Freya’s POV
I was startled when Caelum Grafton appeared in theundry room, drawn by the sound of my voice. But the moment his eyesnded on the bloodied clothes soaking in the sink, his expression shifted sharply.
“What happened? Are you hurt?” His concern cut through the silence like a knife. He reached out and took my hand, as if to check for injuries himself.
I looked up at him, surprised. In this moment, the Caelum before me reminded me of the man he was three years ago- when he cared like this<b>. </b>
It was that memory, that fragile remnant of the man he used to be, that had pushed me to marry him in the first ce.
But after we wed, his concern faded like smoke, reced by an obsession with his white moonlight–Aurora.
Some men are forever chasing what they can’t have, never treasuring what’s right in front of them.
“I’m fine. That’s someone else’s blood on my clothes,” I said, pulling my hand free gently.
“Someone else’s blood? What happened?” Caelum’s brow furrowed.
“There was an incident at the Runestone Grounds. Someone got hurt, and my clothes caught some blood by ident.” I didn’t want to drag him into the chaos of the mall, so I kept it light.
He exhaled, visibly relieved. “As long as you’re okay.”
“So… why are you back so early? Didn’t you stay with Aurora?” I asked casually.
His face twitched, shadows darkening his eyes. “Aurora and I are just friends. You’re my wife. I know you’ve been through a lottely. I’ll spend more time with you from now on.”
From now on? I scoffed inside. There was no from now on between us anymore.
If he truly saw me as his wife, he wouldn’t have abandoned me repeatedly for Aurora.
“So, you really came back early just for me?” I looked him straight in the eyes.
For a moment, I saw him falter, as if caught in my gaze like a wolf cornered. “I… yes, of course, to be with you. And to talk about thepany. I want you toe back.”
I smiled, knowing the truth behind his words. That was the real reason.
“I’ve joined a friend’spany. I’m not returning to SilverTech Forgeworks.”
He clenched his jaw. “I know you’re at SkyVex Armaments, but you’re my wife. Am I less important than <b>a </b>friend?”
I bit back a bitter retort. “Then why do I feel like Aurora matters more than me?”
His expression darkened. After a pause<b>, </b>he said, “Enough. I just want you back at thepany.”
“I refuse,” I said firmly!
His brows knitted. “Are you <b>still </b>sulking?”
“I’m not sulking,” I replied evenly. “When I quit, I meant it. No return.”
His face fell. “You know your move to SkyVex vites your nonpete agreement. I can sue you. You’d have to pay all thepany’s losses. Plus, any SkyVex <b>projects </b>you’re involved in could be affected.”
I stared at him, disbelief chilling my blood. To hear this from him–this wasn’t the man I married.
He avoided my eyes. “<b>If </b>you don’t want to drag your friend’spany into trouble, you’d bettere back.”
I sneered. “Caelum Grafton, I thought you might be ambiguous in <b>personal </b>matters, but at least decent in business. I guess <b>I </b>
was wrong.”
His face went pale. “I just want thepany through this crisis. The project partner said they’ll only continue if you lead it. They even know you’re with SkyVex now, implying a partnership.”
He needed me back, no matter what.
“I won’t return to SilverTech Forgeworks,” I said coldly.
His voice rose. “Aren’t you afraid of being sued?”
“Then sue me. If I ever signed a nonpete contract, I’d be scared,” I said. “But I only ever signed a standard employee
contract.”
His face twisted with rage.
Of course. From the beginning, when he started thepany, he’d treated me like a clueless worker. The paperwork proved<ol><li>it.</li></ol>
No nonpete. No leverage.
He had no case..
Send Gifts
。
20
D