Chapter 4

I wanted to defend myself and tell him I wasn't here to get back together with him.

But now, the words just died in my throat.

No matter the reason I came to him, he always saw it as something unforgivable.

Leopold, visibly impatient, took Violet by the arm and left the private room.

Suddenly, I was the only one left in the silent room.

It was then that I finally let myself sob out loud.

I realized that pulling myself out of love would hurt more than I ever expected.

I buried my face in my hands and cried for ages, never even noticing when Eric walked into the private room.

His voice suddenly broke the silence, making me freeze and swallow back my sobs on the spot.

"Stop crying. You're making too much noise," he said.

I lifted my head, eyes red and puffy, at the man standing over me.

Eric held up his phone, gesturing toward me.

"Sorry, I forgot my phone," he said.

After a brief pause, he spoke again. "I have to say, Ms. Kelley, you sure are devoted to Mr. Davidson. That is quite impressive."

He practically spat out the words, and for some reason I couldn't quite figure out, it felt weirdly hostile.

I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of a stranger, so I scrambled to my feet.

I wiped my tears and said, "I don't like him anymore. I'm done."

I figured that my reputation preceded me, because he just let out a cold snort, obviously didn't believe a word.

I started to panic a bit, desperate to make it clear I had nothing going on with Leopold anymore.

I said, "Seriously, I'm not here to patch things up with him.

"I just came to beg him not to cut off the funding for my family's company, now that it's really over between us."

He kept quiet for a while, and honestly, I couldn't even figure out why I was spilling all this to him.

I brushed off my dress, grabbed my bag, and made a move for the door, wanting to get out as fast as I could.

But Eric blocked my way, eyes deep and intense, the heat in his gaze nearly scorching me where I stood.

"You really don't like him anymore?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

I nodded firmly.

His eyes flickered, and a smile slowly appeared at the corner of his lips, growing wider bit by bit.

He gently touched my hair, the gesture carrying a hint of appreciation.

"Good girl," he said.

That night, I had no clue how Eric managed to get me back home.

Lying in bed, I was still in a daze, my mind spinning.

Eric said he'd help my family's company, but there was a catch.

He asked me to marry him.

Annoyed, I pulled the blanket up over my head, desperate to silence all the crazy thoughts bouncing around in my mind.

I spent the whole night tossing and turning, totally unsurprised when sleep refused to come.

Things were moving way too fast for me to even think about making a choice.

Early the next morning, my parents told me the funding Davidson Group had promised was suddenly gone.

My dad was pacing anxiously in the living room, while my mom sat off to the side, quietly wiping away tears.

I had no clue if this happened because I went to see Leopold yesterday.

The timing was just way too suspicious. Guilt gnawed at me.

After a long silence, my dad's face flushed with shame as he looked at me, the embarrassment clear in his eyes.

He asked, "Danielle, could you beg Leopold for help?

"I honestly don't know what else to do."

I knew how much my dad loved me. For him to say this, he must have really struggled inside.

I nodded, forcing a casual smile.

"Don't worry, Dad. I've got this," I replied.

After the awful fallout with Leopold yesterday, seeing him again was really the last thing I wanted.

Still, between trusting someone I barely know who just proposed out of nowhere, and turning to Leopold, Leopold felt like the safer bet.

I went straight to his company to look for him.

This time, Violet didn't try to stop me.

She must've already guessed I'd show up. Flashing a bright smile, she led me into Leopold's office.

Before leaving, she made sure to close the door behind me.

I saw Leopold with his back to me, leaning on his hand, looking utterly exhausted.

He didn't even give me a chance to speak, didn't bother turning around.

"If you're here about the funding, just go home. The board's already made up its mind," he said.

"Leopold, is this just payback because I gave Violet a hard time?" I blurted out, my voice shaking.

Leopold finally turned around, that cold, piercing look still in his eyes.

"Danielle, people have to face the consequences of what they've done," he said.