The line went dead as Marvin hung up without giving Christina the chance to say another word.


    She sat there, the phone still pressed to her ear, her mind utterly nk. Marvin''s parting words echoed through


    her skull like a relentless drumbeat.


    "Christina, by giving him up, you didn''t just lose a rtionship-you lost everything."


    "No," she whispered to herself, gripping the phone tighter. "No, my judgment wasn''t wrong. Andrew waszy. He had no ambition. We didn''t match anymore-I made the right decision... I did the right thing." Yet, no matter how many times she repeated the words, the doubts gnawed deeper. Denial was always the first response when confronted with a painful truth. People instinctively clung to their own version of events, unwilling to admit they had misjudged, unwilling to face the consequences of their choices. Her breath quickened, and before she could think twice, she dialed another number. This time, she called Mark''s office.


    "Hello, this is Mark Thatcher," came the familiar, steady voice on the other end.


    "Mr. Thatcher, this is Christina Stevens from Stevens Corporation," she said, forcing calm into her tone. "I''m really sorry to bother you, but I was hoping you could help me with something. It''s about... Andrew Lloyd."


    There was a pause. Then, Mark asked in a surprised tone, "You''re calling me just to ask about Mr. Lloyd?" "Yes," Christina said quickly. "I know it sounds unusual, but this is really important to me. Please, if you have a moment."


    "All right," Mark said, his tone softening. "What exactly would you like to know? I''ll tell you what I can, though I know little about his personal affairs."


    Christina swallowed hard. "A while back, when Jayrodale Bank tried to deny us that loan, and you stepped in to help... was it Harvey Weller who asked you to intervene?"


    Mark chuckled lightly. "Ms. Stevens,


    you''ve got that part all wrong. Harvey? Please. The man might have the Weller family name, but he doesn''t have the influence to summon me. That day at the bank? Mr. Lloyd called me. He made one phone call, and I came right away. Simple as that."


    Christina went numb when she realized it was Andrew, not Harvey, who had saved her. Her lips trembled


    as she forced out her next question. "Mr. Thatcher, I also heard that you were seriously injuredst year. Is it true that Andrew saved your life?"


    Mark replied, "Yes. That''s absolutely true. I owe my life to Mr. Lloyd. In fact, Ms. Stevens, I''d say Mr. Lloyd is the most remarkable man in all of Jayrodale right now."


    His tone grew more thoughtful as he


    continued, "I''ve heard bits and


    pieces about you two. What can I say? Fate is fickle. But don''t let regret


    et consume you. At least from


    what I''ve seen, Mr. Lloyd never once wronged you. He never wronged Stevens Corporation, either.


    "More than once, he pulled yourpany back from financial ruin. You might not have known it, but he was always making sure you and your business stayed afloat. And


    you


    now? Well... whatever history two had, it''s over. But one thing is clear-Mr. Lloyd is a man who stands tall, a man worth knowing.


    And when he was with you, Ms. Stevens... he never let you


    down.''


    Christina did not even remember how the call ended. Her hands felt numb as she slowly lowered the phone.


    She realized Andrew had told the truth-he was the one who built Stevens Corporation''s sess, and he was the


    reason she had her CEO position.


    His connections reached into the highest circles, including Marvin, the wealthiest man in Jayrodale, and Mark Thatcher, the most influential figure in the city''s political and financial sectors. They both respected Andrew and spoke of him as someone far beyond her reach.