Chapter 285
The night was still and silent, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging within Dominic.
He wore a facade of calm, his suffering hidden deep within him, his eyes dancing with a gentle, wind-
like smile. He gently ruffled Roxanne''s hair, whispering to her, "Take your time. You have three days to
give me an answer."
Three days.
Three more days of having her in his life.
"The wind''s picking up," he said, "Let''s head back."
They made their way back to their residential area, where half the homes had already extinguished
their lights. The neighborhood was bathed in tranquility, a picture of suburban peace. He wondered
about the families living there, the couples who had already drifted into slumber, each household a
small unit making up themunity.
Dominic owned a house here, yet he didn''t have a family to call his own. He deliberately slowed his
pace, yearning to keep walking with Roxanne, to walk until dawn if possible. But life was a journey with
inevitable crossroads. Not everyone was meant to walk the same path together. Some were destined to
part ways midway.
When they reached her doorstep, Dominic wanted to wrap his arms around her, yet he refrained. At the
age of twenty, he had wanted to kiss her for the first time. As he leaned in, his nose brushed her cheek,
his lips inches away from hers, yet she had dodged. Even then, before Harrison entered her life, she
had avoided him. What more now?
Dominic watched as Roxanne disappeared behind her door, then retreated to his own home just one
floor up. He stood by the window, watching until the light in her apartment went out. The darkness
below mirrored the extinguished hope within him. The cold moonlight cast a somber shadow, a symbol
of his mncholy.
The next day, autumn rain poured down all night, and the weather turned cooler. Roxanne sat in her
office, lost in thought. An open book on her desk was being flipped page by page by the breeze
blowing from the window. Papers were scattered around, a mirror of her chaotic mind.
Chloe stepped into the office, her foot hitting a stray paper. She bent down to pick it up before making
her way to Roxanne, "Roxanne, these documents need your signature. What''s on your mind?"
Roxanne was usually focused and efficient, her workaholic nature keeping her mind from wandering.
But currently, she was consumed by her thoughts, her emotions in turmoil. If only she could be an
emotionless machine, she thought. That way, she wouldn''t have to deal with guilt or disappointment.
She pushed her personal issues aside, her attention drawn to the envelope in Chloe''s hands. "What''s
that?" she asked.
"It''s from the Chamber of Commerce," Chloe replied, handing it over. Roxanne opened it to find an
invitation to a Business Conference. She was surprised, having never received such an invitation
before despite owning her business for years.
After some thought, she realized it was due to the assets Harrison and Vincent had transferred to her
recently. Several office buildings, malls, and chain hotels located in the bustling central business district
of Seraphim Haven were now under her name. This transformed her into a wealthy businesswoman,
which was probably why she had received the invitation.
"Attending could be a good opportunity towork," she said, ncing at the list of events for the
conference. She noticed that the conference was being held at one of the hotels Harrison had given
her. She had left the hotel''s management to a professional manager, her role limited to reviewing the
monthly reports and reaping the profits. As a result, she was unaware of the Business Conference
being hosted there.
The next day, at the Business Conference in Seraphim Haven, banners and electronic lights filled the
area. The attendees were influential figures from various sectors. Roxanne remembered that Harrison,
being a prominent figure himself, would likely attend. But she also knew that he preferred to stay away
from the limelight, often having Alexander or Samuel Carter represent him at such events.
However, to her surprise, she saw Harrison at the conference. As the president of the Chamber of
Commerce, he took the center seat on the panel, discussing the economy and prospects for future
coborations with confidence and charisma. Despite having been married to him for over a year,
Roxanne had never discussed business with Harrison. Listening to him talk, she felt she had learned
more than she ever had.
His poise and the aura of power he exuded were not just impressive but also irresistibly attractive.
Everyone present was awed by him, perhaps a testament to the aura of a true leader. Roxanne, who
was taking notes, paused, her mind drifting away. She found it hard to believe that this exceptional man
was her ex-husband. Memories of their past together flooded her mind, making her lose focus.
She was brought back to reality by the two women seated next to her. Roxanne recognized one of
them from the news.
Seraphim Haven''s young female entrepreneur, as formidable as Evelyn, took over the family business
in her twenties. She had a keen mind for business and was often in the news.
"Mr. Rodriguez seems to be looking this way."
"Is he noticing me?"
"He really is looking this way, does he have an interest in me?"Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.
That''s when Roxanne looked back at the imposing figure of Harrison on the stage.
He was indeed looking in this direction.
From such a distance.
He was staring at her.
Could Harrison know that she was also attending the Business Conference today?
Otherwise, why would he focus his gaze on her among the thousands of entrepreneurs present?
Because of this nce, Harrison stopped speaking.
The staff thought it was just a brief pause, but he was staring in Roxanne''s direction for at least half a
minute.
A staff member reminded him, "Mr. Rodriguez, everyone is still waiting for you."
Harrison withdrew his gaze.
If Roxanne weren''t there, he could immediately regain his thoughts and continue his eloquent speech.
But it seemed his thoughts were somewhat disrupted.
What to say next, he actually forgot.
Usually a spontaneous speaker, he had to nce at his speech, to barely continue.
Actually, he didn''t need the speech at all, but the secretariat always prepared these things and handed
them to him.
This speech, for the first time in years, it came in handy.
After the seminar, there was a grand banquet with thousands of people.
At this time, the major entrepreneurs who came to attend the Business Conference could exchange
business cards and resources.
Harrison, as the richest man in Seraphim Haven and the president of the business club, naturally
couldn''t avoid being surrounded by admirers.
In such situations, he was always a gentleman.
But today, amidst the clinking of sses and toasts, he was always looking for a certain frail figure.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Seeing Roxanne in the corner, he politely excused himself from the people who came to toast, and
headed towards that frail figure with determined steps.