?Chapter 1964:


    “You abandoned him first!”


    “I didn’t!”


    Their argument had spiraledpletely out of control.


    Robin finally intervened, his voice cutting through the heated exchange. “Mr. Flynn, you’ve got this all wrong—Elissa and I are working.”


    He feltpelled to defend her; he already owed Elissa too much to stand by and watch her suffer on his ount. “Mr. Flynn, this really isn’t a date. If you don’t believe me, look at this.” He reached across the table, gathering the scattered designs and documents. “Mr. Flynn, see for yourself—this is genuine work.”


    Ernest’s eyes moved reluctantly to the stack of papers, taking in the dense technical data and detailed specifications across the pages. Could this actually be legitimate work? Had he jumped to the wrong conclusion entirely?


    “Robin!” Elissa’s sharp voice cut through his exnation. Her eyes zed as she fixed her gaze on Ernest. “Don’t exin anything to him! He doesn’t deserve an exnation!”


    She nted both hands against Ernest’s chest and shoved. “Leave!”


    Ernest’s expression wentpletely nk as her push forced him to stumble backward.


    “You gave me your word—don’t you dare break that promise and try to keep me from seeing Locke! And don’t worry. I’ll exin everything to Locke myself!”


    The words rushed out in a single, furious breath before Elissa released her grip and spun away from him.


    Ernest remained frozen in ce, his eyes squeezed shut against a wave of self-recrimination. He had gotten itpletely wrong. But his misunderstanding wasn’t what tormented him most.


    What truly ate at him was the realization that despite their breakup, seeing her with Robin—even for just dinner, even for work—still made his blood boil with jealousy. It still left him seething with possessive fury he had no right to feel.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    After Ernest’s unexpected appearance, Elissa found herself unable to eat another bite. She turned to Robin with a faint, apologetic smile. “I think I should head back. Let’s call it a day and talk more when you return from your business trip.”


    “Of course,” Robin replied immediately, though he couldn’t shake the tension he’d noticed between her and Ernest. What had Elissa meant by those words she’d said to him earlier? Weren’t they a couple? Then why had she used him of making excuses to stop her from seeing Locke? Whatever was happening between them was clearly moreplicated than just an argument.


    As they left the restaurant and got into the car, Robin found himself ncing at Elissa now and then in the rearview mirror, caught between curiosity and concern. Eventually, he broke the silence. “Elissa, is something going on between you and Mr. Flynn?”


    She seemed briefly startled by the question. Then she shook her head and said, “It’s nothing.”


    “But…” Robin’s brow furrowed. “You two seemed pretty intense back there, and then there’s Locke…”


    .


    .


    .