"You!" Darcy eximed, and her face was flushing with anger. "I didn''t ask you to buy me this outfit! If you want it back, I can return it right now!"


    The thick blush on her cheeks could hardly be contained.


    L smiled faintly. "Sure, if you''re returning things, make sure to return everything


    I ever gave you clothes, jewelry, all of it. And you might as well get out of the apartment I rented for you.


    "Now that I''ve broken up with Dorian, I bet you don''t want to keep anything I gave you or live in a ce I paid for, right?"


    Darcy''s face turned an even deeper shade of red. When L was dating Dorian, he treated L very well, but after the breakup, L turned her back on them. How hypocritical! She deserved to have Dorian snatched away by Zara!


    Seeing that things were escting, Ethan stepped in to mediate. "Ms. ke, Ms. Hart, let''s all just calm down. We''re family, after all. There''s no need to make such a scene."


    Darcy was furious and directed her anger at him. "What is this nonsense about being family? Didn''t you hear her say she broke up with Dorian?"


    "And you." She scoffed, pointing a finger close to L''s nose. "L, the money you spent was all from Dorian, right? How can you have the nerve to say those things were your gifts? How can you demand them back?"


    A cold smile escaped from L''s lips. Her expression was indifferent yet beautiful enough to captivate.


    "I''ve been with Dorian for five years and have never taken a penny from him. On the contrary, I''ve worked for him all this time without a sry. He''s the one who owes me, understand?"


    Her voice was crisp, and though her words seemed soft, they carried a solemnity that struck a chord in those who heard them. Darcy looked at her exquisite face, feeling a wave of difort.


    Just then, Dorian walked in. He heard her entire statement, and his face darkened.


    Darcy couldn''t believe it. "How is this possible?"


    She rushed to Dorian''s side and tugged at his arm. "Dorian, you have to hear what she''s saying!"


    He stared at her in silence. Knowing L had gone to Mount Shasta yesterday to pray for their rtionship, he felt his anger dissipating. He had even spoken to her more kindly, hoping she would understand.


    But here she was, pushing her luck and even talking about money.


    He closed his eyes, suppressing his emotions. "L, I asked you toe today to discuss the project and talk about us. I''m trying to make it up to you after all this chaos.


    "I''m not mad at you anymore; can you at least calm down?"


    Lzily settled into the sofa and chuckled lightly. "When you spoke, I almost thought you would offer me a sry."


    Her words nearly drove Dorian to the edge of fury.


    "L, aren''t you just trying to get that bracelet back? I''ll retrieve it, but you must talk to me nicely."


    Darcy was incredulous. "Dorian, what are you saying? You can''t just take it back!" He shot her a cold nce. L maintained herposed smile. "I don''t want something dirty. I have no habit of digging through trash."


    Dorian''s patience wore thin, and his expression grew colder.


    After returning home yesterday, he had thought about how the investors wanted L to be in charge. Keeping her would make it easier to resolve that issue, but it wasn''t the only way.


    He had built a reputation and connections in the industry, so he could find someone else to take her ce if it really came to it. But L was someone he cared for deeply. There was no need to overextend his connections, or waste favors on someone else.


    He hade today to discuss this with her, wanting to take a stand. Yet she was too stubborn to see that he was giving her a way out.


    "L, enough is enough," he said through gritted teeth. "I don''t have the patience to wait for you to calm down! If you keep this up, you won''t have the chance to regret it."


    His warning was unmistakable. Since she had visited Mount Shasta, she should have understood what she truly wanted. If she wanted to be with him, she needed to behave ordingly!


    L stopped smiling and quietly regarded him. She tried to find a familiar expression on his face, but there wasn''t a single trace of it.


    "So? What do you want me to do?" she asked in a light tone.


    Dorian thought his warning had struck a chord. He believed she was afraid he might abandon her.


    They were both orphans, but while he had rtives, L had no one. If she lost him, she would indeed have nothing left.


    She was his beloved. Thinking of this made him feel a pang of sympathy for her. His tone softened a bit.


    "You need to tell Billy you will get back together with me. The investment team is pushing for the project to move forward. Be good, and I''ll take you to meet them today. You''ll still be in charge of the project."


    But L''s face revealed nothing but indifference instead of the gratitude he expected.


    She smiled slowly with a mocking expression. "Dorian, have you contacted the person in charge over there? Will they still want to cooperate without me? Do you want me back because you miss me, or is it purely for the project?"


    Dorian was taken aback, his eyes shing with anger-unsure if it was because of her words or because she had seen through his intentions. No matter what the reason was, it only made L find it amusing. She didn''t bother to hide her disdain, and her smile grew more pronounced.


    His eyes locked onto hers, and he was arrogant. "L, you''re usually so smart. Why are you being foolish in this matter?"


    Even as he tried to contain his emotions, his contempt was evident. "They agreed


    to work with you only because you''re mine."


    She met his gaze, her expression unyielding. "I''ll say this onest time—I negotiated this project alone. It has nothing to do with you."


    She was willing to keep a low profile for him, but that didn''t mean shecked her abilities. "But if you insist on taking it from me, I won''t keep it. Consider it a parting gift and a token of our many years of friendship."


    Dorian hesitated, uncertain whether to be surprised by her earlier words or by her decision to let go of the project.


    As if reading his thoughts, L smiled faintly. "I can negotiate another one. If I cannd one, I cannd a second or a third. Dorian, if you think I rely on your resources, just wait and see how I thrive without you."


    He clenched his fists, almostughing out of frustration at her stubbornness. "So you won''t realize your mistake until it''s toote? L, to be honest, I sometimes admire your determination. It''s just a shame you''re not using it correctly."


    His words made L furrow her brow slightly. To be honest, she really wanted this project. So, even though she had sworn off any connection to him, she still came today.


    But she knew he was eager to transform his career, and this project was crucial. He likely wouldn''t let it go. Not getting it was within her expectations, so she turned to leave.


    "You can''t let her go!" Darcy shouted, trying to block her way. L looked at her, who hadpletely lost herposure, like a madwoman. Her gaze was indifferent.


    All those years spent training with etiquette instructors and renowned artists seemed to have gone to waste. Dorian frowned at Darcy.


    But she appeared oblivious to their reactions and continued to shout, "Dorian, I came here today to expose her hypocrisy! Do you have any idea what she''s done?"