Dead!
Jackson's face went pale, and the atmosphere around him took on an ominous vibe. As he turned, his young assistant was so spooked he was left stammering, frozen in place, unable to move.
"Why did it suddenly die?" Jackson's deep voice echoed, his face a canvas of icy indifference. Those eagle-sharp eyes of his were especially fierce. "Find out."
"Yes, sir."
The assistant didn't waste a second and dashed out of the office.
Half a mile away, the pressure was so intense it felt suffocating. Jackson stared out the window, his thoughts drifting. Whatever was on his mind made his fists clench so tightly they creaked. Anger radiated from him, and in a fit of rage, he punched the wall, causing a bit of dust to fall.
His knuckles were bloodied, with faint traces of blood oozing from the wounds, mixing with the wall's plaster. Jackson seemed oblivious to the pain, standing there, lost in thought.
After a while, Jackson finally moved, heading to his desk to grab his phone and dial a number. He was on the line for a good three minutes before hanging up.
...
As soon as school let out, Fiona spotted Jackson waiting for her at the entrance. The moment she climbed into the car, Nash joined them.
"What are you doing here?" Fiona asked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're going to the gala too?"
In the blink of an eye, the spotlight moved away from them.
The man next to them broke out in a cold sweat, too intimidated to chat with Jackson. But he couldn't help but notice the young girl at Jackson's side. She looked strangely familiar.
Inside the ballroom, high society members turned their gazes to Fiona. She was striking at first glance, and the more they looked, the more they found her quite attractive.
From start to finish, Jackson never let go of her hand, showing her special favoritism and affection. Unlike the other women in evening gowns, Fiona's overalls made her stand out, giving her a playful, endearing charm.
Jackson was quite the star of the evening, and since this event was specifically for the Woods family, many social elites lined up to toast him. Even Nash got swept away by the crowd, leaving Fiona alone in no time.
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