I understand it well, but I don’t have any other choice.
However, this wasn’t the topic I wanted to talk about. Looking at him, I wore a serious expression. “Anthony, I wanted to leave without a word, but it seems impossible. In order to correct what Tessa said, I told you everything. Since things have gotten this far, let’s talk about us.”
Our eyes met. His gaze was deep with a tinge of warmth and determination. “Alright.”
I sat on the bench as the breeze blew by, leaving ripples on the river while the willow trees swayed along.
Sighing faintly, I said, “Anthony, I’ve decided not to return to you after leaving K City. To me, we were divorced five years ago. After all, we had marital separation for three years, so under the laws, we were already divorced.”
The man grimaced and stared at me with his dark eyes. “Are saying those cruel words an effortless task for you? It seems you’ve never thought of my feelings. Or could it be that you’ve never loved me?”
Pursing my lips, I felt suffocated. My heart started aching, but I didn’t want to show it. “Just take it as I’ve never loved you.”
He was obviously mad as he tightened his grip on my wrist. Although it started hurting, I didn’t struggle to break free.
I continued, “Anthony, everything has a shelf life. I admit, I’m rather odd. When I couldn’t get my hands on something, I tried my best to pursue it. However, after attaining it, I lose interest. Setting aside how you humiliated me those years, you set my mother up and killed my child. Do you think I will forgive you after all those things you did? I hate you! So there’s no way I can bring myself to live with you. Let alone loving you.”
I wouldn’t know how hurt he would be by my words, but all I wanted was to make him leave my side.
Looking at his grim and cold expression, I remained expressionless. “I thought I could let go of the past and live with you just because of your wealth and good looks. Even if I don’t love you, I can act like I do. Acting’s just a piece of cake for women, isn’t it?”
Lowering my gaze, I was determined in drawing a line between us. “However, I felt tormented when I face you every day, so I left. I wish you’ll never show up in front of me again. Anthony, I feel happy to be by Armond’s side. So, please let me go. Give me the freedom to pursue my happiness.”
Suddenly, the man chuckled. His voice was low, while he wore a bitter expression. His usual good- looking face looked terrifying as he gave one of his coldest smiles.
“Your happiness?” He scoffed, “You’re so impatient, be it living with him or working at the Murphy Corporation. Are you so eager to find a lover?”
I nodded and spoke with no hesitation. “Everyone lives for themselves. Not only is Armond rich and good-looking, but he also willingly accepts my past. He’s a really nice guy.”
Anthony stared at me for a long while with some hope left in him. However, I kept my face devoid of emotions, forcing him to believe that I felt nothing toward him. Soon after, he gave up and scoffed, “Good! Very good!”
The three words were spoken with his teeth gritted.
With that, he turned around and headed toward his car. After taking a few steps, he halted and glanced back. “Sienna, I’ll ask you once again. Do you mean everything you said?”
“Yes. From the bottom of my heart.” Reluctant to be entangled, I cut off every tie I had with him. It was best to end it this way.
“Haha!” He laughed, but it sounded rather forced. “Good, very good! If that’s how it is, it seems everything was all my wishful thinking.”
With that, he walked away. Hearing his footsteps getting further and further away from me and finally the sound of the engine blaring, I stayed rooted on my spot. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him and my heart felt hollow.
Grandma was correct. I was hesitant about everything. If I couldn’t let it go and make a clean cut, I would suffer in the end.
I had repeated the same question in my mind for several nights. Why do I have to leave Anthony?
I really couldn’t think of an answer. Maybe it was just like what Nora said. I was a psycho, so I chased away the people that loved me.
To be honest, I wasn’t confident if I could let the past go. Even if Anthony and I lived together for the rest of our lives, I was afraid that I would bring up the past and use them as reasons to hurt him when we fight.
When I returned to the Murphy Corporation, it was almost time to get off work. Armond wore a white dress shirt while his black coat was hanging on his right arm.
