People said a man's knees were worth their weight in treasure. Dex's act of kneeling won the sympathy of everyone present—except Yvette, Nelson, and Warron. Zoe and Lucas remained unaffected. Lucas, with a cold stare, believed Dex was at fault, deepening his suspicions. Zoe, trusting Yvette implicitly, remained unswayed.

Yvette approached Dex, who trembled on the ground. A path opened as she walked calmly, hands in her pockets. Stopping ten feet away, her gaze was indifferent. Rooftop encounters, she mused, seemed endless since her return to Clusia.

Dex looked up, his body shaking under her scrutiny. Yvette smirked, raising an eyebrow. "It's dozens of meters high," she asked calmly, "Do you think jumping would mash you up like a pancake?"

Dex was startled. The onlookers were astonished. What's Ms. Zeller doing? Talking about pancake-like impacts at a time like this? they wondered. Yvette's expression remained unusually serious yet casual.

Dex, confused, remained silent. Yvette leisurely produced a piece of vanilla toffee, appearing utterly relaxed. Someone's jumping off a building, and she's this calm? they thought.

Dex, assuming Yvette was trying to scare him, considered the additional $660,000. Gritting his teeth, he stood. A gasp rippled through the crowd.

"Go ahead and jump," Yvette said slowly.

The onlookers were incredulous. Telling him to jump? Has she lost her mind? Nelson and Warron exchanged amused glances. If this gets exaggerated, they thought, the public will tear her apart.

Dex, stiff and trembling, asked, "Ms. Zeller, are you forcing me to jump?"

Yvette fiddled with her ear. "Did I tell you to stand there? Enjoying the scenery?"

Laughter erupted. Her words are sharp, but they make sense, they thought.

Nelson, concerned Dex might act rashly, intervened. "Dex, this won't solve anything. Even if you jump, the layoff isn't withdrawn. Let's discuss this."

Dex, driven by desperation, moved closer to the edge. He considered the risk. Fortune favors the brave, he thought.

"Ms. Zeller, why are you firing me? I deserve an explanation, or I'll jump!" Dex shouted.

Yvette calmly approached, stopping within three feet of him. Lucas and Zoe gasped, warning her to be careful. The crowd was aghast. If she keeps walking, she'll be at the edge!

Weakened, Dex pleaded, "Stay back!" But Yvette continued, stopping only when aligned with him. She looked down. The height was dangerous, but not necessarily fatal.

Terror gripped Dex. She's crazy! he thought.

Trembling, he begged, "Ms. Zeller… as long as you promise not to fire me…"

Yvette's expression remained indifferent. "Go ahead and jump. It looks like you need my help."

The onlookers were terrified. Nelson and Warron hoped she would fall. What does she mean? they wondered.

The next moment, they understood. Yvette donned gloves, grabbed Dex, and casually tossed him off the rooftop.

Panic erupted. Ms. Zeller's gone mad! Nelson and Warron were stunned. How could she do this? Does she understand the consequences?

Lucas and Zoe, followed by the staff, ran forward, abruptly halting halfway.

Amidst the cries, Yvette reached out and caught Dex, his legs dangling precariously. Everyone was stunned, overlooking the fact that she was holding a grown man with one hand.

Dex's mind raced. What good is 1.5 million dollars if I'm dead? He tried to plead, but a gust of wind stole his breath. Fear consumed him. He regretted his actions.