The office fell into an eerie silence, as if time had frozen.

Everyone stood in stunned disbelief, their eyes fixed on the scene before them.

Chuck lay on the ground, clutching his waist in agony, groaning as he struggled to get up.

Aurora dusted off her hands and looked down at him with a cold smirk. “Chuck, did you really think I’d let you push me around again? Let me tell you, I’m not someone you can mess with.”

Chuck’s face twisted in pain, but his eyes burned with fear and hatred. He never imagined that the seemingly delicate Aurora could be so formidable. He tried to prop himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. The sharp pain rendered him immobile. His expression contorted in rage, his voice shrill like a cornered rat. “Aurora Walton! You’ve lost your mind! How dare you hit me! I’ll sue you!”

Aurora sneered, her toe pressing lightly against the back of his hand. Her voice was laced with disdain. “Sue me? Go ahead. Let’s see who goes down first.”

The icy glint in her eyes sent a shiver down Chuck’s spine, making him feel like he was being stared down by a venomous snake. Just then, the project manager, Ben Gardener, arrived, drawn by the commotion. His face darkened as he took in the chaos.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Aurora withdrew her foot, straightened her posture, and calmly dusted off her hands as if nothing had happened. There wasn’t a trace of panic in her demeanor as she addressed the manager. “Mr. Gardener, I’d like to report Chuck Mills for repeated workplace harassment against me and other female employees.” Her sharp gaze swept across the room, lingering on her colleagues, some looking shocked, others clearly guilty. Her voice was clear and resolute. “Chuck has been making inappropriate comments, getting handsy, and even using his position to imply… certain favors in exchange for promotions. I believe many here know exactly what I’m talking about.”

An uproar erupted.

“What? Chuck is that kind of person?”

“No wonder he’s always extra friendly with the new female interns… so that’s why.”

“I’ve always found him creepy–the way he looks at women gives me the chills.”

Whispers and murmurs spread like wildfire—some expressed disbelief, while others admitted they had long suspected something was off.

Chuck’s face turned deathly pale. He pointed a trembling finger at Aurora, his voice cracking. “You’re lying! This is slander! When have I ever harassed anyone?”

Aurora chuckled coldly, her eyes brimming with ridicule. “Chuck, are you really going to stand there and deny sending suggestive texts to female colleagues? Are you saying you’ve never ‘accidentally‘ touched someone’s hand during company dinners? Or that you’ve never hinted that certain… arrangements could lead to a raise or a promotion?”

With every sentence she uttered, the color drained further from Chuck’s face.

Chapter 32

Chuck opened his mouth to argue, but his guilty conscience left him grasping for words. He stammered, unable to form a single coherent sentence. His reaction only made Aurora’s accusations more convincing.

“Mr. Gardener, I have evidence.”

A female colleague stepped forward, pulling out her phone. She pressed play, and the office filled with the unmistakable sound of Chuck’s voice–his sleazy remarks and inappropriate advances recorded in damning clarity.

“And this!” Another woman stepped up, producing several photos. The images clearly showed Chuck making unwanted physical contact with female colleagues. The evidence was irrefutable.

Chuck stood frozen, his face drained of all color. His entire body trembled like a stray dog backed into a corner. His panicked protests still echoed through the office, but Aurora remained unfazed. She casually adjusted her slightly rumpled sleeve, her lips curling into a cold smile.

Ben’s expression shifted unpredictably as he glanced between the groaning Chuck on the floor and the composed Aurora. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words.

The rest of the office, however, was anything but silent. Whispers spread rapidly. Some employees exchanged excited glances, while others muttered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue.

Chapter 33