“Yes,” she answered with disarming honesty, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
He studied her face intently, and then a smile tugged at his lips.
“I’ll return for you after work tonight.”
“Okay.” She stepped backward, waving as the distance between them grew. As his car gradually disappeared from view, a familiar emptiness crept into her heart. Only when the vehicle had completely vanished did she release a soft sigh and turn toward her office.
“Corrine, don’t you owe me an explanation?” A harsh voice stopped her in her tracks.
Upon turning to face Bruce, the warmth in her expression cooled, her eyes taking on a steely glint.
With practiced nonchalance, she arched an eyebrow.
“In what capacity are you demanding answers, Mr. Ashton? As my former boyfriend?”
“We’ve barely ended things, and you’re already throwing yourself at another man. I never imagined you could stoop so low!” Bruce’s eyes filled with disappointment, as though she had betrayed their shared history.
Noting his accusatory stare, Corrine’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile.
“As you pointed out, we’re no longer together. My life choices are not your concern. Should I put my existence on pause to honor our failed relationship?”
“You!” Bruce gaped at her, struggling to process this transformation. In his mind, Corrine had always been the perfect combination of cool temperament and unwavering compliance, organizing her life around his needs. Years of her acquiescence had inflated his ego.
Now, faced with this fiercely independent woman who radiated defiance, he found himself unbalanced. Perhaps what truly unsettled him wasn’t her transformation, but the ease with which she had moved forward without him.
Drawing a deep breath to temper his rising anger, he spoke with calculated coldness.
“Corrine, I understand our breakup has been challenging for you, but maintain some dignity rather than degrading yourself to capture my attention!”
“Who exactly do you think you are?” Corrine’s voice carried the weight of glacial disdain as she regarded him with newfound clarity.
“When I chose you, I could elevate your status and allow you to stand beside me. But once I withdrew my interest, you became insignificant. I refuse to diminish myself for your sake. You’ve grossly overestimated your importance.” Corrine delivered her words with glacial precision.
“My previous interest stemmed from youthful naivety. Now that I’ve discovered someone more worthy, you no longer warrant my attention. Don’t flatter yourself by thinking otherwise.”
Without sparing Bruce another glance, Corrine strode purposefully toward the Ford Group building’s entrance.
By all conventional wisdom, Bruce knew their breakup should have marked the end of his involvement in her life. He understood the unwritten rule that former couples should maintain their distance, avoiding unnecessary contact. These principles were clear in his mind, yet the sight of Corrine’s intimate moment with another man had unleashed an emotional tsunami within him-a nauseating blend of disgust and heartache.
He wondered if their three-year relationship had left any lasting impression on Corrine. Had she experienced even a moment of grief or pain?
“Corrine, the ink has barely dried on our separation, and you’re already entangled with another man. Can you honestly deny that this relationship predates our breakup?”
The insinuation hung heavy in the air-that Corrine and Nate’s connection had existed long before.
At these words, Corrine halted, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
“Bruce, I strongly advise you not to test the limits of my patience.” Her voice carried the sharp edge of winter frost, her steady gaze penetrating enough to make him physically recoil.
Under her withering stare, Bruce’s heart constricted, his breath catching in his throat.
Only after Corrine’s departure did Bruce feel the blood flowing through his veins again.
“Mr. Ashton, shall we proceed inside?” his assistant inquired cautiously, glancing between Corrine’s retreating figure and Bruce’s stone-faced expression.
Bruce furrowed his brow, recalling their original purpose.
“Is everything prepared?”
“All documents are here,” the assistant confirmed, patting his document bag reassuringly.
Bruce adjusted his tie with a slight nod and approached the Ford Group building.
However, their progress was immediately halted by security.
“Stop there! State your business.”
“Ashton Group representatives, here to see Miss Holland,” the assistant announced with barely concealed superiority.
The guard, remembering his recent instructions, maintained his stern demeanor.
“Access denied.”
“On what grounds?” demanded the assistant, indignation coloring his tone.
“New directive: no Ashton Group personnel permitted entry,” the guard stated flatly.
“You’ll need to leave.”
Bruce’s expression darkened considerably.
“Is this your CEO’s directive?”
“That information is classified,” the guard responded mechanically.
Faced with this impenetrable barrier, they had no choice but to retreat.
As they walked away, the assistant wrestled briefly with his thoughts before voicing them.
“Mr. Ashton, Corrine entered without hindrance, suggesting a connection to Ford Group. The new CEO shares the surname Holland… Could Corrine possibly be…”
He left the thought unfinished, struck by the weight of these coincidences.
Bruce processed the assistant’s words as disdain flickered across his features.
“Corrine has no connections in Lyhaton.”
The notion that she could be linked to the Ford family, much less serve as the CEO of Ford Group, struck him as utterly preposterous.
The assistant, recalling his own thorough background investigation of Corrine, realized the folly of his speculation. Her modest origins made any connection to the Ford family, particularly a CEO position, seem impossible
“Mere coincidence,” Bruce dismissed with cold indifference.
The assistant, chastened, fell silent.
“Later, speak with the security guard. Discover what position Corrine holds within Ford Group,” Bruce instructed.
With the new CEO denying them access and rejecting cooperation talks, Corrine remained their sole potential connection. Yet their recent confrontation cast doubt on her willingness to assist. Bruce’s forehead creased with worry as he contemplated Corrine’s likely refusal.
After careful consideration, he contacted Farris. Having explained their predicament, he emphasized, “Grandpa, you understand the Ford Group partnership’s critical importance to Ashton Group. I wouldn’t seek your intervention without a compelling reason.”
Farris hesitated before responding, “I’ll attempt to reach her, though I can’t guarantee her cooperation.”
After ending their call, he paused momentarily before dialing Corrine’s number. Corrine’s screen displayed Farris’ name, prompting a slight frown. Nevertheless, remembering his past kindness, she answered.
“I’m grateful you took my call,” Farris began warmly.
“What do you need from me?” Corrine’s voice carried a practiced coolness, deliberately stripped of emotion.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.