Chapter 801: The Great Regret

Finishing her sentence, Susan abruptly left. Everyone watched her go, dumbfounded, the awkward silence deepening. No one dared to act.

Manuel’s face was grim. He compressed his lips and declared, "The meeting is adjourned!" He stood and left the meeting room, leaving a group of bewildered colleagues. It was perhaps the shortest, and certainly the most pointless, meeting in the history of Phillips Bank.

Susan left the company. Despite her initial determination, a pang of regret struck her as she entered the car. Phillips Bank was her family's business, and her impulsive departure would devastate her father upon his recovery.

Gritting her teeth, she drove away, eventually finding herself alone with her thoughts. "I guess this means I'm growing up," she mused. "And it's been forced upon me."

She drove straight to the hospital. Regardless of the late hour, Susan visited her father daily. She didn't know if he would wake, but she clung to the doctor's promise of a miracle.

She opened the ward door. Edward lay in bed, his life sustained by medical equipment. Despite her efforts, her composure crumbled before her father. She knew he wouldn't respond. Lowering her eyes, sadness washed over her. Once, she'd felt she always had a home to return to; now, she felt utterly adrift.

Gathering her composure, she began to speak to her father. "I quarreled with Manuel today," she said. "He said I should be ashamed of not qualifying for the job."

"And he said this in front of all the senior managers, humiliating me."

"So, in a fit of anger, I quit."

"I was furious. I'm your daughter, Edward Phillips' daughter. Even though our family is struggling, we still hold a prominent position. How dare he scold me like that? He has no idea how hard I've worked—I even have dark circles under my eyes!" The more she spoke, the angrier and more aggrieved she became. Unbeknownst to her, someone had entered the ward.

"Why do I work so hard? Because I want to keep the bank. It's our family's legacy, and I won't let it be taken from us. I admit, I have selfish reasons. But more importantly, I want to share his burden. I've seen him fall asleep at his desk, exhausted. It broke my heart. But look what he did to me!" Susan's voice rose in anger. "He blamed me for my incompetence! I'm not a genius; I'm not even particularly smart. What else could I do?"

The person at the door felt a surge of sympathy, but remained silent, allowing Susan to continue her outpouring.

"But, Dad," Susan continued, "even though he was cruel and humiliated me, I regret my actions. Why did I react so dramatically? His scolding wouldn't have killed me; why couldn't I just endure it? He yelled because I am, admittedly, foolish. It wouldn't have been difficult to admit that."

The figure at the door stifled a laugh. Susan remained oblivious to their presence.

"Dad, if I apologize now, will he forgive me and let me stay at the bank?" She considered this seriously, flinching at the thought of Manuel's cold expression. Her fury had given way to profound regret.

"When will I stop being so impulsive?" she wondered, agitated and anxious.

"Maybe you should try," a voice said from the doorway.

Susan jumped. Turning, she saw Justine leaning against the door, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"When did you get here?" Susan felt mortified.

Her thoughts raced: "How much of that did she hear?" She imagined Justine's laughter. "What if she tells Manuel...?" The thought was overwhelming.

"A while," Justine replied thoughtfully. "Probably from when you mentioned working hard."

"Damn! She heard everything!" Susan thought.

"Why didn't you say anything? Isn't eavesdropping rude?" Susan demanded.

"I wasn't eavesdropping, I was listening. And you were deeply engaged with your father; it would have been inappropriate to interrupt."

Susan, unable to win an argument with Justine, stood and left her father's bedside. "Out of sight, out of mind," she thought.

"Leaving?" Justine asked, observing Susan's actions.

"Yes," Susan replied.

"Want me to speak to Manuel for you?"

"Say what?" Susan bristled.

"Say I want to give you another chance."

"No, thanks! I don't want to go back."

"You'll regret it."

Susan wanted to vehemently deny this, but the words caught in her throat. Seeing Susan’s sullen expression, Justine chuckled. "Manuel is quite forgiving; he doesn't take childish behavior seriously."

"Are you calling me childish?" Susan exploded, incredulous that Justine would mock her.

"Just a warning. The choice is yours," Justine shrugged, her elegant demeanor a stark contrast to Susan’s short temper. Susan found herself wondering if Manuel had been blinded by Justine's exceptional qualities.

Gritting her teeth, Susan left the ward. She had always disliked Justine, regardless of her history with Manuel or her father. While her opinion hadn't entirely changed, she was touched by Justine's unwavering devotion to her father, visiting him regularly despite his accident.

Returning to her car, still simmering, she considered returning to Phillips Bank, but the image of Manuel's face stopped her.

"Shit."

She gritted her teeth.

"It's not the first time I've made a fool of myself in front of him. That's how he sees me anyway; things can't get any worse," she reasoned.

She accelerated, heading back to the company.

"I just need to admit I was wrong," Susan thought. "The worst he can do is fire me."