Chapter 121 Calm And Heartless
Sierra sat frozen in her seat, complex emotions swirling in her eyes.
“Sierra, I can’t marry you.’
It was that sentence again. Each time those words reached her ears, it felt like he had repeatedly thrust
a knife into her chest.
She bit her lip, her tears threatening to fall.
Lewis continued, “Take care of yourself.”
Sierra remained silent, finding his words utterly ridiculous. He had actually told her to take care of
herself.
It was inconceivable that someone like him would utter such words.
It was clearly an excuse!
“Do you love me, Lewis?” she asked.
“What is love?”
“I should be asking you that. You’ve always treated me well, accommodating my requests, even the
ones that required you to drive two hours here just to pick me up and indulge my whims. Tell me then, if
this is not love, then what is?” Sierra stared at him, attempting to gauge his reaction.
Unfortunately, it was too dark inside the car. When the passing lights briefly illuminated his profile, all
she could discern was his usual coldness.
It was the type of coldness that seeped through, even when he wore a smile.
The closer one approached him, the more they sensed the suffocating and desolate chill he undeniably
emitted.
Lewis did not answer her. Instead, he focused on the road ahead as he drove, not even sparing her a
glance.
“Every time I ask you this, you would only answer me with silence.” Sierra sniffed. The tears streaming
down her face were beginning to smudge her makeup.
Just as she was about to wipe her tears with her sleeve, a slender hand extended a piece of tissue
toward her.
In a fit of spite, Sierra snatched the tissue and wiped her face hastily.
She didn’t bother asking him anymore. Every time she asked, it only brought her pain. She was the
only one suffering anyway.
They claimed that when love was reciprocated, it would be palpable in every fiber of your being. Yet,
with Lewis, Josephine couldn’t detect a single ounce of that affection.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSometimes, she thought Lewis loved her deeply. Other times, she thought she meant nothing
at all to him.
Several years had passed, yet the feelings persisted, caught in an unending pendulum swing between
opposite ends of the spectrum.
Whether he loved her or not, it would only count if he was the one who admitted it himself.
Very quickly, Lewis dropped her off at the hotel. Turning his head slightly, he told her, “We’re
here. Get out.”
Sierra sat in the car, unmoving. Her head was lowered, and her emotions were all over the
place.
“Sierra,” Lewis called out.
Sierra raised her head. As she’d been crying earlier, there were black rings around her eyes- she
looked a mess-a terrifying sight, even.
Her voice came out hoarse as she opened her mouth and asked, “Lewis, would you be upset if I
were to get married to someone else tomorrow?”
“No.”
She almost choked on her spit. “I’m not joking!” She glared at him angrily.
Lewis evaded this question of hers as well. “Why? Have you found a replacement already?”
“It’s none of your business! I’m getting married tomorrow,” Sierra replied spitefully.
“Sure.” Lewis didn’t say much after that. “Get out.”
Sierra became anxious and grabbed his hands. “Don’t. Just answer me. Lie to me if you have to.
”
“What good will that do?”
“It will-” Her voice trailed off toward the end, her tone weakening. “I’m afraid that I can’t go on
anymore.”
Lewis fixed his gaze on her intently. Shadows obscured her face, and he couldn’t make out her
features.
“In that case, you no longer need to worry.” He took her hand and gripped them tightly. “If you want to
get married, find someone who would treat you well. I will continue treating you the way I always have.”
Sierra was stunned. She looked at him in disbelief.
“Are you saying you would treat me this well even when I’m married?”
“Yes, I guess you could say that.”
Sierra did not understand him at all. She looked at him as if she scarcely believed his words. Why? If
you can continue treating me this well, why can’t you bring yourself to feel even the tiniest bit upset
about me getting married?”
Lewis repeated sincerely, “Because I can never marry you.’
Once again, those words shattered her heart into a million pieces, plunging her into an abyss of
despair.
There was an indescribable pain clawing her apart.
Sierra opened her mouth before lowering her head. It was useless to say anymore anyway.
After all, she’d voiced everything she ever wanted to say multiple times before, and yet, every single
time, his response was that same calm, heartless sentence.
He was relying on the fact that he didn’t think she would ever be able to leave him, wasn’t he?
“I understand.”
Having said that, she opened the door and walked toward the hotel listlessly, her silhouette exuding a
kind of inexplicable desolation.
Lewis watched her figure disappear into the entrance as he leaned against the window of his car. He lit
a cigarette and exhaled, a cloud of smoke rising pensively.
”
Josephine had been in the mansion for three days, and Lewis had not returned ever since.
Every day, it was Conrad who brought her her meals and left when she had finished.
Then, in the afternoon, Dr. Halliday would come on a daily basis to check on her wounds. The scabs on
her face had already fallen off, leaving behind nothing but faint, red marks.
The one on her knee, however, needed a little more time.
When she was alone, Josephine would lie on the couch and cover her eyes with her arms, listening to
the TV sounds.
Suddenly, she heard something about a rising starlet with her mysterious boyfriend.
Instinctively, she turned her head and saw a few blurry photographs on television. She recognized two
of those people at first glance.
It was Sierra and Lewis. Their appearances had been so heavily altered that their faces had become
unrecognizably blurry, making it impossible for anyone to identify them.
3/5
She thought to herself, “So they’ve been together for the past three days.”
Josephine withdrew her gaze, found the remote control, and switched off the television.
Meanwhile, the shares of Alvarez Corp had experienced significant volatility in the past few days. The
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmstock prices were consistently plummeting, with occasional short-lived recovery periods that were
quickly followed by steep declines.
People outside were spreading rumors about whether the corporation was about to go bankrupt.
Still, Alvarez Corp was a large enterprise. It seemed rather impossible.
But if that were to happen, it was uncertain how many people would lose their jobs, including the
numerous banks that had partnered with the corporation, leading to a potential economic
crisis.
So, bankruptcy seemed unlikely.
And yet, the stock prices exhibited such a ludicrous trend of rising and falling regardless.
There was only one possibility-someone was manipulating them.
Robert called for Lewis once again.
“Look at this. What the hell is going on?” Robert pointed at the stock trend graph on his computer.
“Who’s behind all this?”
Lewis frowned. “Not sure. We’re still investigating.”
“Lewis, lately, your efficiency in handling things have been getting worse. If you don’t care enough to
pull your weight anymore, you might as well resign and go home! Don’t just come in front of me and
give me a ton of excuses!”
“Alright.”
His reply made Robert freeze. “Alright? Alright, what?” he asked, not knowing what Lewis had
meant.
“This is my resignation letter.” Lewis retrieved an envelope from his pocket and placed it on
Robert’s desk.
“You” Robert was momentarily stunned. “When did you prepare your resignation letter?”
“I carry it with me every day, ready for any moment. I knew this day would come sooner or later,” Lewis
replied lightly.
His words seemed as if they had another meaning behind them. Robert didn’t know if Lewis was
alluding to the company’s potential losses and the possibility of him being held accountable at any time
or something else.
Either way, his expression was unpleasant, mixed with hints of guilt.
Robert snatched the resignation letter and tore it into shreds. “Your position as president was voted on
by the board of directors. Even if you want to resign, it has to be approved by the
board through a vote as well!” he growled.
“Oh? Isn’t it just a matter of your word?”
“You-you bastard!” Robert suddenly stood, his hand raised, seconds away from slapping
Lewis.