Chapter 198

He spoke calmly, but I trembled. I hadn't thought deeply before; now I understood that fear. He could never be the old Reynaldo again. Now, he could make me wish I were dead as easily as squashing an ant. He kissed my earlobe, his chilling voice sounding like a terrifying ghost: "I'll be waiting for you in the office tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

After that, he released me, smiled faintly, lit a cigarette, and left calmly. I was left alone, trembling. Looking at his back, I felt increasingly unfamiliar with this man. In the end, I never truly understood him. He detested certain things, liked others, including his unpredictable temperament, which I never fully grasped. I could live to this day unharmed; it was his great mercy. I squatted on the ground with my arms crossed for a long time before walking unsteadily towards the library.

Chapter 198

My colleagues were still discussing my visit to Headquarters, their wailing and howling echoing. As I entered, all eyes turned to me.

"Hey, isn't this Esmeralda, about to fly up to the branches and become a phoenix? Don't forget about us when you're successful!"

"Yeah, yeah, if we're lucky enough to catch a rich man and become wealthy ladies, remember to introduce us to some wealthy people too."

"And also, and also…"

Then, the female colleague who had slandered me to Reynaldo ran over and grabbed my arm. "Esmeralda, where did you learn those seductive tricks? Teach us!"

"Get lost!" I impatiently shook off her hand.

The female colleague was taken aback, seemingly surprised by my temper. After a while, she hummed disdainfully, "What's so great about it? You just went to become a social butterfly, and now you're acting all high and mighty?"

"Yeah, the big boss asked her to go to headquarters. He saw her seductive skills and wanted her to use her charm to seduce clients. She actually thought the big boss was interested in her."

"Yeah, yeah, isn't it just using that filthy body to gain power? What's so impressive about that?"

Almost all my colleagues mocked me disdainfully, but there was a strong sense of jealousy. So, human nature is like this: unable to obtain something oneself, yet pretending to be noble and criticizing others.

I looked at them indifferently. "Yeah, I may not seem impressive, but this opportunity I don't want is something you can't get, no matter how hard you try."

"Huh, don't want it? Don't pretend; how disgusting."

"Yeah, she even managed to get involved with the big boss, yet she's still pretending to be all high and mighty."

Two female colleagues sneered and laughed jealously. I was physically and mentally exhausted and didn't feel like arguing. They were all passersby; it was unnecessary. I ignored them, sitting at my desk with a dazed expression. They kept mocking me relentlessly—their energy was impressive.

Bennett said, "Alright, enough already. Didn't you see she looks like she's about to faint? If we make her pass out from anger, be careful the boss doesn't come after us."

"Tch, if you don't want to say it, then don't. What's so great about it anyway."

The colleagues finally quieted down and returned to their workstations.

I leaned wearily against the chair, thinking of Reynaldo's cold and bloodthirsty appearance, and shivers ran down my spine. Could I still escape? Could I still hide?

Will there be a day when he breaks my legs, and I can never escape again? I wearily covered my face, feeling only exhaustion. He always sticks to his word. He clearly said he wouldn't contact me again, so why did he change his mind this time? Reynaldo, what did you want to do in the end? The world is so big, so many people—why were you the only one who refused to let me go? Can't the torment of this time offset your three years of resentment?

Bennett glanced at me, paused, walked over, and handed me a glass of soy milk.