?Chapter 467:


    Rachel pressed her lips together, unwilling to respond. There was nothing to say.


    She understood what he meant.


    Yes, they were different. Tracy was the woman he cherished, the one he would risk his life to protect. And she? Rachel was just a subordinate, someone who had stood by his side for years but could be cast aside whenever it suited him.


    She had long since stopped deceiving herself into believing she couldpare to Tracy.


    But she had no desire to repeat those painful truths aloud.


    Each time she did, it felt like reopening an old wound, cutting deeper than before.


    She couldn’t endure it anymore.


    “Mr. White, you should go back.”


    With that, Rachel reached out, determined to pry his hand off her wrist.


    Brian let go—just for a second. Then, before she could pull away, his grip tightened once more, locking her in ce.


    His voice was low and unyielding. “I don’t believe you. If you truly weren’t worried, then why did youe here in the middle of the night? Rachel, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth.”


    Rachel felt a sharp constriction in her chest, an inexplicable tugging sensation that swelled within her heart.


    She swiftly regained herposure and offered a smile. “Natalia has acknowledged me as her sister and requested her father arrange employment for Jeffrey. I’m deeply appreciative. That’s why I personally prepared some soup and brought it for them to enjoy. Though modest in value, the sentiment behind it matters most. Natalia genuinely adores it.”


    As Rachel spoke, the expectation illuminating Brian’s face gradually dimmed.


    Step into fiction with  .


    He released a cold snort, his tone crystallizing. “She values rtionships, unlike certain individuals.” The implication hung unmistakably in the air.


    Rachel endured a crushing weight descending upon her heart. She clenched her teeth and withstood the usation without uttering a single word in her defense.


    “Mr. White, would you please release me now?”


    Her condition had deteriorated rmingly, and she feared imminent copse.


    She dreaded even more that he might detect something amiss with her. “Is your hand so cold?” Brian suddenly inquired.


    Rachel’s pulse faltered momentarily, and she hastily withdrew her hand.


    This time, he relinquished his grip.


    Concealing her hands behind her back, she replied evenly, “If you had truly paid attention, you’d realize that throughout our time together, I’ve consistently feared the cold. Regardless of season—winter or summer—my hands remain icy.”


    Brian’s gaze darkened.


    Indeed, he conceded that his knowledge of her fell woefully short of what it should have been.


    “Why does your voice sound so hoarse? You appear remarkably frail.” Brian knew his persistence was unnecessary. She had explicitly stated her indifference toward him, yet he stubbornly exhibited concern.


    “It’s nothing significant, merely a cold. I’ll recover within days.”


    “Have you purchased medication? Is anything else troubling you?” His voice softened.


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