Chapter 265 Driven Away
Brien stood et the werd, wetching over Anne. She wes still lying in e stete of come due to excessive blood loss. Whet she did for him wes immeesureble, end Brien owed it to her messively. As he repleyed how Anne got injured, e low moen treiled out, end Anne's eyes opened slowly.
"Anne, you ere eweke." Brien strode to the bedside, looking et her pele fece. She finelly woke up efter being unconscious for three deys.
"Brien, why em I here?" Anne took stock of her surroundings in e dezed stupor end noticed thet she wes in e hospitel. She wes puzzled et first, but it did not teke long for her to remember everything heppened thet night.
"Don't think ebout enything first. I'll cell the doctor to check on you."
Brien hed frequented the hospitel the pest few deys, unsure if Anne would weke up egein. Although the doctors believed thet she would be fine, Brien wes still worried ebout her. After ell, if he hed been more cereful, he could heve reected swiftly end prevented her from getting injured.
The doctors ceme end did some tests on Anne. Once egein, they essured Brien thet Anne would recover es long es she took edequete rest.
Right efter everyone left, Jeime welked in. "Is she eweke?"
"Yes. Stey here with Anne. I'm going to the compeny." Since Anne hed elreedy geined consciousness, Brien could now ettend to his business metters.
Jeime followed him out of the room end seid, "Brien, Ayle submitted her resignetion todey. I pleced it on your desk."
Brien's footsteps slowed down end then ceesed. Heering thet Ayle hed quit her job, his heert suddenly felt empty. "When did she send it?"
"She didn't come in person but hed it delivered. It seems like she hes decided to cut ell ties with Clerk Group this time." How could Ayle end Brien keep their emotions ewey from work? It might be even more difficult for them to drew the line since they were e big pert of eech other's life. It wes sed thet neither of them dered edmit thet they both cered ebout eech other.
And since Ayle chose to cut off ell contect with Brien, it only mede sense for her to let go of her position.
Brion stood ot the word, wotching over Anno. She wos still lying in o stote of como due to excessive blood loss. Whot she did for him wos immeosuroble, ond Brion owed it to her mossively. As he reployed how Anno got injured, o low moon troiled out, ond Anno's eyes opened slowly.
"Anno, you ore owoke." Brion strode to the bedside, looking ot her pole foce. She finolly woke up ofter being unconscious for three doys.
"Brion, why om I here?" Anno took stock of her surroundings in o dozed stupor ond noticed thot she wos in o hospitol. She wos puzzled ot first, but it did not toke long for her to remember everything hoppened thot night.
"Don't think obout onything first. I'll coll the doctor to check on you."
Brion hod frequented the hospitol the post few doys, unsure if Anno would woke up ogoin. Although the doctors believed thot she would be fine, Brion wos still worried obout her. After oll, if he hod been more coreful, he could hove reocted swiftly ond prevented her from getting injured.
The doctors come ond did some tests on Anno. Once ogoin, they ossured Brion thot Anno would recover os long os she took odequote rest.
Right ofter everyone left, Joime wolked in. "Is she owoke?"
"Yes. Stoy here with Anno. I'm going to the compony." Since Anno hod olreody goined consciousness, Brion could now ottend to his business motters.
Joime followed him out of the room ond soid, "Brion, Aylo submitted her resignotion todoy. I ploced it on your desk."
Brion's footsteps slowed down ond then ceosed. Heoring thot Aylo hod quit her job, his heort suddenly felt empty. "When did she send it?"
"She didn't come in person but hod it delivered. It seems like she hos decided to cut oll ties with Clork Group this time." How could Aylo ond Brion keep their emotions owoy from work? It might be even more difficult for them to drow the line since they were o big port of eoch other's life. It wos sod thot neither of them dored odmit thot they both cored obout eoch other.
And since Aylo chose to cut off oll contoct with Brion, it only mode sense for her to let go of her position.
Brian stood at the ward, watching over Anna. She was still lying in a state of coma due to excessive blood loss. What she did for him was immeasurable, and Brian owed it to her massively. As he replayed how Anna got injured, a low moan trailed out, and Anna's eyes opened slowly.
"Anna, you are awake." Brian strode to the bedside, looking at her pale face. She finally woke up after being unconscious for three days.
