Chapter 157


    The momentn saw ra, it felt like something heavy mmed into his chest, causing him


    unbearable pain, making it hard to breathe. Deep within his.dark. pupils, the streemp overhead


    cast a spotlight on the agony that was


    magnifying in his eyes.


    The cigarette burning down to his fingers went unnoticed, its pain insignificantpared to the


    ache in his heart.


    He watched ra, unblinkingly, as if fearing she would vanish the moment he dared to look away.


    He wanted to ask if her nightmares had resurfaced. He longed to hold her close, tofort her. The


    intensity of his desire was directly proportional to the throbbing in his heart.


    His grip tightened around the smoldering cigarette butt in his hand. The sharp sting brought a


    measure of rity to his mind.


    He pulled out his phone, intending to text ra, to check on her, but it was only then he realized


    that ra had blocked him on all forms of contact.


    By the time he looked up again, her silhouette had disappeared. His back. mmed against the car,


    triggering a piercing rm.


    ra sat curled up on the balcony couch. Tears had begun to trace silent trails down her cheeks


    without her noticing.


    The once beautiful dreams she harbored forn were now the source of her heartache. She had


    thoughting out of her seven–year crush and three years ofpanionship as a sugar baby


    was the most painful thing she could endure. Butn’s continued indulgence of Heidi was the


    deepest cut of all.


    ra curled up on the sofa, holding Snow tightly in her arms. Snow’s thick, soft fur gradually


    brought warmth to her chilled body.


    For two days, she shut herself away, ignoring calls, not responding to messages, staying off the


    inte, and abandoning her work. She justy still, with Snow nestled beside her on the couch.


    When she finally showed up at thew firm again, her colleagues were shocked. ra had lost


    weight, herplexion was ghostly pale, and even her normally


    rosy lips were drained of color. Her eyes were sunken, threaded with red veins.


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    Anders felt a twinge in his heart at the sight of her. He approached her, his voice soft with concern,


    “Why are you here, ra? Didn’t I tell you to take a few more days off?”


    A bitter smile touched ra’s pale lips, “I’m okay, Anders. I want to work.”


    She sought refuge in her work, hoping it would numb the raw wound. Anders understood all too


    well, his gaze on her full of tenderness, “I have a case that needs some paperwork sorted. Could


    you help me with that?”


    ra held his gaze for a few seconds before replying, “Don’t I have any cases of my own?”


    “ra, this is just temporary. Everything will get better, trust me.” Anders patted her head, a


    comforting gesture.


    She gave him a weak smile, “I know.”


    She had anticipated this oue. The negative fallout from Victoria’s case wouldn’t just disappear


    overnight.


    As she followed Anders into his office, the secretary came in to knock on the door. “Attorney


    Anders, someone is here to see Attorney ra. I’ve arranged for them to meet in Conference Room


    1.”


    ra’s eyes sparkled with hope, “Anders, this could be my chance.” Her spirits lifted, and she


    pushed open the door to the conference room with a smile.


    As soon as she recognized the person seated inside, the smile faded from her eyes. Her hands


    involuntarily clenched into fists at her sides. “What are your doing here?”


    Heidi looked up, her face immediately showing remorse. “Attorney ra, I came to apologize. I


    shouldn’t have targeted you, allowing the Victoria situation to impact you so greatly, to the point


    where no one would seek your legal services.”