”

Arnold looked more and more upset, staring at Ellinor in disappointment.

Ellinor looked at Tracy and Sheila, smiling lightly.

“Thanks for your concern Auntie Tracy and Sheila! I’m just an ordinary person. No matter what embarrassing things I do, no one knows me, not even many of my relatives remember me. So, I won’t ruin the Mendoza family’s reputation.

“On the other hand, Sheila, you are a big star, very famous. A little gossip can make you a hot topic. You should be more careful about your reputation. Don’t give the unscrupulous media a chance to write about you being kept by rich men. If you can’t get married

because of this, Auntie Tracy will have to worry about you again.”

Sheila was furious, ‘Ellinor, who are you saying can’t get married?”

Ellinor pretended to be surprised, “Oh, I forgot. Sheila, you got married yesterday! By the way, where’s your new husband Mr. Blanchet? Aren’t you going to introduce your brother–in–law to me?”

The room went silent… Arnold’s anger was redirected at Tracy and Sheila! Thinking about yesterday’s wedding made him boiling mad. He lost his dignity in front of his relatives and friends!

Ellinor added, “Dad, it was fine for me to stay at home when I was still studying, but now I’m an adult and I’ve started to work. I want to try living independently. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to embarrass you after I move out.”

Comparing Ellinor to Tracy and Sheila, Amold felt she was much more obedient.

So he waved his hand, “Do whatever you want. If you want to move out, just do it. The house is a mess anyway!”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Ellinor glanced at Tracy and Sheila, then turned and went upstairs.

While she was changing. Sheila barged in. Just as she was about to yell at her, Sheila suddenly saw the brand logo on the men’s suit jacket that Ellinor had taken off!

What! The jacket turned out to be from FA, a luxury brand!

How come this country bumpkin, Ellinor, came across such a high–end piece of man’s clothing!