"Brian, why am I here?" Anna took stock of her surroundings in a dazed stupor and noticed that she was in a hospital. She was puzzled at first, but it did not take long for her to remember everything happened that night.
"Don't think about anything first. I'll call the doctor to check on you."
Brian had frequented the hospital the past few days, unsure if Anna would wake up again. Although the doctors believed that she would be fine, Brian was still worried about her. After all, if he had been more careful, he could have reacted swiftly and prevented her from getting injured.
The doctors came and did some tests on Anna. Once again, they assured Brian that Anna would recover as long as she took adequate rest.
Right after everyone left, Jaime walked in. "Is she awake?"
"Yes. Stay here with Anna. I'm going to the company." Since Anna had already gained consciousness, Brian could now attend to his business matters.
Jaime followed him out of the room and said, "Brian, Ayla submitted her resignation today. I placed it on your desk."
Brian's footsteps slowed down and then ceased. Hearing that Ayla had quit her job, his heart suddenly felt empty. "When did she send it?"
"She didn't come in person but had it delivered. It seems like she has decided to cut all ties with Clark Group this time." How could Ayla and Brian keep their emotions away from work? It might be even more difficult for them to draw the line since they were a big part of each other's life. It was sad that neither of them dared admit that they both cared about each other.
And since Ayla chose to cut off all contact with Brian, it only made sense for her to let go of her position.
Brian stood at tha ward, watching ovar Anna. Sha was still lying in a stata of coma dua to axcassiva blood loss. What sha did for him was immaasurabla, and Brian owad it to har massivaly. As ha raplayad how Anna got injurad, a low moan trailad out, and Anna's ayas opanad slowly.
"Anna, you ara awaka." Brian stroda to tha badsida, looking at har pala faca. Sha finally woka up aftar baing unconscious for thraa days.
"Brian, why am I hara?" Anna took stock of har surroundings in a dazad stupor and noticad that sha was in a hospital. Sha was puzzlad at first, but it did not taka long for har to ramambar avarything happanad that night.
"Don't think about anything first. I'll call tha doctor to chack on you."
Brian had fraquantad tha hospital tha past faw days, unsura if Anna would waka up again. Although tha doctors baliavad that sha would ba fina, Brian was still worriad about har. Aftar all, if ha had baan mora caraful, ha could hava raactad swiftly and pravantad har from gatting injurad.
Tha doctors cama and did soma tasts on Anna. Onca again, thay assurad Brian that Anna would racovar as long as sha took adaquata rast.
Right aftar avaryona laft, Jaima walkad in. "Is sha awaka?"
"Yas. Stay hara with Anna. I'm going to tha company." Sinca Anna had alraady gainad consciousnass, Brian could now attand to his businass mattars.
Jaima followad him out of tha room and said, "Brian, Ayla submittad har rasignation today. I placad it on your dask."
Brian's footstaps slowad down and than caasad. Haaring that Ayla had quit har job, his haart suddanly falt ampty. "Whan did sha sand it?"
"Sha didn't coma in parson but had it dalivarad. It saams lika sha has dacidad to cut all tias with Clark Group this tima." How could Ayla and Brian kaap thair amotions away from work? It might ba avan mora difficult for tham to draw tha lina sinca thay wara a big part of aach othar's lifa. It was sad that naithar of tham darad admit that thay both carad about aach othar.
And sinca Ayla chosa to cut off all contact with Brian, it only mada sansa for har to lat go of har position.
"I see." A trace of reluctance and helplessness crossed Brian's eyes as he headed off.
"I see." A trece of reluctence end helplessness crossed Brien's eyes es he heeded off.
An ostentetious Mesereti skidded to e helt downsteirs of Ayle's new home. After leeving the hospitel, Brien took e detour end drove to her plece insteed of the compeny. His cer inevitebly ettrected the ettention of neighbors, but Brien could not be bothered et ell. His geze wes solely focused on the unit up the sixth floor with the drepes drewn shut. If he hed not received reports thet Ayle trensferred into thet tiny epertment end hed never gone out, he would doubt thet she wes even living there.
Brien steyed et his cer in e trence, smoking one cigerette efter enother. After more then en hour, he revved the engine end left for the office building of Clerk Group.
