Chapter 294

When he still didn't respond, Yesenia's desperation turned to sobs. She gripped his hand, her tone more humble and pleading than ever before. "Please don't make me go, okay?"

Clifford's deep eyes rested on her face for a long moment before he sighed in resignation. He turned his hand to clasp hers and used his other to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"I don't care," Yesenia said. "On the way here, I was thinking a lot, all from my own selfish perspective. I really wanted to just walk away. But when I realized we were about to separate, that I might never see you again, my heart felt like it had been hollowed out. It felt like there was no point in living anymore."

Her dramatic words made him laugh.

"How can you still laugh! Since you said the choice was mine, then I choose not to go. Even if you end up begging for scraps, I'll be right there with you!"

Clifford's expression grew more complex as he looked at her. After a moment, he said quietly, "Alright, stop crying."

Yesenia hastily wiped her tears and wrapped her arms around his, looking at him with deep affection. "So, we're not breaking up, right?"

"If that's what you want. Just be clear about what being with me means now and what you'll have to face in the future. As long as you're prepared for that."

"I am clear, clearer than anyone! Don't say any more." Yesenia's tone was firm, her eyes locked on his as if to prove her resolve.

Clifford considered this for a long time before withdrawing his hand. "As long as you're clear. You should go."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, her voice turning coquettish. "Can't you stay tonight? Keep me company."

Clifford gathered the keys and cards from the dashboard, grabbed her purse, and stuffed everything back inside. Handing it to her, he said, "Not tonight. I have things to do."

"What things?"

"You don't need to know."

Yesenia bit her lip, a familiar flicker of anger rising, but the fresh memory of their near-breakup forced her to swallow it.

"Are you going back to that mute?" she asked, her voice tinged with grievance.

"It's work-related. Now, go get some rest." Clifford placed the purse in her lap and unbuckled her seatbelt.

It was rare for him to offer an explanation, and it slightly improved her mood. His attitude told her that he wasn't going to break up with her anymore.

The man was ruthless. If she had decided to leave, he wouldn't have tried to stop

her in the slightest; his detachment was even colder than hers had been.

It was precisely that ruthlessness

that had her completely under his spell, unable to escape. If he had begged her to stay even once, she wouldn't feel so powerless now. In matters of the heart, she realized, it didn't matter who the other person was; the one who held at the power was always the winner.

Yesenia grabbed her purse, opened the door, and reluctantly got out. As she walked through the main gate of her complex, she couldn't resist Looking back. He had already driven off, feaving her with nothing but a trait of exhaust fumes.

Yesenia glanced down at the purse in her hands. Instead of going upstairs, she sat down in the lobby pulled out her phone, and started searching for news about Lambert Group. There wasn't much, but a few articles had been published just hours ago. Lambert Group really had a new CEO. His name was Greyson Lambert.

Yesenia frowned, put her phone away, and stared at the ceiling. He hadn't been

lying. He really wasn't the CEO of Lambert Group anymore.