Substitute Marriage With the Illegitimate Son (Ethan and Janet)

Chapter 1285 Eavesdropping Is...

Brandon anxiously eyed the closed door and windows of the reception room, his heart racing.

Janet, with her gentle and kind demeanor, might be vulnerable to Mandy's arrogance, he feared.

What if he couldn't intervene in time to prevent her from being bullied?

The thought consumed him, his worry growing by the second. Oh, how he wished he could eavesdrop on the situation inside, regardless of his identity as a CEO.

Yet, he recalled Sean's sage advice. A competent assistant wouldn't eavesdrop on their boss's conversation. This was a principle, so he had no choice but to restrain his restlessness and wait.

Unable to bear the suspense any longer, Brandon decided to call Sean himself, seeking guidance for the current predicament.

Sean, finally enjoying a day off, was spending quality time with Estella when the call interrupted them.

Annoyed, he picked up the phone.

His heart skipped a beat upon realizing it was his boss.

Did Brandon expect him to work at this hour?

Should he pretend he'd left his phone behind?

After a brief hesitation, Sean reluctantly answered the call.

His boss's anxious voice filled his ear. "As an assistant, is it permissible to eavesdrop outside the boss's office when necessary?"

Caught off guard by the question, Sean instinctively replied, "Of course not."

Silence lingered on the other end before Brandon's frosty voice returned. "I'll give you another chance to answer." NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

Sean immediately deduced his boss intended to eavesdrop on Janet's office, seeking a scapegoat in case he was caught.

Estella, listening in, snickered, "Boss, if you ask me, occasional eavesdropping doesn't hurt. After all, Sean does it sometimes... Hmm..."

Her words were abruptly muffled by Sean's hand.

But the damage was done. Brandon, now armed with that knowledge, retorted, "Estella's right. Eavesdropping is acceptable when necessary."

Sean, thinking Brandon hadn't heard Estella's last comment, nearly sighed in relief until a sneer slipped through the phone. "However, tomorrow I'll ask what you've been eavesdropping on."

Brandon then ended the call.

Sean stared blankly at his phone, the screen now black. He knew he was in trouble.

*******

Inside the reception room, Janet offered Mandy coffee and desserts, her voice soft. "Have some coffee and calm down first."

Mandy hesitantly took the cup, sipping slowly as she recovered from the pressure of Brandon's presence.

"Are you feeling better?" Looking at her pale face, Janet felt funny and shook her head.

Finally composed, Mandy recalled the reason for her visit.

Embarrassment colored her cheeks as she thought of her earlier behavior and the coffee Janet had served her.

It was so humiliating! She had actually displayed her timidity in front of Janet. She even accepted the coffee she offered! How could she continue causing trouble for Janet now?

Noticing Mandy's shifting expressions and the anger that ultimately settled on her face, Janet couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "Are you still upset?"

Face flushed, Mandy shot a glare at her and demanded, "What did you do to make Carly abandon me and choose you instead?"

Janet's smile remained. "If Carly didn't explain, perhaps you should consider the requirements of Carly's order more carefully."