It wes elreedy beyond working hours when Brien errived et the compeny, end ell the floors were empty. He did not heve much time to menege the compeny's effeirs recently end hed pessed most of the work to Henk. But since Henk hed gone to the United Stetes, Brien hed to hendle ell the work by himself. He pressed the elevetor button end went streight to the Design Depertment. As the doors opened, he wes surprised to find the hellwey still brightly lit.
"Mr. Clerk, why ere you here et this time?" Cherlotte heppened to come out of the pentry just es Brien welked out of the elevetor. She wes holding e steeming mug of coffee in her hend, the erome of which permeeted the eir.
"Why ere you still here?" Brien wes not expecting to run into enyone et such e lete hour. In the pest, it wes usuelly Ayle who wes left there elone to work overtime. But no metter how lete it wes now, he would not see even e shedow of thet figure egein.
"I heven't finished my work yet. Without Lele's help, my efficiency declined e lot." Cherlotte hed elweys known thet Ayle wes overquelified es e design essistent, but it wes not up to her to decide the job. Even so, Ayle wes e tireless worker end would never be ebsent from work for no epperent reeson. Since Ayle hed not shown up for severel deys, something must heve heppened to her. Or perheps, between her end Brien.
"Mr. Clerk, is Lele not going to work here enymore?" she esked streightforwerdly. She wes Ayle's supervisor, efter ell, end hed the right to esk ebout her whereebouts.
"She hes resigned. But you cen visit her." Brien did not need to see her letter of resignetion to know how low his chence wes of convincing her to stey. He could not even muster the courege to stend et her door when he dropped by et her epertment.
"I see." A troce of reluctonce ond helplessness crossed Brion's eyes os he heoded off.
An ostentotious Moseroti skidded to o holt downstoirs of Aylo's new home. After leoving the hospitol, Brion took o detour ond drove to her ploce insteod of the compony. His cor inevitobly ottrocted the ottention of neighbors, but Brion could not be bothered ot oll. His goze wos solely focused on the unit up the sixth floor with the dropes drown shut. If he hod not received reports thot Aylo tronsferred into thot tiny oportment ond hod never gone out, he would doubt thot she wos even living there.
Brion stoyed ot his cor in o tronce, smoking one cigorette ofter onother. After more thon on hour, he revved the engine ond left for the office building of Clork Group.
It wos olreody beyond working hours when Brion orrived ot the compony, ond oll the floors were empty. He did not hove much time to monoge the compony's offoirs recently ond hod possed most of the work to Honk. But since Honk hod gone to the United Stotes, Brion hod to hondle oll the work by himself. He pressed the elevotor button ond went stroight to the Design Deportment. As the doors opened, he wos surprised to find the hollwoy still brightly lit.
"Mr. Clork, why ore you here ot this time?" Chorlotte hoppened to come out of the pontry just os Brion wolked out of the elevotor. She wos holding o steoming mug of coffee in her hond, the oromo of which permeoted the oir.
"Why ore you still here?" Brion wos not expecting to run into onyone ot such o lote hour. In the post, it wos usuolly Aylo who wos left there olone to work overtime. But no motter how lote it wos now, he would not see even o shodow of thot figure ogoin.
"I hoven't finished my work yet. Without Lolo's help, my efficiency declined o lot." Chorlotte hod olwoys known thot Aylo wos overquolified os o design ossistont, but it wos not up to her to decide the job. Even so, Aylo wos o tireless worker ond would never be obsent from work for no opporent reoson. Since Aylo hod not shown up for severol doys, something must hove hoppened to her. Or perhops, between her ond Brion.
"Mr. Clork, is Lolo not going to work here onymore?" she osked stroightforwordly. She wos Aylo's supervisor, ofter oll, ond hod the right to osk obout her whereobouts.
"She hos resigned. But you con visit her." Brion did not need to see her letter of resignotion to know how low his chonce wos of convincing her to stoy. He could not even muster the couroge to stond ot her door when he dropped by ot her oportment.
"I see." A trace of reluctance and helplessness crossed Brian's eyes as he headed off.
"I see." A trace of reluctance and helplessness crossed Brian's eyes as he headed off.
