Chapter 43


    At that moment, Yvan was dining in an upscale sushi restaurant atop this bustling downtown mall with a


    woman sitting across from him, her smile gentle and inviting. As they ate, she would asionally lift


    her gaze to steal a nce at him.


    Yvan clicked his tongue in irritation, frowning. “I’m here to eat, not to be ogled at.”


    “But Yvan, you’re quite handsome, you know.”


    The woman across, Willow Simpson, blushed with a coy smile, eliciting a wave of goosebumps across


    Yvan’s body.


    “Can you act normal for once?”


    “Are you not happy?” Willow pouted, “Is hanging out with me really such a hassle? If it weren’t for my


    granddad asking you out, would you even bother to show up?”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Yvan paused mid bite, looking up at her, “To be perfectly honest, if your granddad hadn’t arranged this,


    I wouldn’t give you the time of day.”


    Willow’s eyes brimmed with tears, and she spoke with a touch of grievance, “How can you be so cruel


    to me. I like you so much…”


    With azy, detached demeanor, Yvan watched her, signaling for her to continue.


    “I like you so much; can’t you give me some sort of response?” Willow murmured.


    Images of Matilda from five years ago flooded Yvan’s mind–her high–society grace, her patience, and


    tenderness at home, her eyes always filled with hope, longing for his acknowledgment.


    Tightening his grip, Yvan then said, “Ms. Simpson, what kind of response do you expect?”


    “Just be with me, please?” Willow asked straightforwardly. “Allying with my Simpson family can only


    help you; there’s no downside.”


    Yvan scoffed. “You think I need a woman to seed?”


    “No… It’s not that!” Willow flustered. “I heard Matilda was released from prison, and I’m worried she’ll


    come after you again. I can be your shield if that helps; just be with me, will you?”


    Yvan’s lips curled into a smile that would be considered perfect if not for the unfathomable


    depths in his eyes–a pool so deep no one could see whaty beneath


    After a moment, he simply stated, “I refuse.”


    “Why?” Willow exploded, her privileged temper ring, “Do you think I’m not good enough? How can I,


    five years improved, not surpass Matilda from back then? Yvan…”


    “I’m done here. I’ll take care of the check. If you want to order more, feel free to put it on my tab.” Yvan


    stood up, “I should be going. Don’t use your grandfather to set up meetings in the


    Chapter 43


    future. He holds some esteem in my eyes; don’t wear it thin because of you.”


    Willow turned pale, seemingly in disbelief that she, a woman of her stature, was being rejected by


    Yvan. She had thought she could secure him with this outing.


    In a huff, she threw down her fork and stood up to follow him. “I… I’ll give you a ride home!”


    “No need,” Yvan nced at her with detached disinterest, “I can drive myself.”


    Willow joined him in the elevator, and then in the parking lot, she brazenly slipped into Yvan’s car.


    “Then I’ll just keep youpany on the way!”


    Yvan sighed as he sat in the driver’s seat, ncing back at the persistent Willow, “I won’t be taking you


    home, so drop any ideas of using this for publicity.”


    Damn, he saw right through her!


    Willow gritted her teeth. “Then I’ll follow you home and catch a taxi from there!”


    “Suit yourself,” he shrugged indifferently, seemingly uninterested in further entanglement.


    His cold, impassive attitude filled Willow with a sense of defeat.


    What kind of man could refuse her? Only Yvan!