For a while, the room was quiet only the faint hum of hospital machines breaking the silence. Then Edward turned to his sister with a soft smile.
"How's your life, Genny?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.
Genevieve sighed, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Nothing interesting," she said honestly. "The company's fine... business is going well. But my social life? Still boring as ever." She let out a small, humorless laugh. "I don't really have friends, and I don't know how to keep the few I make. And Matthew..." her voice faltered slightly, "...things have been rough. But we're trying to fix them."
Edward nodded slowly, watching her face. "He's not hurting you, is he?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned her head to the side, eyes glistening. Tears gathered before she could stop them. She quickly wiped them away, forcing a smile as she looked back at him.
"Don't worry, Edward. Everything's fine," she said softly.
But Edward knew better. He had known Genevieve all his life her moods, her tone, her habits. She wasn't the type to cry easily, nor to admit weakness. Something inside her was breaking.
His eyes drifted to her left hand the one that used to wear a silver engagement ring. Now, it was bare.
"You broke up, didn't you?" he said quietly.
Genevieve drew in a shaky breath and nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "We broke up."
She paused, trying to find the strength to continue. "He cheated on me, Edward. With his ex. And he even had the nerve to get her pregnant." Her voice cracked, and she pressed her fingers against her forehead as if to steady herself. "Then he blamed me said I was always too busy. As if I wasn't trying... as if I wasn't doing everything I could."
Tears spilled freely now, running down her cheeks as she spoke.
"I was working day and night, trying to keep up with the company. Trying to visit the hospital, to look after you. Trying to handle William's coldness, to keep my job together. I was... I was everywhere at once."
She gave a choked laugh. "Sometimes I had to be in two places at the same time. And through all that, he... he still found time to betray me." Her voice trembled with anger now. "The nerve of that dog to cheat on me."
Edward's chest tightened as he watched her crumble. He had never seen his sister like this so raw, so heartbroken.
"I knew it was over," Genevieve went on. "So I gave him back the ring. I ended it. And now, thinking about it... you and William were right all along."
Edward reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "Shhh... it's okay, Genny. Don't blame yourself." His voice was soft but firm. "You did the right thing. That man didn't deserve you."
She looked at him through her tears, her lips trembling. "I'm so sorry, Edward," she whispered. "I feel like I failed you. Failed myself. I was so sure he was the one."
Edward smiled faintly and shook his head. "No, sweetheart," he said. "You didn't fail anyone. You just loved the wrong person. That's not a failure that's just being human."
"Still..." she whispered, her voice breaking again. "I should've seen it coming. I was so blind."
Edward lifted a hand, brushing her tears away like he used to when they were children. "Come here," he said softly.
She hesitated for a moment, then moved closer. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently against his chest. She let her tears fall freely this time, burying her face in his hospital gown.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed.
"Shhh," Edward murmured, stroking her hair. "Don't apologize. None of this is your fault. You thought he loved you and you loved him back. There's nothing wrong with that, Genny. Nothing at all."
She clung to him quietly, her sobs slowly softening. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to break to stop pretending she was fine.
Edward held her, feeling the weight of her pain, wishing he could take it all away.
"I'm proud of you," he whispered against her hair. "You were strong enough to walk away. That's something most people can't do."
Genevieve nodded slightly against his chest, her voice muffled. "Thank you... I just want to forget him."
"You will," Edward promised. "In time, you'll forget. And when you do, someone better someone who actually deserves you will come along."
She gave a small, shaky laugh through her tears. "You sound like Mum."
Edward smiled. "Then I must be saying the right thing."
Tina had spent the morning meticulously arranging all her documents. She had a class at noon and an important appointment for her internship in the morning. Yesterday, she had wanted to ask William if he could recommend her to a friend's company, but he had been busy, and she hadn't found the courage to reach out.
After a quick breakfast, her mother had wished her luck with a warm smile. "Do your best, Tina. Just be confident, you'll do great." Tina nodded, smiling back, and hailed a taxi.
The tall glass-fronted building reflected the bright morning sun as she arrived. Her heart beat a little faster as she stepped inside and approached the reception.
"Good morning, Miss Morgan. The interview is on the fifth floor. Please take the lift," the receptionist said politely.
"Thank you," Tina replied, nodding and stepping toward the elevator. Her black professional suit made her feel confident sleek, smart, and capable. She adjusted her blazer once inside the lift, mentally rehearsing her introduction.
When she reached the fifth floor, she was led to a small but well-lit interview room. She was the third person to arrive, giving her a moment to observe the office's modern layout. Soon, a man walked in with a warm smile.
