Chapter 115: The misunderstanding

Ashley’s POV

I was still reeling, breathless from Andreas’s words—“You look divine.” His compliment had landed softly, but it lingered, wrapping around me like a blanket. I had been preparing myself for a cold, polite greeting from him, something more in line with the “friendship” we had agreed on. But the look in his eyes, the warmth in his voice, it felt real, too real.

Before I could fully recover from that moment, Andreas turned toward his secretary, who had been standing quietly by the side. His hand was still holding mine, like he wasn’t ready to let go.

“You were saying something before Ashley arrived?” he asked, his tone calm, but I could hear the underlying tension.

The secretary’s posture stiffened as she cleared her throat. There was something ominous in her expression as she spoke. “It’s about our major investor in the donations for the gala, Mrs. Veronica Hastings. She’s informed us that she wants to pull out.”

I felt Andreas’s entire body go rigid, his hand tightening ove