I Stopped Loving Him When He Let Me Bleed Out novel Chapter 253

"Lily, look at Ms. Ashford's professionalism. Then look at yourself. You've been a teacher here for years, and you haven't grown at all. With an attitude like yours, how could the department possibly give you the promotion?"

The department head pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his tone dripping with condescending impatience.

Lily's face flushed crimson, her lips trembling violently.

"You people are absolutely..."

Sienna reached out and gave Lily's hand a firm, grounding squeeze.

The words died in Lily's throat as she turned to look at her friend.

By then, the department head, Victor, and the others had already filed into the adjacent conference room.

Angeline didn't rush to follow them. She turned around slowly, a victor's provocation gleaming in her eyes as she looked Lily up and down.

Sienna looked up.

She watched as Angeline lifted her hand, her bright red nail polish catching the fluorescent light.

Deliberately, she flipped Lily off.

Lily's eyes went dark.

Angeline smiled, her red lips parting as she silently mouthed a single word: Trash.

Then, swaying her hips, she pushed the door open and walked in.

The door clicked shut in Lily's face.

Lily was shaking from head to toe.

"Sienna! She just humiliated me! Since when have I ever taken this kind of abuse? Even if I have to quit this job, I'm going to rip her mouth right off her face today!"

Sienna grabbed her arm.

"Why would you quit such a fantastic, secure job? If anyone is going to leave, it's the filthy, despicable people in that room."

Lily looked at her, eyes bloodshot.

"But they're all in bed together! Are you telling me to just swallow this? To roll over and wag my tail for them from now on?"

Sienna stared at the closed conference room door.

"Who said anything about that? I came here today to help you. Now, listen to me..."

The department head let out a heavy, dramatic sigh the moment he saw Lily, as if looking at a walking disaster.

This time, Victor spoke first, his tone harsh.

"Ms. James, the department has already concluded discussions on the promotions." He set his travel mug down with an arrogant thud. "Ms. Ashford's portfolio was simply stronger than yours. You can't throw a tantrum just because you didn't get selected. You're a senior educator. Act like one."

Lavinia worked as a librarian at the academy—a cushy job secured entirely through Victor's influence.

She immediately chimed in to back him up.

"Exactly. I know Ms. Ashford well. She's grounded, dutiful, and highly competent. She is just vastly superior to you. You need to accept that instead of being so petty and jealous of others."

Lily stared at Lavinia, finding it utterly hilarious that the idiotic woman was actively defending her husband's mistress.

She wondered if Lavinia's glowing review of Angeline would hold up in a few minutes.

Biting back a smile, Lily spoke up.

"I'll only take five minutes of everyone's time today. I have an important document I'd like all the faculty members to review."

Victor frowned, but before he could object, Lily had already deftly connected her phone to the overhead projector.