Chapter 165

Chapter165, Evan added, “Tell her you’re no longer with the previous company, so frequent dinners with former colleagues aren’t appropriate anymore. Just keep interactions professional.”

...Fine, I’ll talk to her.”

His ears are incredibly sharp. What was wrong with my former subordinate inviting me to have lunch? Or did he believe I’d compromise sensitive corporate data during lunch?

Evan continued walking into his office. I sighed deeply.

Zach stared pensively at the closed door of the CEO’s office. Could Mr. Jones be...sexually frustrated?

He turned to me, offering a sympathetic consolation.“It’s not your fault. Men sometimes have trouble controlling themselves, like during menopause.”

What? Do guys get their version of a petiod?

Seeing my puzzled look, Zach said, “Don’t panic, I’ll help you.”

I appreciate that, but how? Wait, are we even thinking about the same thing?

”

At 11:20 AM, I drove away from the company. Ocean Spring was near the Shaw Corp; it took about twenty–eight minutes to get there.

It was a Japanese restaurant, a frequent spot for company gatherings.

Traffic was congested, and I arrived there around twelve o’clock.

The restaurant owner greeted me warmly and told me Mandy was in the private room.

I headed inside, wondering why they needed such a large room for just two people. My hand hovered like a hummingbird at the private room’s door–hesitation crystallizing into a furrow between my brows. Before I could retreat, the door swung inward on its own..

“Ms. Frost.”

Mandy appeared at the doorway, pulling me inside.

“I must’ve overthought-” The thought died as footsteps echoed from behind the lacquered screen.

It was Julian!

“So this dinner invite was just bait to hook your boss, I see.”

My bitter laugh sliced the air. I pivoted sharply, only to have Julian block my escape route with predator grace.“Mandy,” he commanded without glancing back, “leave us.”

Mandy gave me an apologetic look, but I ignored her. I wouldn’t give a second glance to someone who had betrayed me.

Feeling miserable, Mandy quickly left the room.

“Get out of my way!”

I said coldly, my eyes filled with ice and deep disgust.

If he had cleanly divorced me earlier, I wouldn’t care how vicious Rita was, I’d consider those eight years wasted, and move on after the divorce. Or, if he’d sincerely repented, showing remorse before the divorce, I would have let bygones be bygones.

But no, he betrayed me and tried to act all affectionate, claiming to only love me while getting Rita pregnant.

(-16.42 93.2%

< Chapter 165 The nausea was like being repeatedly force–fed excrement. His feelings for everyone were fake; he only loved himself.

“I wanted...”

Julian avoided my eyes.“To talk to you.”

Menu My gaze was sharp as a knife.“I don’t want to hear you. But since you’re standing here and won’t let me pass, let me tell you:

from now on, we’re enemies. I will make Rita pay. As long as I’m in Chicago and alive, she won’t get away with it!”

“As for you,” I sneered, my contempt obvious.“Just live your life. Some souls, I’ve learned, calcify into specters over time–their humanity eroding like cliffside stone beneath capitalism’s acid rain.”

I took two steps back, trying to leave. I reached for the door, only to find it locked.

“Olivia...” Julian called again, his voice raw, “I thought I could make everything under control, I thought I could move forward and find what I once had. But the road ahead is gone–there’s nothing left for me to walk on...”

“Open it now!”

I angrily kicked the door. I didn’t even listen to what he was saying.

Finally, he was done speaking. He approached and stood next to me.

This time, he didn’t utter more self–pitying nonsense. He got straight to the point.“Write a letter of forgiveness for Rita. From now on, she won’t bother you again, and neither will I.”

I stopped abruptly.

Turning to him, I couldn’t even believe my ears.“What did you say?”

“She’s only an accomplice in the kidnapping. If you write a letter of forgiveness, combined with her current health condition, we can handle it so she won’t go to jail.”

“Slap!”

I slapped him hard. I was breathless with anger.“Don’t even think about it. I will absolutely not write it. I’ll make sure she rots in jail!”

Julian’s face was askew from the slap; a red handprint was visible. He didn’t get angry, simply turned his face and continued, “It’s the best way, Olivia. You can’t win, and in the end, you’ll be the one hurt. If you’re relying on Evan to help, you’ll be disappointed.

He would have helped if he wanted to. He’s just playing with you. Now that he’s gotten he won’t invest more effort.”

you, “Even if you don’t care about yourself, think about your parents, your grandmother, and your uncle.”

I was shocked speechless.

I stared at him, a chill running through me, like seeing a terrifying ghost. My eyes reddened as I backed away.“You...you’re actually threatening me with my family?”

My voice trembled, as well as my hands. I thought his cruelty had hit rock bottom when he turned on me–dead wrong. The abyss had no floor, and I was still falling.

“Just say yes.”

Julian suppressed the pain in his heart.

Watching Olivia retreat in fear and helpless anger, sensing her hatred towards him, for a moment, he felt a strange catharsis.

She should hate him. Sometimes, hate was a kind of bond.

93.2%

< Chapter165 Menu I breathed deeply, desperately searching for something to hold onto, a lifeline, but there was nothing. I felt like I was about to fall off a cliff.

“Open the door.”

A cold voice came from outside.

I felt a moment of disorientation, like a reverberating mantra in my head. The door opened.

Evan stood outside. Behind him were a surprised Zach and a guilty Mandy, Julian turned to look outside, his gaze lifeless. Olivia turned as well. Her face was pale with despair, her eyes were filled with blankness, like a small animal cornered in a forest fire...

“Since when do lunches require deadbolts?” Evan shouldered past the door. His palm pressed against the small of my back–

steadying me as I swayed like a sapling in a storm.“Finished?”

I nodded. His touch was searing through silk–an anchor dragging me back from freefall. Steadying myself, I stepped toward the corridor.

“You okay?” Zach’s whisper trailed me. Another silent shake. My heels clicked a dirge against marble.

Zark shadowed my steps.

Inside the room, Evan’s voice sliced the air.“Congrats, Mr. Shaw. You’ve redefined male inadequacy.” His stare raked Julian’s zombie–like form.

He turned and left the private room. Three strides–he closed the distance, arm cinching my shoulders in a grip masquerading as protection. I twitched free.“I’m fine...”

“What’s next?” He dipped his head, fingers tightening.“Collecting gold medals in masochism?”

< Chapter166