Chapter 1045
Chapter 1045 Be Strangers
Get the wrong idea? Get what wrong idea?
Sylvester reached out and gently held her shoulders, his voice warm as he said, “I''ve always intended
to marry you, so why would they get the wrong idea?”
A storm of shock and amazement swept through Rainie''s heart.
H-He''s actually considering marrying me?
Happiness arrived so suddenly that it took her by surprise, leaving her grappling to adjust.
Nevertheless, she couldn''t get carried away, let alone reveal her true intentions to him.
After all, In his perspective, she had previously yed a role in helping him reconcile with Rainie. She
had been exceptionally well-mannered and understanding. She had to sustain this favorable image and
persona. Only by doing so could she elicit hispassion, potentially prompting him to marry her out
of a sense of guilt.
She began, “Sylvester, you can''t say that. It could lead to misunderstandings. If Rainie hears this, she
would definitely be heartbroken, she—”
“Don''t bring up that woman''s name. I don''t want to hear it,” Sylvester sharply interrupted her.
Karina fell silent, her eyes welling up with tears as she gazed at him, choking back on tears. “I didn''t
mean to mention her in front of you... I simply can''t help feeling that it''s a shame for things to end
between you two like this. Is there truly no possibility of a reconciliation in your rtionship?”
“No,” Sylvester immediately rejected, without a second thought.
Karina inclined her head slightly, concealing an eerie smile on her lips that Sylvester couldn''t see.
Sylvester then said, “Don''t try to persuade me anymore. I came to Hallsbay this time to put an end to
things with her. Once I''vepletely severed this rtionship, I''ll visit the Smith residence to propose
and ask for your hand in marriage. Go get ready. You''re apanying me to the gathering tonight. I
believe my buddies will ept you.”
Karina said softly, “Okay.”
Victoria returned to Saunders Group after two days of wallowing in despondency. As she entered the
CEO''s office, she saw Lionel sitting inside.
Over the past two days, nobody had informed her about Lionel''s presence at Saunders Group,
purposely keeping her uninformed. Consequently, encountering him took herpletely by surprise.
“Why are you here? Who let you in?”
Lionel reached for the fountain pen on the table and proceeded to sign a document.
Victoria, looking down, noticed her name was signed in the allotted space. The handwriting matched
her own, which left her taken aback.
Vanessa said, “Mr. Gezmond has been at Saunders Group for the past two days, helping us handle
crucial matters. With his guidance, the online shopping tform has been sessfully established, and
the operations team is currently listing new products. Mr. Gezmond has also reached out to Mr.
Shurmer, who has consented to handle the transportation of our goods. Mr. Saunders, the issues that
had been vexing Saunders Group for almost a month have beenpletely resolved by Mr.
Gezmond.”
Victoria directed a furious re at her and retorted, “The concept for the online shopping tform was
Bay''s idea, and I invested a substantial sum in recruiting the development team. What does he have to
do with it? Regarding the Shurmer family''s logistics, Bay and I were also the ones who negotiated with
Mr. Shurmer. When did it be his aplishment? Why did you act without permission? Do you
not want this job anymore?”
Vanessa fell silent.
Lionel waved his hand and chuckled. “Looks like your boss harbors quite some resentment toward me.
You''d better leave first to avoid getting in trouble.”
Vanessa yfully stuck out her tongue, paying no heed to Victoria''s menacing re, and left with a
mischievous grin.
“Hold it right there! Who said you could leave—”
Before she could finish her sentence, she was enveloped by a pair of strong arms.
Then, a sensation of dizziness overwhelmed her, and she found herself pressed against the storage
rack.
An overwhelming cascade of kisses rained down.
In a fit of anger, Victoria extended her hand to p him, but he deftly evaded it.
“Lionel Gezmond, what do you take me for? You were recently entangled with another woman, and
now you return to my side as if nothing happened. Do you think the humiliation that woman caused me
wasn''t enough?” she snapped.
“Nothing happened between her and me. We''re innocent,” he said.
“Is that so?” Victoria, consumed by anger, lost herposure. She abruptly yanked open a drawer,
retrieved two photos, and flung them onto the table. “You were holding her in your arms, she kissed
you near your ear, and both of you entered the suite together, with the door closing behind you. And
now youe to me iming that nothing happened between you two? Ha. Lionel, do you really think
I''m a fool? No, wait. Why am I so agitated? You''re no longer rted to me, so why should I even care
about you? Step aside. I don''t want to see you, not now, not ever. If you push me further, I''ll show you
what it''s like to lose me for good. Don''t forget, it was your father who caused my mother''s death. My
father separated us, and in your quest for revenge against my father, you brought down Saunders
Group. We are sworn enemies. If we''re together, I''m afraid my mother will harbor resentment even in
her grave. I''m afraid she''ll never find peace, day or night—”
“That''s enough.” Lionel stumbled back a few steps, his face contorted with profound pain as he shut his
eyes. His voice quivered as he uttered, “Don''t mention your mother. Don''t mention her.”
Every time her mother was brought up, he was inevitablypelled to recollect the longstanding
animosity between their families and the tragic death of her mother years ago.
A profound blood feud existed between them. She imed not to care, but deep down, she likely still
did.
“I''m sorry. I''m so sorry. The Gezmond family owes the Saunders family. My father was responsible for
your mother''s death, and I was responsible for your father''s death, plunging the Saunders family into
ruin and destion. It''s my fault, it''s all my fault.” As Lionel spoke, he gripped his chest, his handsome
face suddenly paling, exuding a sense of despair and hopelessness.
Victoria felt a twinge of regret. What hade over me just now? Why did I lose control to the extent of
rubbing salt in his wound?
She shouldn''t have brought up the grudges between the two families. It was a forbidden topic between
them, each mention reopening a fresh wound.
Why did I blurt that out?
Seeing the man in front of her teetering on the edge of a breakdown, she swiftly said, “I''m sorry. I didn''t
mean to. I was too upset a moment ago and spoke without thinking. Please don''t take it to heart. The
past generation''s conflicts should not be med on you.”
Lionel offered a wry smile, his countenance steeped in despair. They had already be strangers to
each other!
He gradually straightened up, sporting a bitter smile. “I thought everything would pass, but looks like I
N?velDrama.Org ? content.
was overly optimistic. Saunders Group is now back on track. You take good care of it. I won''t bother
you anymore in the future.”
Having said that, he stiffly made his way toward the door one step at a time.
Victoria''s lips twitched, and she longed to say something. However, as she watched his deste figure
retreating, all the words became lodged in her throat.
What she had just said wounded him deeply. What good would it do to call him back since she couldn''t
reciprocate his feelings or promise him anything?
Once they had missed their chance, it was gone for good. To continue yearning for it would be foolish.
Everything that happened in the CEO''s office of Saunders Group quickly reached Lynda''s ears.
She had ns to deal with Victoria, which is why she had a spy embedded within Saunders Group.
This undercover agent was positioned directly inside the CEO''s office as a secretary.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, who would''ve guessed that my little scheme would provoke such a reaction? Go ahead
and fight all you want. It''s only when they reach a standoff that I''ll have the opportunity to get what I
want, isn''t that right?” Lynda muttered to herself.
In the penthouse suite of Shore Club at night, Dwayne was keeping Justinpany as he drowned his
sorrows in alcohol.
The rest hadn''t arrived yet.
Dwayne found himself at a loss for words. “At least the woman you love gave birth to your son. Unlike
me, I can''t even win the woman I love. What on earth are you still dissatisfied with?”