Chapter 164


    Drawing A Clear Line With Him Mitchel''s grip on the pen tightened suddenly as he said in an icy tone,


    "Try it and you''ll face the consequences.” The sheer menace in his gaze sent shivers through Alexis.


    This wasn’t his first encounter with Mitchel''s cruelty.


    Previously, only Kyler and Luciana had been shielded by Mitchel, but now, another woman had


    captured his concern.


    Yet, Alexis knew he held no value to Mitchel.


    The more Alexis pondered, the stronger his resolve grew.


    Despite previous defeats by Mitchel, leading to his exile, he was determined to stand his ground for his


    another son.


    "Don''t push me, Mitchel, and we can coexist peacefully,” Alexis offered.


    Mitchel looked up, his voice devoid of warmth.


    "Done with your nonsense? Leave, immediately!" "How dare you!" Alexis, seething with rage yet


    controlling his fury, suggested, “Perhaps try to tolerate Eloise.


    I''m not insisting on you marrying her.


    But if we ally with the Benton Group for the energy project, it benefits us all, doesn''t it?" His implication


    was clear.


    Mitchel could feign a rtionship with Eloise until securing the project, then cite any trivial reason for a


    breakup.


    Unfazed, Mitchel hit the No.


    1 button on his desk phone andmanded, "Matteo, escort the guest out.” After being shown to the


    door, Alexis, fuming, managed topose himself upon seeing Eloise, assuring her with a forced


    smile, "Mitchel is a bit aloof and detached sometimes.


    He needs your warmth and charm tothaw his frostiness, understand?" Eloise’s face lit up with


    understanding.


    "Yes, I got it.


    Thank you, Alexis." Pleased by her adoring gaze, Alexis started to strategize.


    He seized the opportunity, knowing Mitchel''s looks were a ma for young women.


    "You''re the only one I see as my daughter-inw, Eloise.


    Make me proud," he encouraged.


    Eloise’s nod carried the weight of her growing hopes.


    After Alexis'' departure, Eloise headed straight for Mitchel''s office but was halted by Matteo.


    Matteo offered a gentle refusal, "Apologies, Miss Benton.


    Mr.


    Dixon is upied with a conference call.” Eloise insisted, "I''ll wait here for him.” Matteo, reluctant to


    send her away due to the Benton family’s newfound prominence, allowed her to wait, offering snacks


    and drinks.


    Meanwhile, Raegan had sold her apartment.


    After clearing her housing loan, she amassed $2.7 million, still short for her debt.


    Left with no choice, she borrowed an additional $300, 000 from Nicole, totaling $3 million.


    She preferred owing Nicole to being indebted to Mitchel.


    After consolidating the funds into one ount, Raegan proceeded to Mitchel''spany to clear the


    debt with him.


    She had notified Matteo of her visit beforehand, which allowed her to enter the CEO''s office without any


    complications.


    Approaching the door, she mentally rehearsed her approach, pondering the right words to address


    Mitchel after their recent fallout.


    Recently, Raegan had caused Mitchel considerable embarrassment, and she doubted he''d be eager to


    see her now.


    Turning a corner, Raegan''s gazended on a familiar figure beside the window blinds, whose eyes


    were fixated on the office interior.


    At first sight, Raegan recognized the woman as Mitchel''spanion from the cafe encounter.


    Pausing, Raegan guessed she might be Mitchel''s blind date.


    As she deliberated her next move, Matteo''s voice reached her ears.


    "Miss Hayes, your early arrival is quite unexpected,” Matteo greeted.


    At the sound of Matteo''s voice, Eloise turned around, catching sight of Raegan, which left her


    momentarily taken aback.


    A momentter, Eloise connected the dots, recognizing Raegan from the cafe.


    Eloise approached Raegan with a confrontational air, demanding, "Who the hell are you? What brings


    you here?” The tension escted quickly.


    Eloise’s guard was up instantly upon seeing Raegan, whose striking presence sparked a hint of envy.


    Sensing the brewing conflict, Matteo interjected, "Miss Benton, may I offer you some juice? I''ll have a


    ss brought to you." He was hoping to defuse the situation.


    "Sure, thanks," Eloise replied, acknowledging her thirst after a long wait.


    Undeterred, Eloise pressed Raegan further, "Anyway, what the hell are you doing here?" Matteo felt a


    headacheing on, not anticipating Eloise’s persistent inquiries.


    Just as he was about to intervene, Raegan dered her intention.


