Chapter 1701

Jamie exclaimed, "They managed to scare us off. How embarrassing and humiliating!"

"You're kidding, right? It'd be even more embarrassing to stick around any longer,” Lydia countered

as she suppressed the pain in her wrist.

Lydia then retrieved her phone, opened the browser, and found a picture of Jonah Taylor, the

president of KS Group.

Jamie peered over her shoulder. When she saw the picture, she gasped, "Isn't this the guy we saw

earlier? He's the president of KS Group!"

Lydia's eyes darkened as she gazed at the picture, feeling beads of sweat forming.

Initially, the man had seemed familiar, but she couldn't place him. Then, as she left through the exit,

it clicked—he was one-half of the gay couple that had recently made headlines.

"That can't be right. The president of KS Group is gay. How could he also be the one claiming to be

Rose's boyfriend? They just bear a striking resemblance.”

"You're right. That bitch couldn't be so lucky as to date a Taylor.”

Jamie, visibly shaken, attempted to reassure herself. She murmured, "But they look so alike. Anyone

would have thought they were brothers."

Rose returned to her office, clutching her chest while her other hand frantically searched her drawer

for nitroglycerin pills. She found them, poured out a dose, and swallowed them hastily.

Silas entered the office behind her, noticing her continued distress even after taking the pills. His

heart went out to her, feeling a pang of sympathy.

With her back to him, Rose's once proud posture now slumped slightly. She slowly tightened her

grip on her chest, the strain evident in her movements. "You... saw everything."

Silas pursed his lips, his gaze turning somber.

"That's my family... I hail from a cheap and lowly background. What's the point of a fancy designer

title anyway? It can't scrub away the stains of my past. You must be really let down, huh? Well, now

that they're gone, you don't have to pretend for my sake anymore."

Before Rose could finish speaking, she felt a warm, reassuring presence enveloping her from behind.

Without knowing what came over him, Silas expressed his affection by pulling her into a firm

embrace.

Initially resistant, Rose soon found herself yielding to the comforting embrace, her body craving the

closeness

"Who said I was pretending?” Silas murmured, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

His voice was hoarse as he added, "I've never been more sincere with you.”

A jolt ripped through Rose. It stole her breath, sending her head spinning. She felt like she was

melting in his embrace. "No, this can't be true. Weren't you just watching me get humiliated

earlier?"

Silas’ eyes reddened as he spoke softly, coaxing her, "You've misunderstood me. Let me explain.”

"I don't want to hear it."

"It's not that I didn't want to help. I wanted to beat that bitch up when she started throwing insults

at you."

Silas rested his chin on her shoulder, and his heart was heavy with an indescribable pain. "But I also

wanted to know you better. You've never opened up about your family or your past.

"Every time I tried to get close, you pushed me away. I know it was underhanded of me, but it was

the only way I could understand you. I wish to learn more about you."