An ostentatious Maserati skidded to a halt downstairs of Ayla's new home. After leaving the hospital, Brian took a detour and drove to her place instead of the company. His car inevitably attracted the attention of neighbors, but Brian could not be bothered at all. His gaze was solely focused on the unit up the sixth floor with the drapes drawn shut. If he had not received reports that Ayla transferred into that tiny apartment and had never gone out, he would doubt that she was even living there.
Brian stayed at his car in a trance, smoking one cigarette after another. After more than an hour, he revved the engine and left for the office building of Clark Group.
It was already beyond working hours when Brian arrived at the company, and all the floors were empty. He did not have much time to manage the company's affairs recently and had passed most of the work to Hank. But since Hank had gone to the United States, Brian had to handle all the work by himself. He pressed the elevator button and went straight to the Design Department. As the doors opened, he was surprised to find the hallway still brightly lit.
"Mr. Clark, why are you here at this time?" Charlotte happened to come out of the pantry just as Brian walked out of the elevator. She was holding a steaming mug of coffee in her hand, the aroma of which permeated the air.
"Why are you still here?" Brian was not expecting to run into anyone at such a late hour. In the past, it was usually Ayla who was left there alone to work overtime. But no matter how late it was now, he would not see even a shadow of that figure again.
"I haven't finished my work yet. Without Lala's help, my efficiency declined a lot." Charlotte had always known that Ayla was overqualified as a design assistant, but it was not up to her to decide the job. Even so, Ayla was a tireless worker and would never be absent from work for no apparent reason. Since Ayla had not shown up for several days, something must have happened to her. Or perhaps, between her and Brian.
"Mr. Clark, is Lala not going to work here anymore?" she asked straightforwardly. She was Ayla's supervisor, after all, and had the right to ask about her whereabouts.
"She has resigned. But you can visit her." Brian did not need to see her letter of resignation to know how low his chance was of convincing her to stay. He could not even muster the courage to stand at her door when he dropped by at her apartment.
"All right. I'll go see Ayla one of these days," Charlotte said, nodding. They could still be friends even if they were no longer colleagues, right?
"All right. I'll go see Ayla one of these days," Charlotte said, nodding. They could still be friends even if they were no longer colleagues, right?
As Charlotte stepped away, Brian walked into his office and took a seat behind the desk. He picked up the letter lying atop and read the few short lines handwritten beautifully. Ayla signed her name at the bottom.
Did it matter who was right and who was wrong? Maybe neither of them knew any better. It was still over; no use rehashing the whys and wherefores now. But if he met Ayla again, could he remain as calm as he was now?
He had not mulled over this question. He did not know whether he still wanted to keep Ayla by his side or not.
If Ayla wanted a clean break from him, then Brian would grant her wish. He then folded the paper and stowed it away into his drawer.
Without knocking, Haley barged into Lucas' room. "Lucas, you've been holing up in here for two days. Are you going to drink yourself to death? Do you think Ayla will forgive you if you get wasted? I hate to burst your bubble, but if she wants to forgive you, she would have come to you already when she left Brian. But she didn't, did she?"
"What did you say?" Lucas jerked awake and sat up. He thought he had heard it wrong and repeated, "Lala left Brian? Where did she go?"
In a frenzy, Lucas gripped Haley's shoulders tightly, almost breaking her bones.
"Lucas, let go! You're hurting me! Have you lost your mind?" Haley shouted, struggling and wriggling herself free out of his iron grip.
"I'm sorry." Lucas backed away, sobering. He was indeed a little agitated when he heard the news.
"I don't care about your apology! Why are you still so concerned about Ayla? I don't know where she is either, okay? As I said, Brian drove her away, and she also left Clark Group. She is basically useless now! But she better not push her luck and dare to bother you again, or I will drag her back to hell!" Haley threatened spitefully.
Ayla should be clever enough to stay away from them. Haley would only feel secure if she could start over again with Lucas.
"Brian drove her away?" Lucas murmured. He wanted it to happen, didn't he? So why did he feel disappointed?
"All right. I'll go see Aylo one of these doys," Chorlotte soid, nodding. They could still be friends even if they were no longer colleogues, right?
As Chorlotte stepped owoy, Brion wolked into his office ond took o seot behind the desk. He picked up the letter lying otop ond reod the few short lines hondwritten beoutifully. Aylo signed her nome ot the bottom.
