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I was too tired to engage further, so I turned and started to leave.
Arnold grabbed my arm forcefully, stopping me from walking away.
“Where are you going? Why did you block me? I’ve called you so many times.”
I looked at him impatiently. “We’ve settled everything. Why are you still calling me?”
Arnold stared at me intensely, as if trying to see through me. His gaze made me feel uncomfortable and I tried to
pull away. But then, he suddenly became angry.
“Is this really how you want to leave me?”
Flashes of past memories played like slides in my mind. I remembered the pain he had caused me and all I
wanted was to escape.
I spat, “Arnold, have you no shame? You were the one who told me to pack up and leave. You were the one who made me give up my position as the department head. Now, you’re here questioning me? What are you pretending to
be, so full of ‘love‘?”
Arnold seemed a bit flustered by my words. He tightened his grip on my arm and I winced in pain, letting out a
small cry.
S
Ignoring how badly my arm hurt, he continued, “Riley, come back. I know I shouldn’t have dismissed your so easily. I shouldn’t have let you go. If you come back, I’ll make you head a different department. If you need money, I can give it to you. Please, come back.”
As soon as he finished speaking, I couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped him across the face.
“What do you think of yourself? And what do you think of me?”
To my surprise, Arnold said nothing. Instead, he forcefully placed my hand back on his cheek.
His eyes were slightly red, his voice hoarse. “Riley, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it that way. I just… missed you.”
I struggled wildly, using the lunch box in my hand to hit him. But he gripped me even tighter and the box flew
from my hands The soup inside splashed all over my feet, scalding me and making me tear up in pain.
7:38 AM
Broker Free Maming My frie Deny
“Arnold, get away from me!”
He hurriedly wiped the soup from my body, but I shoved him away.
“What is going on here?”
The door opened and Kayla walked in, her face full of displeasure as she looked at me.
“Riley? What are you doing here? Still holding a grudge from the time you apologized on your knees? Following
us now?”
She said this with a mocking tone, then sidled up next to Arnold.
Arnold, looking awkward, just stared at me and said nothing.
I felt weary and turned to leave, but Kayla’s voice stopped me.
“You’re not trying to get close to Mr. Alston, are you? Let me tell you, Mr. Alston is my cousin. If I say a word, he’ll have you thrown out.”
Hearing her speak so confidently, for some reason, a sour feeling began to rise in my chest.
“Then go tell Christian! Make him kick me out! I’m curious to see if he’ll listen to you at all,” I said with a biting
tone.
Arnold tugged at Kayla. “Give it up, Kayla!”
“My cousin is about to get married! I don’t want my future sister–in–law to walk in and find someone disgusting like you hanging around outside the house.”
“Who’re you calling ‘disgusting‘?” Christian’s cold voice interrupted as he slowly walked over.
“Arnold, it’s her. The moment I stepped in, I saw her trying to seduce my fiancé. Who knows how many people
she’s been with! She’s disgusting.”
Kayla sweetly pressed closer to Christian, her tone dripping with malice. “Cousin, she used to be someone’s mistress. You better not let her fool you.”
“She wasn’t.” Arnold, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. “We were just chatting, Kayla, stop
exaggerating things.”
Kayla’s expression changed slightly. “Cousin, she…”
“Shut up! Stop acting like you know me. We’re barely even related. Who do you think you are claiming to be my cousin?” Christian interrupted, his face as cold as ice.
