Chapter 6

The next day, Serena went to the mall, planning to buy herself a professional outfit.

At a big company like Synergy Global Corporation, image comes first.

In the mirror, she had a slender waist and a graceful figure. Though her complexion was a bit pale, it gave her an air of cool, fragile beauty.

Just as she walked out of the store, a gentle male voice called out from behind.

"Serena?"

Serena turned around.

The man behind her wore a well-tailored dark gray suit with gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, looking refined and elegant.

Serena paused, memories suddenly clicking into place: "Clayton?"

Clayton Thompson gave a slight smile: "It really is you? I thought the figure looked familiar, but I wasn't sure if I had the wrong person."

"Long time no see." Serena smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Clayton had been a star on campus back in college, and after graduation, he started his own business. In just a few years, he'd become a rising star in the industry.

Meanwhile, she was still struggling in her marriage...

"Shopping for clothes?" Clayton's gaze fell on the bag in her hand, his expression warm.

Serena shook her head without explaining much: "I have an interview at Synergy Global Corporation this afternoon, so I came to buy a professional outfit."

"You're interviewing?" Clayton paused, didn't ask more questions, but said: "Synergy Global Corporation is pretty good, but if you don't mind, you could send me a copy of your resume."

Serena was a bit surprised, warmth rising in her heart.

"Thank you."

Just then, a voice reached her ears.

"Serena?" Luna's voice sounded somewhat surprised as she walked up to them, arm in arm with Silas.

Silas's expression instantly darkened when he saw Clayton.

Luna's gaze moved back and forth between Serena and Clayton, covering her mouth in disbelief: "So Serena wants to divorce Silas because of this man?"

"Oh! I must have misunderstood..."

Silas's cold gaze fell on Serena: "No wonder you, a housewife with no real skills, are in such a hurry to get divorced. Turns out you've already found yourself a man!"

Serena bit her lip, about to speak.

Then Clayton's voice came, steady and composed: "We just happened to run into each other here. Serena was top of her department in college and won a national scholarship. Hearing she's looking for work, naturally, I want to help. It's time for her to shine."

Serena gave Clayton a grateful look.

Silas let out a cold laugh, his aura growing increasingly frigid: "Serena, get over here now."

"Don't forget, we're not divorced yet!"

With that, he reached toward Serena.

Serena instinctively stepped back but accidentally stumbled against the railing behind her.

She cried out, lost her balance, and fell heavily to the ground, gasping from the pain.

"Serena!" Luna exclaimed, seemingly moving to help her up, but her stiletto heel was actually aimed at Serena's hand, ready to stomp down hard. "How could you be so careless..."

If that thin heel landed solidly, Serena's hand would be ruined.

At the critical moment, a large hand grabbed Luna's arm and flung her aside forcefully.

"Get back!" Clayton's voice carried a hint of anger.

Luna stumbled backward several steps before Silas caught her.

"I'm warning you both, if you try to hurt Serena again, I'm calling the police."

Silas's jaw was clenched tight, his whole body radiating an unapproachable coldness.

"Serena, I'm asking you one more time. Are you coming with me or not?"

Serena's eyes were misted with moisture from the pain, her cool face showing a hint of stubbornness: "No!"

Silas laughed coldly, his expression darkening to the extreme: "Don't regret this!"

With that, he turned and helped Luna stride away.

Clayton crouched down, carefully examining Serena's ankle.

"The skin's broken." He frowned. "Can you walk?"

Serena tried to move, breaking into a cold sweat from the pain: "It's fine, the bone shouldn't be hurt."

"Don't be stubborn." Clayton sighed. "I'll go buy some medicine and bandages. You sit here and don't move."

Clayton turned toward the pharmacy.

Serena checked the time. If she waited for him to return, she'd be late for the interview.

She sent Clayton a message and limped toward the elevator.

Synergy Global Corporation, HR Department.

When Serena arrived, her forehead was covered in cold sweat, her face pale as paper.

"Hello, I'm Serena, here for an interview."

The receptionist pointed to an office inside: "Go on in, Ms. Wallace is waiting for you."

Serena took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Inside the office sat a woman in her thirties with heavy makeup, legs crossed, filing her nails.

Seeing Serena enter, she didn't even look up: "Serena?"

"Yes, hello, Ms. Wallace." Serena handed over her resume.

Samantha Wallace didn't take it, instead pointing to the chair across from her: "Sit."

Just as Serena was about to sit, Samantha suddenly laughed coldly, her voice sharp: "What are you wearing?"

She looked Serena up and down brazenly, as if she were merchandise for sale.

"Do you think Synergy Global Corporation is some third-rate little company?" Samantha's eyes were full of contempt. "Are you here for an interview, or to seduce men?"

Serena froze: "This is a proper professional outfit..."

"Talking back?" Samantha slammed the table, her voice suddenly rising. "If I say you're improper, you're improper! You reek of seduction. Your resume has such a long gap—were you off being someone's mistress?"

Serena's fists clenched instantly.

This wasn't an interview—it was harassment!

Her gaze fell on Serena's shoes, dusty from the fall.

"Clean your dirty shoes before you come in for an interview!"

Serena laughed coldly, looking straight at Samantha: "Is slandering interviewees part of Synergy Global Corporation's corporate culture?"

"If so, then I'm afraid I can't accept it."

With that, Serena grabbed her resume from the desk and turned to leave.

She ducked into the nearby restroom, wanting to send Clayton a message.

Just as she entered a stall, she heard Samantha making a phone call outside.

Her tone was completely different from her earlier arrogance, now extremely flattering.

"Hello? Miss Frost? Serena just came by."

Serena froze in place.

Luna Frost?

No wonder Samantha had been so hostile—Luna had arranged this!

With trembling hands, Serena pulled out her phone and turned on the recording function.

"Don't worry, I humiliated her thoroughly! A morally corrupt woman like that doesn't deserve to work at Synergy Global Corporation. I'll spread the word in the industry right away—no one will hire her..."

After hearing her finish the call, Serena pushed open the stall door and walked out.

Samantha saw Serena's face in the mirror and jumped.

"Didn't you leave?"

Serena held up her phone, looking at her coldly: "Ms. Wallace, I recorded that entire phone call."

Samantha's expression changed: "What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say doesn't matter. What matters is, does Synergy Global Corporation know that you, as HR manager, treat interviewees this way?"

Serena stepped closer, her eyes cold and fixed on Samantha.

Samantha started to panic.

Though Samantha was an HR manager, she was only middle management. If this gets out, she's going to pay for it.

Just then, laughter came from outside the door.

"Mr. Sterling, this way please."

Samantha's eyes lit up as if seeing a savior, and she pushed past Serena and rushed out.

In the hallway, Silas had his arm around Luna, chatting and laughing with several Synergy Global Corporation executives.

Seeing Samantha rush out, everyone paused.

Samantha pointed at Serena, who had followed her out, and shouted: "This crazy woman won't leave the company, and she's using her phone to secretly record trade secrets, threatening to post them online!"

Silas saw Serena and frowned.

"Serena, have you no shame? Have you followed me all the way here? Realized your mistake and want to make up? I'm telling you, it's too late!"

Luna also nestled in Silas's arms, saying softly, "Serena, even if you want to get Silas's attention, you shouldn't secretly record people's trade secrets. You've completely embarrassed Silas."

Samantha, now feeling backed up, walked smugly up to Serena and raised her hand to slap her.