After Being Bullied, The CEO Stood Up For Me

On the day I paid the rent, I had a high fever.

When I came back home in a daze, the first thing that I heard was Mark's excited voice, "Someone who knows what they’re talking about came by to ask about my paintings today. I think this one might actually sell …. Hold on! Why is your face so red?”

He quickly came over to feel my forehead. “You’ve got a fever! Come on, we’re going to the hospital right now!”

As he spoke, he grabbed my arm and started dragging me out the door.

I could not break free from his grip, so I forced myself to speak through the pain in my throat. “I just paid the rent. We don’t have money for the hospital. It's just a sore throat. I'll be fine.”

Mark stopped walking for a long time and turned around to face me.

For the first time, I saw a fleeting guilt in his eyes. I could not help but find this situation a bit funny.

Mark gently squeezed my wrist with a voice that was softer than I heard before he asked, "Then … do we have any money to buy you some medicine? I'll go and buy fever-reducing medicine for you."

I pulled out the last of my emergency cash from my wallet and handed it to him.

Mark took it without a word and headed out the door. Halfway to the door, he suddenly stopped, turned around and rushed back to hug me tightly. “Just hold on a little longer. We can’t give up now. Things will get better, I promise!”

“Okay.” Maybe it was because I was sick, I became a bit fragile and my eyes started to sting with tears.

Mark had never taken any initiative to take care of anyone before.

During those two days, I was bedridden with a fever, he clumsily made a porridge and fed me some medicine. This act of his made me have an illusion that I meant something to him.

It felt so real that I even had a bit of hope that I should not have.

After I recovered, I dragged my weak body to the kitchen and prepared Mark's favorite foods.

I planned to have a serious conversation with him about our future.

However, before I could say a word, Mark's phone chimed with an incoming message.

He checked it and after a few seconds, he slammed his fork onto the table.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quickly.

He did not answer but kept frowning as he scrolled through his phone.

By the time he finished reading, Mark stood up in a fury and threw his phone onto the table. “What a trashy company!”

The phone slid across the table, but it was close enough that I could see the main character in the article.

The article said that Sandra Lewis, the well-known idol, had returned to the country.

She was also Mark's childhood sweetheart. The girl that he loved but could never have.

The article reported how Sandra had been losing her resources to another rising star in the same field and her agency did nothing to help her.

I said dryly. "The entertainment news isn't always accurate. You shouldn't get too worked up over it."

“How can I not be upset?! Sandra isn’t like you. She’s never faced hardships like this. Why should she be bullied by this kind of person now?” he said sharply.

Hearing his statement, my head buzzed. Suddenly, I felt drained. I knew I was as much of a joke as the meal that I had prepared.

"No. It's not …. I wasn't talking about you. Don't take it personally." Mark reached out his hand across the table and grabbed my hand.

I forced myself to smile and drew back my hand. " Got it. Okay, I'm full. You can keep eating." 

I should have known I should not hold on to an impossible dream.