Angeline looked at Miles. "Are you telling me that just because we grew up together, I need to hold our friendship dear forever? You expect me to do that even though I know you guys prayed for me to die or to remain comatose forever?"I've always thought you were smart, Miles, but the things you've said today are really making me doubt your intelligence. Why don't you think about whether it's easier to go home and keep your sister on a tight leash or to try to make me back down by bullshitting about nonexistent friendships?"After a momentary pause, she continued, "After all, you guys said back then that I was heartless and cold to everyone but Ned. If you already know what I'm really like, why do you expect me to suddenly care about bonds that never existed in the first place?"She stood up. "Just so you know, Zachary, I didn't come to this gathering for your sake. I did it because your sister, Vanessa, cared for me when I was comatose. This is my last time accepting an invitation
Miles gulped when he saw Angie standing there, unmoved. "I'm honestly not as pathetic as you think, Angie. We grew up together, and you should know that. We all made mistakes after what happened to you, and when we tried to make things up to you, you didn't need us anymore."I know you're in a different league from us now, so don't worry—I won't use our past friendship to do anything. I came here to come clean to you so that you'd be prepared for the Emmersons. At the very least, it'd be better for us to be frank with you than for you to find out yourself. I also hope you'll let Mallory off the hook."It all boiled down to Miles apologizing to Angeline on Mallory's behalf. Angeline couldn't help thinking about Melissa. She wondered whether all women who had older brothers were destined to have people love and protect them for the rest of their lives.She didn't know whether Miles had anything else planned with his share transfer agreement, but one thing was for sure—she was extremel
Zachary was lost for words."Don't look at me like that!" Miles frowned. "I'm not gonna force Ned to make it happen or anything since he and Ingrid already called off their engagement."I was just thinking that if Ingrid really can't help with the advertisement, Ned should at least still be able to find someone suitable since he's managing Wyndham Entertainment. I'll have to pay someone for the advertisement, anyway. I might as well give the money to my buddy."Zachary didn't say anything. After the meal, he called Ned and set an appointment for dinner. Then, he told Miles, "I won't join you tonight. I have to head back to Oceanford for my nephew's birthday tomorrow. I promised him I'd spend the day with him.""Alright." Miles added, "I have to meet a client later, anyway."It was only after Zachary left that Miles showed some signs of fatigue. In the past, he hadn't believed in fate. He believed his capabilities were enough to change everything, but since taking over Locke Group,
Ned had asked Miles to look into Xavier and Yasmine's father in the past. At the time, Miles had already suspected they belonged to Nathaniel because the latter happened to be at the hotel that night.Nathaniel and Sean had grown up together. Taylor had also been around that night. The only possibility was that they hadn't had time to take Angeline to the hospital, so Nathaniel had helped out. It couldn't be that Xavier and Yasmine were Sean's kids—not when Sean and Angeline were related.Miles' deduction was pretty much as Ned had guessed. Ned didn't remember a thing from the night he and Angeline had been drugged, but since Angeline had made it clear that the kids weren't his, it could only mean that she'd slept with someone else that night.And so, Ned's suspicions had landed on Nathaniel, who'd also been at the hotel at the time."Whatever it is, I'm going to win Angie back." Ned didn't plan on hiding his thoughts from Miles. "I'm willing to pay any price as long as it gets Ang
Miles was startled. He suddenly laughed and said, "No, Angie and I have always been from two different worlds. Don't you remember what her IQ is? With her intelligence, she never needed to advance year by year with you. "So many universities reached out to her, from the local universities to the ones abroad. She's a genius. She only followed an ordinary person's pace so that she could be with you. "How should I say this? In the past, I always felt like Angie was from a different world compared to the rest of us because she came from such a poor family. However, now that I think about it, I've been right that we're from different worlds. "But in some aspects, she's superior to us. We could even say that we're in completely different leagues."Miles had to admit it.Angeline's abilities and intelligence were far beyond theirs. The truth was that without Ned, they wouldn't even have gotten to know her. While they were playing ball and fighting in school, Angeline would be in the
Miles swallowed hard. "You and Ingrid were so in love at the time, and you were so hostile to Angeline. How could we say anything? You had lost your memories and were so happy with Ingrid. What could we say?"Miles thought about what Angeline had said. She had said that they weren't her friends, and they were Ned's friends.He suddenly chuckled and looked at Ned as he said, "Besides, we've always been your friends, not Angeline's! We ate and had fun together because she was your girlfriend, and we did it to spend time with you. Angeline was always an extra! It was the same with Ingrid. When she became your girlfriend, we became friends with her too!"Ned shot to his feet. "How could you say that?""It's the truth! Angeline realized that a long time ago. This is why she doesn't even want to contact us. We were the people she left in her past!" Miles moved the cigarette in his mouth. He held it between his fingers and rested it casually on the table. He looked at Ned, who had risen
He had lost Angeline.However, he couldn't fathom the reason. He wasn't the one who had tortured Angeline so cruelly. Angeline was his life. Even if he had to die, he would never let her be hurt at all. How could he have treated her so terribly?He had asked this question thousands of times, but no one could answer him.Ned slumped back in his chair. "But… I can't live without Angie. I don't know how to get her back. If… If I suffered everything Angie went through, once, twice, or even countless times, would she stop being angry? Could we be together again?""It's impossible." Miles cut off Ned's fantasies abruptly. "Ned, rather than struggling to think if you and Angie can be together again, why don't you settle down with Ingrid? Ingrid undoubtedly loves you…""Does she love me? Or… does she love the relationship I once had with Angie?" Ned looked up at Miles, who had been trying to act as a peacemaker. Miles was startled. Ned was still clear-headed, except when it came to An
Miles just looked at Ned in silence, the smoke that rose from his cigarette curling around his fingers.The dim, warm lighting in the room made it difficult to see Miles' expression clearly. "I'd like to invite Ingrid to shoot a commercial for our company's new makeup product. Could you help me mention it to her? We can negotiate the price." Miles changed the subject abruptly and spoke about the reason why he had come. "We contacted Ingrid's management, but they said she didn't have time. I'm thinking that Ingrid might be able to make time to shoot a commercial with your help.""Did you really have someone you loved that you had to let go?" Ned could sense the change in Miles' emotions. "Who was it?"Ned was very surprised. He and Miles had grown up together, and they had been practically inseparable. He wondered when Miles had fallen for someone and why he hadn't known about it.If he hadn't known about it, it must be someone in their circle.There were only a few women in th