âMarcus, please.
Can we talk? Just half an hour, or maybe just ten minutes.
â
Her voice laced with humility.
Marcus, however, was beyond patience.
With a gentle but firm motion, he freed his arm, stepping back to eye her with a frosty stare.
âWhat then? Iâm to believe you, plan our future, lay the path ahead⦠Only to be met with deceit and your confession of indifference towards me all over again?â
His voice was tinged with suppressed despair.
Finally, Marcus found his words.
âI wonât grant you forgiveness so easily all the time, Melissa.
Your regret, to me, is insignificant.
Iâll marry, perhaps someone of equal standing.
Maybe thereâll be no love, no joy.
But at least, I wonât have to constantly decipher her thoughts or fear her leaving.
My life is too full for such juvenile romances.
â
He spoke with a sense of finality.
Once he finished, Marcus felt no reason to linger.
To Sylvia, he casually remarked, âCater to her needs, if she has any.
â
With that, he strode out, sparing Melissa not a single backward glance.
In the quiet hall of the Fowler Group, a heavy silence reigned.
The unspoken truth was clear to all: Melissa and Marcus were really done.
The female staff, once envious, now somehow felt sorry for Melissa.
After a prolonged silence, Sylvia softly broke the stillness.
âYou havenât eaten, have you? Letâs go for dinner,â she whispered.
Melissa merely shook her head in response.
Gazing at the discarded sushi in the trash can, Melissaâs thoughts drifted.
Sylviaâs voice broke her reverie.
âMr.
Fowlerâs still angry, hence the harsh words.
Talk to him later, Melissa.
â
Tears choked Melissaâs voice as she whispered an agreement.
âIâm leaving now,â she murmured.
Sylvia made a move to stop her, but Melissa was quick, vanishing from her sight in moments.
Sylvia lingered, the atmosphere gradually lightening around her.
Employees were leaving, some gossiping, others speculating about Marcus and Melissaâs relationship.
Sylvia surveyed the scene, her voice firm.
âWant to lose your jobs?
Mr.
Fowlerâs anger today could turn to endearments tomorrow.
â