Looking at me coldly, he asked, “Is the bid proposal done?”
I nodded and handed the documents to him. “Others used half a month to prepare a proposal, while I used only one day, so I bet Anthony wouldn’t pick ours.”
Flipping through the proposal, disdain was written all over his face. “This is the worst bid proposal I’ve ever seen. Congratulations on breaking the record.”
I pursed my lips. No matter how reluctant I was to admit it, he said the truth. Other than the suggestions Linda and Nora gave, nothing else could pass as authentic.
It was done in a few hours, so there was no way it would be good. After pausing for a while, I said, “The Murphy Corporation wasn’t an expert in this field, so Anthony will not choose us.”
Knitting his brows, he threw the bid proposal aside and turned to look at me. “Let’s go for dinner.”
Frankly, I felt that he had no intention to win the bidding. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask me to prepare the proposal at the eleventh hour.
I checked the time. Seeing that it was already 6 p.m., I suggested, “The bidding begins at 8 p.m. I’ll head to the Oasis Hotel first. Can you have your dinner outside later?”
To my surprise, the man took his car keys and said indifferently, “Take your things. We’ll head straight to the Oasis Hotel for dinner.”
I was stunned and asked subconsciously, “Are you going too?”
He raised a brow. “If I don’t go, do you think you can win the bid with your scrappy proposal? Or are you relying on your beautiful face?”
I…
He’s so harsh and vicious with his words.
Stealing a glance at him, I chose to keep quiet and packed my stuff before following him out of the company.
In the car, he drove the car and asked casually, “Do you know which companies are taking part in the bidding?”
I froze instantly and shook my head. “No. I asked my friend and only know that several state-owned enterprises are taking part.”
Armond took a side glance at me with disdain and anger. “Ms. Stanhope, how do you even become the director at Featherstone Corporation?”
I frowned, and the man glanced at me coldly. Then he was merciless with his insults. “Poor bid proposal and knowledge about opponents. Do you really think we, the Murphy Corporation’s joining for fun?”
I tried to reason with him. “Mr. Murphy, you only gave me six hours to do all of this. In six hours, I’ll have to understand the company’s structure and advantages. Then I’ll have to prepare a bid proposal and understand our opponents while taking the demands of the bidding company into consideration. I accept whatever reprimands you gave. However, I wish you could understand that I’ve tried my best and my intelligence is much lower than yours.”
Although I was rather angry, I calmed myself down. To rush a proposal in six hours that took others half a month, it was impossible to make it good, as I wasn’t a genius and my capabilities had a limit.
He glanced at me sideways and narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying that you felt wronged?”
“Nope,” I shook and focused on the scenery outside the car window to distract myself from the unpleasant feelings. Well, who hasn’t met psychopathic bosses in life?
The man set his eyes on the road before saying, “I can’t deny that six hours is truly too little. You could prepare a three thousand words proposal in a few hours with the analysis of our budget as well as pros and cons. Not bad, I’ll give you that. However, Sienna, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it better.”
I stayed silent, as I felt there was no need to argue with a psychopath.
Suddenly, I received a phone call from Nora. “Where did you go, woman? Are you not worried about me? I even fought for you!”
“How are you?” I asked, but I wasn’t worried because Anthony had signaled Joseph to take care of it, so she wouldn’t be mistreated.
The woman clicked her tongue. “I’m at the hospital, but it’s no biggie. That b*tch scratched my face, and I’m not done with her.”
I sighed. “Nora, thank you. I’ll visit you tomorrow and treat you to something delicious.”
Nora sighed and asked, “That’s not it! Why are you treating Anthony like a stranger? He’s your husband! Did he do anything you can’t accept? Or is it you guys never loved each other? Other married couples wouldn’t be like you guys even though they aren’t affectionate towards each other.”
I pursed my lips. “Nothing. There’s nothing left between us. We were divorced.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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