    "I''vee for Matteo.” “Is that so?" Eloise inquired, skeptical.


    Raegan confirmed with a nod and presented a bank card to Matteo, inquiring, "Do you have the IOUs


    handy?" With Matteo''s confirmation, Raegan instructed, "This card has three million dors in it.


    Verify the amount, then please hand over those IOUs.” Matteo hesitated, suggesting, "Shouldn''t we


    wait for Mr.


    Dixon...” Raegan cut him off, "No need.


    Just confirm the bnce and provide me with the 1OUs promptly, Matteo.” Raegan tly refused.


    She was worried about being misconstrued by Mitchel''s new girlfriend.


    Eloise observed the scene quietly, so to avoid any issues, Matteo escorted Raegan aside to resolve the


    matter of the debt.


    Once the debt was settled, Raegan left.


    Meanwhile, Mitchel was preupied in his office until nightfall.


    Emerging from his work, he discovered Eloise asleep on the couch.


    Mitchel''s brow furrowed as he inquired, "Why is she still here?” "Miss Benton insists on waiting for you,”


    Matteo replied with a hint of resignation.


    Mitchel''’s frown deepened, realizing Matteo was merely fulfilling his duties and wasn''t to be faulted.


    The Benton family was currently in the limelight.


    If Eloise were to be sent away by his staff, it could fuel rumors of a rift between the Dixon and the


    Benton families, potentially affecting the stock market.


    "Should I wake Miss Benton?" Matteo offered tentatively.


    "No, let her sleep.


    Just ensure someone stays here with her," Mitchel directed, preparing to leave.


    "Mr.


    Dixon,” Matteo called out, halting Mitchel to report Raegan''s earlier visit and the debt situation from the


    afternoon.


    He extended the bank card toward Mitchel.


    "She insisted on leaving this." Mitchel had previously instructed Matteo that Raegan didn''t need to


    repay the debt if she came to collect the IOUs.


    Despite Matteo exining this, Raegan had left the card anyway.


    Under Mitchel''s intense gaze, Matteo felt an overwhelming urge to discard the card.


    Angered, Mitchel red at the card before hissing through clenched teeth, "Dispose of it.” Then he


    stormed off.


    Seething in his car, Mitchel''s anger gave way to a sudden stomachache.


    He reached for his other phone, dialing a familiar number.


    When the call connected, Raegan''s gentle voice came through.


    "Hello, who is this?” Mitchel''s anger melted at the sound of her voice, and he softened his tone


    deliberately, “It''s me." But after a brief pause, she responded, "Sorry, you''ve got the wrong number.”


    She promptly ended the call.


    Subsequent attempts to reach her were in vain.


    The number was no longer avable.


    Mitchel suspected he was on a cklist.


    Frustration surged within him as he struck the steering wheel with force.


    Did she sever her ties with him because she had someone new? This money muste from that


    man.


    Fine! Great! Raegan felt unwell on her journey home.


    She attributed it to her impending period.


    She''d experienced painful periods before, but this difort surpassed all previous asions,


    perhaps due to her recent miscarriage.


    After spending some time face-down on her bed, her phone rang from an unknown number.


    Recognizing Mitchel''s voice, irritation red, and she promptly ended the call.


    Exhausted and in pain, she didn''t have the strength to entertain his calls, so she added his number to


    her cklist.


    Ding Dong.


    The doorbell rang abruptly.


    Raegan thought it must be the delivery of the painkillers she ordered, prompting her to rise and open


    the door.


    But upon seeing Mitchel''s face, disbelief struck her.


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    Was it really him? She paused, then moved to close the door.


    Mitchel wedged it open with a swift movement of his leg, his gaze icy and unblinking.


    "What do you want, Mitchel Dixon?” Raegan raised her voice.


    "You''re forcing your way in.


    I could call the police...” Mitchel cut her off, stepping closer to cradle her face and nt a forceful kiss


    on her lips.


    His kiss was demanding, and when Raegan did not reciprocate, he bit her tongue in frustration.


    Raegan winced and let out a pained sound, but Mitchel persisted, his lips pressing more insistently


    than before.


    When he finally released her, Raegan gasped for air.


    “What is wrong with you, Mitchel?" she demanded, her voice shaking with fury.


    "You can''t just kiss someone without consent.


    That''s harassment, do you understand?" But Mitchel, with a sneer, began to unbutton his shirt,


    dismissively replying, “I''ll consider your words after I''ve taken care of my business."