Alana traveled down the mountain with Eric, while Janessa stayed with the group to continue the event.
By this time, the group activity scheduled was to watch the sunrise from the top of the mountain.
Many hiking enthusiasts had come to join them on this trip, so Janessa had no choice but to keep
going forward.
They soon reached the top of the mountain as they waited for the sunrise.
After a few minutes, the sun began to rise.
When everyone saw the beauty of the sunrise, the hardship they had faced to get to this point suddenly
felt far away.
Everyone enjoyed this special moment together.
"This marks the end of our mountain climbing trip.Now, we have to go back down the mountain the
same way we came.Pack up your belongings, and we'll be leaving in a few minutes."
Janessa made sure the group was complete before she began to pack her things.
While leaning against a tree, Rayan looked at Janessa while she arranged her belongings.
He couldn't help but think that she was acting differently than usual.
Usually, she talked back to him and generally had an unpleasant attitude.
During the trip, she was a true leader.
How could Gracie bear her man staring at another woman like that, let alone the woman that used to
be his wife? "Rayan, the sunrise looks magnificent! We should come back together again, okay?"
Gracie said in a coquettish voice as she held his arm.
She was afraid that he would refuse her proposal, so she looked at him with doe eyes.
Rayan merely touched her forehead and nodded back at her.
After five minutes, Janessa led the team down the mountain.
"There was a dewfall last night.The road might be slippery because of that.Everyone, please watch
your step."
Most people on the team were experienced climbers.
They knew how to be cautious as they made their way down the mountain.
Janessa merely said this to remind Gracie.
If something happened to Gracie on their way down the mountain, Janessa didn't want to be
responsible for it.
"I know she's talking about me.Rayan, how about we climb the mountain on our own next time?"
Gracie murmured to Rayan.
He typically agreed to all of her requests, and this was no exception.
Along the way, Gracie talked happily with Rayan.
Even if Janessa was in the front, she could still hear the sound of her irritating voice.
Janessa glanced back at Gracie and murmured, "She's getting on my nerves."
Dax, one of her friends on the team, merely gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
"Take it easy, will you?" Dax said.
Janessa shrugged helplessly at him.
"Help me keep an eye on them.We need to keep moving forward to stay on schedule,"
Janessa instructed Dax.
Dax knew that Janessa had enough on her mind after Alana’s injury, so he agreed to her request.
It wasn't until Janessa put more distance between her and Gracie that she began to feel more at
peace.
Roger Liu caught up to Janessa from behind and approached her.
"I'm sorry.I wasn't aware that they had issues with you,"he apologized.
Roger was a close friend of Rayan's.
He was the one who had invited Rayan and Gracie to the climbing trip.
However, Janessa believed even if Roger didn't invite Gracie, she would still find a way to come.
Gracie was determined to wreak havoc on Janessa’s life.
Even if he hadn't invited Gracie, things would've turned out the same.
"It's okay," Janessa replied.
"I'm relieved to know you're not angry with me.To express my gratitude, I'd like to take you out to dinner
next time."
Roger carefully assisted Janessa_ in removing the branch that was in her way.
Janessa was aware of his affections for her, even in the past.
Unfortunately for him, she was married, so he kept her at a distance.
Even so, he remained kind to her, even kinder than friends would be to one another.
Roger was now aware that she was divorced and what had happened between Rayan and Gracie.
Terrible news traveled quickly.
"There's no need to treat me to dinner.I accept your apology,"
Janessa replied in a curt tone.
If she got involved with him, their relationship would be doomed from the start.
Janessa had no desire to get his hopes up.
This wasn't the first time Janessa had refused Roger.
He was already used to her refusals.
It didn't lower his spirits but only motivate him to be kinder towards her.
The two chatted and laughed with one another for the rest of the journey.
Time passed quickly, and they made their way down the mountain quicker than the journey up.
When they arrived at the base of the mountain, the two of them separated naturally.
Janessa stood near the intersection and waited for a taxi.
All of a sudden, a car stopped beside her.
"Hello, Miss Qiu.What's the matter? Is there no one to drive you home? Did that handsome fellow leave
you to fend for yourself? He abandoned you, didn't he?"
Gracie sneered at her.
Janessa wasn't interested in speaking to Gracie, but there was no chance she would let Gracie get
away so easily.
"Hello, Miss Mo.Were you trading sex for money just now? Why are you in such a hurry to leave? What
a pity! You should've taken this opportunity to get more cash in your wallet.This is a perfect time!"
Janessa shot back.
She compared Gracie's relationship with Rayan to one of a prostitute and a client.
Gracie didn't expect Janessa to respond so cattily to her insults.
"I don't think you should get smug.You can't even get a ride back home!"
Gracie replied angrily.
Then she rolled up the window and ordered the driver to speed away.
Janessa was suddenly not feeling so great.
The driver she had called for didn't arrive, which made her mood sour.
There was only one car left at the base of the mountain.
Alana left her car there, but Janessa wouldn't dare to drive it.
Ever since Janessa was in that car accident, she had become too terrified to drive on her own.
Whenever she sat at the driver's seat, her heart would thunder in her chest.
The panic she felt during the car accident would overwhelm her senses.
There was nothing she could do but wait for her driver to come.
Unfortunately, the driver was too far away from the pick-up point.
Janessa couldn't get a ride with a random guy because she didn't want to cause any
misunderstandings.
While Janessa was waiting for her ride, a black Ferrari suddenly stopped in front of her.
The car looked familiar to her because it was Rayan's.
Didn't he leave with Gracie already? What was he doing there? His driver, Lee, got out of the car and
opened the door for Janessa.
"Miss Qiu, please get into the car," Lee instructed.
‘Does Rayan want to give me a ride? What was he up to now?’ Before she could refuse, Rayan
suddenly said,
"Hurry up and get in.Don't worry.I won't bite.I want to discuss something about work with you."
Unfortunately, it would be rude for Janessa to decline his offer.
After all, he was her boss.
She had no choice but to obey him.
Janessa quickly entered the car and took a seat beside him.
The atmosphere inside the car was awkward.
Janessa didn't know what to say.
Rayan also remained quiet as they drove away from the mountain.
Janessa couldn't help but think of how furious Gracie would be if she found out that Rayan had given
her a ride.
Why would Rayan leave Gracie behind? Was it because he was aware of how vicious she was? ‘If he
only knew what kind of person Gracie really was, I doubt he would keep her around, ' Janessa
snickered to herself.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice that she began to laugh out loud.
"What are you laughing about?" Rayan's low voice echoed in the car.
"None of your business!"
Janessa snapped.
She then turned away from him to look out of the window.
There was no chance she would ever admit to thinking about him just now.
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