Chapter 497

Tanya flashed a dazzling smile at the man in the passenger seat and nodded toward the back. "This is Rex. You guys met back in college."

Asher Fielding raised an intrigued brow, turning around to offer a polite nod. "Mr. Rex. It's been a while. I'm-"

"Let's keep it a while longer." Rex ruthlessly cut him off. He rolled down his window and stared out at the passing cars. He looked absolutely murderous, like a man who had just caught his wife cheating.

Introductions were entirely unnecessary; Rex would recognize this guy if he were burned to ash. If it hadn't been for Asher, he would have never agreed to break up with Tanya back then.

After tearing their relationship to shreds, the prick had packed his bags and bolted overseas. And now, he had crawled back like nothing had ever happened.

Asher simply raised an eyebrow, not looking the least bit embarrassed, and chuckled. "You haven't changed a bit, Mr. Rex."

Tanya hummed in agreement. "Has he?"

Since graduating, Tanya had stayed in touch with quite a few classmates due to the nature of her job. With everyone she met, she could sense how the world had chipped away at them.

Entering adulthood meant getting ground down—becoming smoother, more cynical, learning to weigh the pros and cons of every interaction, and hiding true emotions behind polite masks. But Rex was the sole exception. He hadn't changed a fraction of an inch. He still did whatever the hell he wanted.

Asher smiled mildly. "It's true. Family background dictates so much. If we all had the luxury of being Mr. Rex..."

"Keep dreaming." Rex slouched back into the leather seats, crossing his arms over his chest with a predatory smirk. "You weren't born with my luck."

The sleek black Bentley glided smoothly through the heavy traffic. Streetlights flickered through the canopy of trees, casting shifting Shadows inside the cabin and hiding the expressions of the two people in the backseat.

Elissa had been silent the entire ride, unsure of how to even begin the conversation. She wasn't exactly angry. Choosing one's own flesh and blood was just human nature.

Rowan sat beside her, his pitch-black eyes locked on her profile. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Do you have any questions for me regarding last night?"

Paige's sudden collapse had been a volatile situation. Given her age, dropping dead from a sudden heart attack was a real possibility. He had to be there immediately to ensure her shares didn't end up in the wrong hands.

Five percent of the shares might not seem like a lot, but a sudden transfer could trigger chaos within the corporation. If exploited by a rival faction, it would mean endless headaches.

Elissa sat stiffly, her fingers curling tight against her thighs. "I don't have anything to ask." Forcing answers out of someone completely ruined the point of asking.

Rowan stared her down. "Are you sure?"

Elissa: "I'm sure."

He exhaled slowly. If he hadn't practically raised this girl himself, he would have lost his patience long ago.

Methodically removing his cufflinks and rolling up his sleeves, he leaned across the seat and, without a word of warning, hauled her directly onto his lap. "Since you have no questions, it's my turn."

The sudden weightlessness made her gasp, and by the time she registered what was happening, she was straddling his thighs. Her body went rigid. Knowing it was useless to struggle, she surrendered and pressed her lips together. W

do

you want to ask?"

"Something this massive—if I hadn't pushed you on it last night, when exactly were you planning to tell me?" Rowan's dark eyes bore into her soul. "Were you never going to give me a chance to explain?"