"Good morning, I'm Lukas," he said, extending his hand. "You must be Tina Morgan?"
Tina stood, shook his hand firmly, and smiled. "Yes, sir. Good morning. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Please, have a seat," Lukas said, gesturing toward the chair across from his desk. He began going through her documents, nodding occasionally with an approving smile.
"So, Tina, I see from your resume that you're keen to get hands-on experience. For this role, you'll be working very closely with the CEO and his secretary. You'll be learning from the ground up everything from the administrative basics to understanding the executive decision-making process."
Tina nodded attentively. "I'm ready to learn and contribute in any way I can."
Lukas smiled again. "Good. That's exactly what we look for in an intern. I like your professionalism, your attention to detail, and your proactive attitude. Tell me, what's your expectation for this internship? And, if you don't mind, what would be your ideal start regarding compensation?"
Tina hesitated briefly, then spoke confidently. "I understand that internships are primarily about learning, but I also value being fairly compensated for my work. Considering the responsibilities, I would expect something in the range of the company's standard entry-level allowance for interns. I'm, of course, flexible and willing to discuss it further."
Lukas nodded appreciatively. "That's very reasonable. We believe in rewarding effort and dedication, even at the internship level. If you perform well, there's room for adjustment based on contribution. Do you have any preferences regarding work schedule or flexibility?"
Tina shook her head. "Not at all. I'm willing to adjust to the company's needs. My main goal is to gain experience and contribute wherever I can."
Lukas leaned back slightly, tapping his pen on his desk. "Excellent. Tina, I'll be honest most interns we see aren't as prepared as you. Your documents are complete, your presentation is professional, and your answers are thoughtful. I don't want to waste your time any further. You've got the position."
Tina blinked, momentarily stunned. "Thank you, Mr. Lukas. I appreciate it."
Lukas smiled warmly. "You're welcome. The next step will be a brief meeting with the CEO, since you'll be working closely with him. I'll take you to his office on the twelfth floor."
Tina nodded, gathering her documents. She felt a surge of excitement mixed with nerves as they walked toward the elevator.
"Just one more thing," Lukas said casually as the elevator doors closed. "Our CEO likes to meet every intern personally, not just for formalities. It's a chance for him to understand your goals and also for you to ask questions. You can ask about his expectations, the work environment, even specifics about the internship responsibilities. And yes, it's okay to clarify the compensation directly with him, if needed."
Tina smiled, feeling slightly more at ease. "Thank you for letting me know. I'll be prepared."
The elevator rose steadily, and Tina tried to calm her nerves. She thought about her morning the taxi, the documents, the preparation and realized she had come this far without asking William for help. That small independence made her chest swell with pride.
When the elevator dinged at the twelfth floor, Lukas led her to a spacious office. The CEO was already waiting, sitting behind a large mahogany desk, reviewing some documents. He looked up as they entered and smiled warmly.
"Ah, you must be Tina Morgan," he said, standing to greet her. "I've heard good things from Lukas already. Please, have a seat."
Tina shook his hand, maintaining eye contact, and sat down confidently.
"I'll keep this brief," the CEO began. "You'll be shadowing me and my secretary directly. That means you'll need to observe, take notes, manage some schedules, and gradually take on small tasks independently. We value initiative and accuracy. How comfortable are you with handling sensitive information and multitasking?"
"I'm very comfortable," Tina replied without hesitation. "I've managed multiple responsibilities simultaneously before, and I'm careful with confidential information. I understand the importance of discretion and precision."
He nodded approvingly. "Good. About compensation this internship starts at 7000, with potential for performance-based increases after the first three months. Does that meet your expectations?"
Tina smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir. That works perfectly. I'm more focused on gaining experience and learning as much as possible, but I appreciate the fair starting allowance."
"Excellent," he said, leaning back. "One last thing I like interns who ask questions. Do you have any?"
Tina paused, then spoke confidently. "Yes, sir. I'd like to understand what success looks like in this internship. How will my contributions be evaluated, and what would you consider a standout performance?"
The CEO smiled, clearly impressed. "Good question. I expect attentiveness, reliability, and initiative. If you can handle tasks independently while learning quickly from mistakes and observing carefully, that's already a standout. Communication is also key you should feel comfortable asking questions when necessary."
Tina nodded, taking mental notes. She felt confident now, not just because she had secured the position, but because she had already begun to understand what the company valued and how she could exceed expectations.
"Very well," the CEO concluded. "Welcome aboard, Tina. I look forward to working with you."
"Thank you, sir," Tina replied, her voice steady but full of excitement. "I won't let you down."
As she left the office, Lukas gave her a thumbs-up. "See? Told you. You did great.