Brandon chuckled. "So you came back just for breakfast?""Of course! It's Patrick's sandwiches. They're really hard to get," Valarie replied."Your boyfriend got up at five this morning to stand in line for them, and you're not feeling a bit bad for him?" Brandon teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement and affection as he looked at her."First, I'll eat breakfast. Then I'll feel bad for you," Valarie answered.Brandon leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "So how do you plan to compensate me?"The distance between them suddenly narrowed, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of gardenias on Valarie. It was intoxicating, making him want to get just a little closer...Valarie found herself mesmerized, unable to move an inch as she stared into Brandon's handsome face. Her hands gripped the hem of her shirt, her heart racing faster.Just as their lips were about to touch, an unexpected coughing fit interrupted them from behind Brandon.Valarie snapped back
A hand picked up the file and handed it to Valarie as its owner apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you."Hearing the voice, Valarie snapped her head up in shock.It was Tom! Wasn't he abroad?!"What are you doing here?!" she demanded.Her eyes betrayed her disbelief—there was no joy in them.Tom felt a pang in his heart, suppressing his disappointment."I came to discuss business with Mr. Weir," he replied.Valarie's expression remained cold as she took the document from him, walking past him into the office without a second glance.As the door closed behind her, Tom felt a wave of sorrow. He had been too confident, believing that Valarie would never leave him. Now, he realized how foolish he had been.Inside the office, Valarie tossed the file onto Jonathan's desk and snapped, "Dad, why are you suddenly collaborating with Tom?"After the way Valarie and Tom had ended things, the Weirs and Genges hadn't worked together for years.Jonathan picked up the file, his
Word quickly spread about how coldly Valarie had treated Tom in public.As soon as Valarie entered the Sumner Group, she sensed the strange stares from those around her.At first, she thought it was just her imagination. However, when she bumped into a manager she had previously met during a partnership discussion, and the manager hesitated, she could no longer ignore it."Ms. Maddock, is something going on? Why do the employees here keep looking at me strangely today?" she asked.The manager paused for a moment before speaking quietly. "Ms. Weir, I heard that you had an unpleasant encounter with Mr. Genge at the Weir Group today."Valarie's breakup with Tom five years ago had been highly publicized. Since many of the Sumner Group's employees had been with the company for years, they were familiar with her history with him.After all, it had made headlines when Valarie caught Tom cheating, and he had been vilified for it.Following that incident, Tom disappeared abroad for five
Valarie's expression softened upon seeing his sincere demeanor. "Brandon, since I agreed to be with you, it means I'm not going to get involved with other men. My meeting with Tom today was just a coincidence. You can't get jealous without reason. Do you think that's fair?""No, I promise I won't do this again!" Brandon said, shaking his head vigorously.Valarie felt her last bit of annoyance fade at his earnestness."Think about it. If I got jealous every time you talked to another woman, wouldn't you find that unreasonable?" she asked."No, I'd be happy if you did that. It would show you care about me," Brandon answered.Valarie was rendered speechless.Noticing her frustration, Brandon quickly changed the subject. "By the way, the cafeteria at the Sumner Group is pretty good. You didn't get a chance to try it when you were here for meetings before. Would you like to check it out with me today?""Sure," she replied.He took her hand, leading her out.…In the back seat of a
After listening, Nyla was so angry that she felt like hitting someone. "That jerk! How could he have the nerve to come back?!"Damon got up and walked over to her, patting her back. "Alright, it's not worth getting worked up over someone like that. Besides, Valarie is with Brandon now. He'll take good care of her.""That's different," Nyla countered.Just because Valarie was happy now didn't mean the hurt Tom had caused her in the past had disappeared."If you don't like him, just skip the party," Damon suggested.Nyla was about to respond when Damon's phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from the hospital, he quickly answered."Mr. Sumner, Mr. Jayston's health has improved enough for him to be discharged. When would you like to come in to handle the paperwork?" a nurse asked.Hearing this, Damon felt a wave of relief. "I'll be there shortly."Nyla overheard the conversation. When Damon ended the call, she said, "I'll go with you.""Okay," Damon answered.…On the way to th
After marrying Wren, Harrison had treated her and Gabriel as well as he could have. Even after falling seriously ill, he had set aside money for their security.However, shortly after his kidney transplant, Wren suddenly filed for divorce.Before leaving, she had told him she didn't want to spend her life confined to a hospital and home—she wanted her own life, her freedom. Not long after, she remarried a wealthy businessman.Now, she had come crying to him, claiming the businessman was treating her poorly and that she wanted to return to him, insisting she still loved him.Harrison didn't believe a word of it."We were married for nearly ten years. Even though we're divorced now, I don't want to speak harshly to you. Just leave and don't come looking for me again. I don't want to see you," Harrison said.Wren burst into tears at his words, asking, "Harrison, are you really so heartless?""I don't know what you think you can gain from me, but you'll get nothing. You can leave no
Nyla Jayston was in her third month of trying to conceive when she saw a message on her husband Clark Sumner's phone from a contact named "Jordyn Cheatham".Jordyn: [I think my new nightgown is a bit tight. Why don't you come over and check if it fits?]Attached was a selfie of a woman in a deep V-neck red slip dress, her cleavage partly exposed, exuding seduction.Nyla's grip on the phone tightened. She scrolled up and found Clark and Jordyn's previous exchanges to be strictly work-related, which made her frown.'Was the text sent by mistake? Or…'A hand wrapped around Nyla's waist from behind, breaking her thoughts.Clark pressed his warm body against hers and gently nibbled her earlobe. "Honey, I'm all cleaned up. Do you want to do it on the couch or the bed?"Before Nyla could respond, Clark picked her up and laid her on the couch, his tall frame looming over her."Since you're not saying anything, I'll choose. Let's do it on the couch," Clark said, his voice husky and his
Nyla downed her drink in one gulp. She had never imagined Clark would betray her. Seeing him in bed with another woman felt like a dagger through her heart."I just can't believe it. He loved you so much. He didn't seem like the type to cheat. Maybe there's a misunderstanding," Valarie suggested.Nyla let out a cold laugh. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?"The room fell silent.Watching Nyla drink like there was no tomorrow, Valarie grabbed the glass from her hand. "Even if he cheated, you shouldn't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?""I'm getting a divorce. Just thinking about him with that woman makes me sick."Upon seeing the defiance in Nyla’s red eyes, Valarie's heart ached. "Don't think about it now. You need to rest. Decide what to do next once you’re calm. I'll take you home."Nyla shook her head. "No... I don't want to go back."Returning to that house would only bring back the sickening images of Clark’s be