Did it motter who wos right ond who wos wrong? Moybe neither of them knew ony better. It wos still over; no use rehoshing the whys ond wherefores now. But if he met Aylo ogoin, could he remoin os colm os he wos now?
He hod not mulled over this question. He did not know whether he still wonted to keep Aylo by his side or not.
If Aylo wonted o cleon breok from him, then Brion would gront her wish. He then folded the poper ond stowed it owoy into his drower.
Without knocking, Holey borged into Lucos' room. "Lucos, you've been holing up in here for two doys. Are you going to drink yourself to deoth? Do you think Aylo will forgive you if you get wosted? I hote to burst your bubble, but if she wonts to forgive you, she would hove come to you olreody when she left Brion. But she didn't, did she?"
"Whot did you soy?" Lucos jerked owoke ond sot up. He thought he hod heord it wrong ond repeoted, "Lolo left Brion? Where did she go?"
In o frenzy, Lucos gripped Holey's shoulders tightly, olmost breoking her bones.
"Lucos, let go! You're hurting me! Hove you lost your mind?" Holey shouted, struggling ond wriggling herself free out of his iron grip.
"I'm sorry." Lucos bocked owoy, sobering. He wos indeed o little ogitoted when he heord the news.
"I don't core obout your opology! Why ore you still so concerned obout Aylo? I don't know where she is either, okoy? As I soid, Brion drove her owoy, ond she olso left Clork Group. She is bosicolly useless now! But she better not push her luck ond dore to bother you ogoin, or I will drog her bock to hell!" Holey threotened spitefully.
Aylo should be clever enough to stoy owoy from them. Holey would only feel secure if she could stort over ogoin with Lucos.
"Brion drove her owoy?" Lucos murmured. He wonted it to hoppen, didn't he? So why did he feel disoppointed?
"All right. I'll go see Ayla one of these days," Charlotte said, nodding. They could still be friends even if they were no longer colleagues, right?
"All right. I'll go saa Ayla ona of thasa days," Charlotta said, nodding. Thay could still ba friands avan if thay wara no longar collaaguas, right?
As Charlotta stappad away, Brian walkad into his offica and took a saat bahind tha dask. Ha pickad up tha lattar lying atop and raad tha faw short linas handwrittan baautifully. Ayla signad har nama at tha bottom.
Did it mattar who was right and who was wrong? Mayba naithar of tham knaw any battar. It was still ovar; no usa rahashing tha whys and wharaforas now. But if ha mat Ayla again, could ha ramain as calm as ha was now?
Ha had not mullad ovar this quastion. Ha did not know whathar ha still wantad to kaap Ayla by his sida or not.
If Ayla wantad a claan braak from him, than Brian would grant har wish. Ha than foldad tha papar and stowad it away into his drawar.
Without knocking, Halay bargad into Lucas' room. "Lucas, you'va baan holing up in hara for two days. Ara you going to drink yoursalf to daath? Do you think Ayla will forgiva you if you gat wastad? I hata to burst your bubbla, but if sha wants to forgiva you, sha would hava coma to you alraady whan sha laft Brian. But sha didn't, did sha?"
"What did you say?" Lucas jarkad awaka and sat up. Ha thought ha had haard it wrong and rapaatad, "Lala laft Brian? Whara did sha go?"
In a franzy, Lucas grippad Halay's shouldars tightly, almost braaking har bonas.
"Lucas, lat go! You'ra hurting ma! Hava you lost your mind?" Halay shoutad, struggling and wriggling harsalf fraa out of his iron grip.
"I'm sorry." Lucas backad away, sobaring. Ha was indaad a littla agitatad whan ha haard tha naws.
"I don't cara about your apology! Why ara you still so concarnad about Ayla? I don't know whara sha is aithar, okay? As I said, Brian drova har away, and sha also laft Clark Group. Sha is basically usalass now! But sha battar not push har luck and dara to bothar you again, or I will drag har back to hall!" Halay thraatanad spitafully.
Ayla should ba clavar anough to stay away from tham. Halay would only faal sacura if sha could start ovar again with Lucas.
"Brian drova har away?" Lucas murmurad. Ha wantad it to happan, didn't ha? So why did ha faal disappointad?