Chapter 1217


    In the Fortune Restaurant.


    This time, Callum didn''t opt for a private booth. Instead, he took a seat at one of the diner''s tables in


    the main eating area, the hum of conversation and clinking of cutlery surrounding them. Once settled,


    he gged down a waitress and started to order their meal.


    Thssa eyed him curiously. "Mr. Gordon, is there something urgent you wanted to tell me?" she


    asked. Throughout their car ride earlier, he''d managed to sidestep any serious conversation.


    A gentle smile yed on Callum''s lips. "I''d much prefer if you called me Callum," he replied with an


    affable warmth.


    Thssa felt a tinge of embarrassment. She had called him Callum at their first encounter out of


    surprise, without thinking too much. Now that she was collected, she leaned towards using "Mr.


    Gordon" as it seemed more polite and more proper.


    In an attempt to mask her awkwardness, Thssa picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip, feeling


    the warmth of the diner''s signature blend.


    Noticing her difort, Callum didn''t press the issue. He cradled his own coffee cup, seemingly


    absorbed in the simple act of holding it. His casual and natural gesturesplemented the easy smile


    that made him so approachable.


    "Actually, the reason I asked to meet today is a personal matter," he confessed.


    Thssa looked up, her expression open and expectant. Callum had never before spoken to her about


    his personal life. Their interactions had always revolved around their mutual acquaintance, Leopold


    Sinir.


    "Debby was foolish for what she did, to say the least. I''d like to apologize on her behalf," Callum said,


    his kind eyes meeting hers earnestly.


    Taken aback by his words, Thssa stammered, "Mr.—Callum, why would you apologize for Debby?


    What''s your role in this?"


    She''d started to default to "Mr. Gordon" out of habit, but remembering his earlier request, she quickly


    corrected herself.


    His sudden seriousness indeed caught her off guard. How could Callum be apologizing for Debby?


    Sensing her confusion, Callum exined, "Debby''s my cousin."


    It suddenly clicked for Thssa. She''d never known about the connection between Callum and Debby.


    "Debby''s been infatuated with Leopold for years. My own rtionship with him started partly because


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    of her," Callum continued, delving into the tale of how he and Leopold met, grew to know each other,


    and developed a deep friendship.


    "In the early days, Debby was so obsessed with Leopold that when she found out he was going


    overseas, and given I was abroad too, she asked me to help him out. Eventually, I met Leopold and


    was impressed by his determination. We were both in the throes of starting our own ventures, shared


    Thssa listened to Callum''s recollections, to the story of Leopold''s entrepreneurial journey.


    Thssa''s heart sank, her brows knitting together.


    Callum looked at her intently and continued, "He said he needed to be strong, to be outstanding.


    Only with sufficient wealth, powerful influence, and a status thatmanded respect, would he have a


    chance to be with her again." New ch?pter av?ble o? Draмаnоvеls.cоm


    Though Callum didn''t specify, Thssa knew who he was talking about.


    Her heart felt as though it was being torn.