?Chapter 281:


    She hadn’t dared to believe in that possibility, so she never even asked.


    “What if I said I would?”


    Brian’s voice cut through the darkness, steady and sure.


    In the past, Rachel might have trusted such words from Brian.


    But now? After all the chaos and disappointments, her faith in him had disappeared.


    With a hint of irony in her smile, she said, “This isn’t the time for jokes. I’m really not in the mood for this.”


    And it wasn’t like he had crossed oceans just for her. Even if he had rushed back, she wasn’t the person he wasing back for. They were both aware of whom he truly cared for.


    “It’s gettingte. You should head home,” Rachel said, her tone soft but resolute.


    Brian lingered, finding it hard to leave. “Rachel.”


    “Please don’t. I don’t want to hear it. Brian, unless you want to push me away and never see me again, just let me be. Can you give me that much?” Rachel pleaded.


    At her words, Brian’s hands, which had been holding her close, stiffened.


    After he withdrew, a profound silence engulfed the space.


    The moment he stepped back, the lights flickered to life.


    Rachel watched him exit and quickly shut the door behind him. She pressed her back against the door, inhaling deeply. For a fleeting second, she almost reconsidered. Thankfully, her resolve held firm, preventing her from swaying.


    As the door clicked shut, Brian found sce against the adjacent wall. Rather than departing, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Smoke soon shrouded his chiseled features in a murky veil.


    Time slipped by unnoticed until the searing touch of the cigarette on his skin snapped him back to the present. That was when he understood. Rachel had moved on. She no longer desired his presence.


    The morning after, Brian wasted no time upon reaching the office and immediately called Ronald.


    He instructed, “Investigate Rachel’s altercation with the female staff from the other day. I expect a detailed report within the hour.”


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    “I’m on it,” Ronald responded promptly.


    The presence of cameras throughout the office made gathering evidence a quick process. Within thirty minutes, Ronald had pieced together the entire scenario. He then gathered all the involved parties in Brian’s office.


    In the office, the employees stood in silence, eyes cast downward, not daring to look at Brian. For many, it was their first visit to the executive floor and their initial encounter with Brian, spurred by the controversy. They stood there like students awaiting reprimand, their faces etched with anxiety and dread.


    Brian finished signing a document, closed it, ced his pen down, and looked up at them, exuding amanding presence. “Today’s meeting is about uncovering the truth directly from you. There’s no need for fear. Speak freely about what you witnessed and heard. I assure you, there will be no repercussions.”


    With these assurances, the tension in the room eased significantly. The entire time, everyone was upfront—no one dared to keep secrets. Brian’sposure cracked when he learned of Rachel’s humiliation and assault at Juliet’s hands. He balled his hands into fists, striving to keep his anger in check. “Go on.”


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