Chapter 1633


    Thssa and Hertha''stest design project was a hit, something Callum and Reginald realized toote, kicking themselves for not jumping on the opportunity to invest. It seemed illogical, even reckless, for seasoned businessmen like them to pre-order the next project without even a glimpse of the design. What if, knowing they had a guaranteed sale, Thssa and Hertha decided to ck off and cobble together something subpar? Wouldn''t they worry about that?


    But Callum was resolute, his nod firm. "Yes, we''ve decided to purchase whatever youe up with next. Because it''s your creation, Thssa. Anything from you is bound to be exceptional."


    His words, spoken with a seriousness that reced his usual yful gaze, made Thssa''s heart flutter with unease.


    "Mr. Gordon, this is no small matter..."


    "Did you notice I dressed differently today?" Callum shifted the conversation from business to something more personal, catching Thssa off guard. She blinked, taking a moment to really look at him. Indeed, he wasn''t wearing his usual monochromatic attire. Instead of beige or khaki shirts paired with ck trousers, today he sported a blue id shirt, trendy slim-fit pants, and stylish leather shoes, giving him a youthful vibe.


    This look was oddly familiar to Thssa, stirring a sense of déjà vu.


    As she puzzled over it, Callum''s voice, smooth andforting, revealed the answer: "Yes, this was Leopold''s favorite style."


    The mention of Leopold''s name sent a sharp pang through Thssa''s heart, her breathing hitching. Callum''s outfit, a mirror of Leopold''s preferred youthful fashion, brought back a flood of memories. Leopold, with his sunny disposition and chestnut brown hair, always favored blue id shirts. The man before her now seemed to blur into the image of Leopold from her memories.


    It felt like a vice gripped her heart, the pain and breathlessness overwhelming.


    "You still love him, don''t you? You haven''t forgotten him," Callum''s direct question struck deep, forcing Thssa to face her unresolved feelings. Clutching her chest, struggling for air, she deflected, "Mr. Gordon, I''d rather not talk about the past."


    Suddenly, Callum was kneeling before her, his gaze intense and


    filled with. "Thssa, don''tBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    run from your heart. You still love Leopold, and as his best friendl know everything about him. Let me love you in his stead. Being with me... it''s like being with him..."


    The proximity of Callum''s earnest, almost incredulous confession widened Thssa''s eyes in shock


    and turmoil. She instinctively p


    back, trying to create distance


    between them, her voice shaking. "MAGordon, you''re upset. You should go home." His seriousness frightened her; it was madness.


    Callum remained still, pressing her, "Why do you shy away? Is it because of Lysander? Leopold traded his life for your freedom. Now that you''re free, you can pursue love again, and I can be the one to love you in Leopold''s ce. Why do you resist?"


    The gentle warmth usually found in Callum''s eyes was reced with a stern, almost dark intensity. Thssa felt scared, her anxiety peaking at his unyielding stance.


    With a resolve born of desperation, she retorted coldly, "Yes, I still love Leopold, and no one can rece him in my heart! Your being his friend changes nothing. Even Lysander, as close as he was to Leopold, can''t take his ce in my heart. What makes you think you can? Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    As the echoes of her deration faded, Thssa noticed a disturbance at the door, which she hadn''t closed upon entering. Someone was there, but who? Her eyes darted to the doorway, apprehensive about what or whom she might find.