Chapter 17
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“A few days ago, I found a worm in one. I don’t think I’ll ever eat apples again.” She handed the apple back to him.
“Naomi, a lifetime is a long time. I believe that one day, you’ll heal and believe in love again. And if you don’t want apples, that’s okay. There are other fruits.”
Roy was firm. He wasn’t here out of guilt. He truly cared for her because he had fallen for her the moment he first saw her five years ago.
Becoming a lawyer at the Whitaker Group hadn’t been a coincidence. It was deliberate. He had tried everything he could to get close to her.
No matter how long it took, he was willing to wait. Even if it meant spending a lifetime by her side only as a friend, as long as he could see her safe and well, that would be enough.
As the sun set behind the hills and darkness took over, Naomi remained silent. She quietly got up and walked away.
She let it go. If he couldn’t be persuaded now, there was no use trying to change his mind. Sooner or later, he’d figure it out on his own. Meanwhile, Cassian had never stopped looking
for Naomi.
Every time he tracked down a lead and rushed over, he’d find she had bought tickets to multiple destinations on purpose. Clearly, she was trying to avoid seeing him.
The realization unsettled him more with each failed attempt. His anxiety grew, and so did his temper. He began lashing out even during high-stakes meetings, resulting in the loss of
billions.
The shareholders united in protest, demanding that Cassian be removed as CEO and held personally accountable for the losses. They gathered together and blocked him at the entrance
to his office.
“Mr. Hartwell, the company has suffered massive losses for no good reason. We won’t stand
for it.”
“If your personal issues are interfering with your work, maybe it’s time to step aside. At least for now.”
“This company doesn’t belong to you alone. You should also consider our interests. We’ve already spoken to Madam Lydia. If you keep ignoring us, we’ll start selling off our shares and pull our investments.”
Cassian didn’t react to their threats. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. He didn’t take them seriously at all.
Just then, Daniel came running over, gasping. “Mr. Hartwell, we’ve found Mrs. Hartwell!”
