A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

As the words fell from her lips, Mason’s pupils shrank in an instant. Then, the woman turned away, intertwining her arm with another man’s and leaving without a backward glance.

“But I’ve come to realize that it was all just wishful thinking on my part. Let bygones be bygones. Thanks for everything, Mr. Farrell.”

She was gone, and just as she left, a gust of wind blew through the doorway, chilling Mason to his core as if it had swept right through his chest.

People say some encounters hit you like a sudden draft that triggers a landslide. Mason never believed in such things; he thought those were just the fantasies of poets, and the world couldn’t possibly be filled with so many stunning yet regrettable moments.

He was a skeptic, after all. How could a mere draft cause a landslide?

But now, he truly felt engulfed by a tidal wave, realizing for the first time that he had once brushed past Matilda.

Adrian stood behind Mason, his gaze murky and unfocused as he watched Matilda’s retreating figure until she vanished from sight.

Chloe texted Matilda to let her know she’d arrived at the office and to put Matilda at ease. She then pocketed her phone and turned to the man before her.

Declan was smirking with an unfathomable expression, lounging on the couch. He wore an unbuttoned shirt that draped casually over him, the sleeves rolled up, and the tail tucked into his dress pants. Resting his chin on his hand, his amber eyes seemed to twinkle as he looked

at Chloe.

Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine, “Mr. Yeager, if there’s anything you need, just command.”

After a long pause, Declan drawled, “What kind of coffee did you buy for me?”

“Nescafé.”

“Dump it. Go get another.”

Chloe was in Declan’s private mansion, summoned by a phone call just to make him a fresh cup of coffee.

Meeting Declan’s half–smiling eyes, Chloe replied, “Mr. Yeager, that’s all we have right now.”

Declan’s brows knitted slightly, “Isn’t there a coffee machine?”

“The coffee machine broke a while ago.”

“How did it break?”

10-52

“Don’t you remember? A social media star came by the other day, saw me here, thought I was your kept woman, and then we got into a fight.” Chloe recounted with an unnervingly calm demeanor, “And that’s how your living room coffee machine got smashed.”

“I forgot,” Declan didn’t bother remembering such incidents and only vaguely recalled it when Chloe mentioned it. “Then it’s your responsibility to get a new one.”

“But I didn’t break it,” Chloe protested, feeling wronged.

“Weren’t they here because of you?” Declan still wore his deadpan face.

“They were here because of you!”

“Are you trying to discuss liability with me?”

“Not at all.” Chloe quickly changed her expression, “No worries, Mr. Yeager. I’ll go buy one right now.”

But when she checked the price of Declan’s coffee machine model on her phone, holy cow, five eights!

She was going to be broke! How could it be so expensive! All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Chloe reluctantly confirmed the purchase and then looked up at Declan, “Mr. Yeager, is there. anything else?”

“What about my coffee now?”

“I chose express delivery; it should arrive tomorrow?”

“But I want coffee now.”

Chloe internally cursed Declan’s high–maintenance demands inside but said calmly, “So what do you suggest?”

Declan finally smiled. “We have coffee beans at home. Go grind them into powder for me. There’s a mortar in the kitchen.”

A million expletives crossed Chloe’s mind, but she suppressed them, especially after Declan added, “Grind it fresh. If you do, I’ll double your bonus at the end of the month.”