+25 BONUS Chapter 39 William's expression slowly turned cold . Even the way he signed grew stiff and sharp . " You really want to make things hard for me , just for Cecilia ? " But only Rachel knew that it wasn't just for Cecilia . It was also for herself . She wanted to see for herself - if she stood firm like this and refused to back down , would William still choose to protect Samantha ? Rachel's gaze stayed steady and clear as she looked at him . " All these years , I've never asked you for anything . Just this one time - for Cecilia . If you say yes , I'll pass my current project to her . We're signing the contract tomorrow . I'll bring her with me , and her name can go on the agreement . That way , it won't make things too hard for you . " William didn't say a word . His eyes were dark , his gaze resting on Rachel like the distant , shadowy surface of a deep sea - calm , with no sign of waves . Just then , Arsen pushed open the door . " Mr. Lewis , here's a document- " " Get out ! " William suddenly shouted toward the door . Arsen quickly backed out . " Yes , sir . " The door closed again with a soft thud . Rachel's heart trembled hard . Since she had been with William , he had never lost his temper like that in front of her . Her fingers curled tight around the hem of her shirt , and her whole body went stiff . William walked over again . The anger on his face had faded , and his expression softened . He knelt beside her , looked into her eyes , and gently took her cold hand in his . " Rachel ... You know how the company works . It's not just my call . Sure , I've got some say right now , but I haven't fully secured this position . I told you before - my uncle is still out there . He's way more capable than me . He runs his own company , yeah , but who knows ? If my dad ever thinks I'm not good enough , he could swap me out in a second . " William rubbed his brow and continued , " There are a few shareholders who are loyal to my uncle . If they hear that I'm making personal decisions like this at work , who knows what they'll say ? Just ... try to understand where I'm coming from . " Rachel let out a short , cold laugh . " But you had no problem parachuting Samantha into the company " she said . " Do those shareholders know that she can't even run a single data report without your help ? Aren't you worried that it will reach your dad's ears and hurt your standing ? " In the end , it wasn't about what was right or wrong . It was about Rachel not being worth the trouble . If Cecilia came back , Samantha would definitely make a scene in front of William . To put it plainly , he was just afraid that his precious little darling would throw a tantrum , and that he would have to work hard to calm her down . Rachel wasn't like that . She kept things to herself and never made a fuss . No matter how upset she was , she always handled it alone . It was just like the saying - the child who cried got the candy . William sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose . " That's different . Samantha still struggles with data , sure , but she has the credentials . She's from Arden University . With some patience and the right training , she won't stay behind for long . " Rachel tasted bitterness in her mouth . Chapter 39 +25 BONUS So he had patience - for Samantha . But Cecilia ? She was just a regular employee . Not worth the risk of the hassle . Rachel looked him in the eye and asked one last time, " So you're saying that even if I give my project to Cecilia , you still won't let her come back ? " William's answer didn't change . He gave a quick wave of his hand . It's not a good idea . " " I see , " Rachel said quietly . She didn't argue anymore . She stood from the chair , ready to leave - when William suddenly grabbed her shoulder . He turned to look at her , and she caught the chill in his eyes . " What's going on between you and Tyler ? " he demanded . Cate 2/2