Chapter 146
"Oh, Mr. Everett" Andy was interrupted by Bruce.
"Don't you understand? I want Joanna bankrupt within a year, do you hear me?" Bruce demanded.
Andy replied meekly, "Yes, sir. I heard you."
"Call the Stark Group immediately and tell them to withdraw their cooperation with the Haynes Group. I want to cut off their supply," Bruce added angrily.
"Right away, sir," Andy said. He promptly called the Stark Group.
Bruce was determined. He would completely destroy Joanna's career.
After returning to Greyport, Bruce called a meeting with his senior executives, working late into the night—past nine o'clock. Only after Roxanne called three times did he finally go home to Sherane Bay Villa.
Roxanne was waiting at the door. "Bruce, you're back," she said.
"Yeah," he replied, his voice muffled.
Roxanne, with a fawning expression, said gently, "Bruce, are you tired? I've drawn you a bath."
He replied coldly, "No need. I'll just shower before bed."
Her smile vanished. "Thenwon't you eat first? I've cooked! The food's been kept warm twice."
"Okay," he replied calmly.
Bruce went upstairs to change, washed his hands, and then returned to the dining room. Roxanne had meticulously prepared five dishes and a soup, carefully covered to keep them warm.
"We have steamed fish and prawns tonight" she said.
Bruce acknowledged with a sound, but said nothing else. He began to eat.
Seeing him eat heartily, a smile returned to her face. "Does it taste alright?" she asked.
"Yes, it's fine," he replied calmly, eating more rice.
"Bruce, are you unhappy?" Roxanne asked.
"No," he answered.
"But you seem unhappy," she said.
He frowned. "I'm not unhappy, just tired."
"Then I'll give you a massage later" she offered.
"No need. I'm very tired and want to sleep early I'm full. Enjoy your meal," he said, standing up and going upstairs.
"Bruce, you barely ate anything. Eat more!" Roxanne urged.
"I'm too tired to eat! Don't cook anymore; let the servants do it," he said, leaving.
Roxanne stood there, awkward and disappointed. He was so perfunctory! His coldness was unbearable.
Bruce went to his room, didn't shower, and immediately went to bed. Seething with anger, he had no patience for Roxanne and was colder and more perfunctory than usual. Downstairs, Roxanne sobbed.
An hour passed. Bruce slept, then woke and couldn't get back to sleep. He went downstairs for some air in the courtyard. He found Roxanne still awake in the living room, nearly midnight.
"It's late. Why aren't you asleep?" he asked.
Hearing him, she quickly turned and dabbed her eyes. He noticed the overflowing trash can filled with used tissues. Her eyes were red and swollen; she'd been crying.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked, his expression turning cold. He sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.
"N-nothing," she sobbed, wiping her tears.
"Tell me. Is something bothering you?" he asked with concern, fearing she might attempt suicide again. He usually spoke to her gently and with concern.
"If something's wrong, tell me," he said.
Chapter 146 (continued)
"No, nothing" she said, though her expression was mournful.
After a moment, he said, "I'll have someone take you shopping tomorrow. Buy whatever you want."
She looked at him with tearful eyes. "Bruce, that's not what I want."
He was at a loss.
She continued, "I've known you since I was fifteen. We've been dating eight years, but I'm your girlfriend in name only. You've never treated me like one!"
He forced a smile. "That's not true."
She sobbed again. "Do you despise me that much?"
"No! What are you talking about? Why would I despise you?" he asked.
"If you don't despise me, why haven't you touched me? I know you despise me!" she cried. The more she spoke, the sadder she became. "I don't even dare to ask for anything."
He frowned and pulled her into his arms. "I really don't despise you!"
She choked back tears. "Bruce, I know you're with me out of guilt. But if you don't love me anymore, you don't have to do this!"
He took a deep breath. "Roxy, I've always respected you. That's why I wanted to wait until we're married to be intimate."
"But I don't want to wait! What era is this? If you really love me, why aren't you willing to touch me?" she asked.
He froze, then looked at her seriously. She looked back with red, heartbroken eyes.
After a while, he said, "All right."
He carried her to her room, gently placed her on the bed, and kissed her cheeks. She stopped crying and wrapped her arms around his neck. But despite the kissing, he had no physical response. Actually, he felt disgusted.
Ten minutes later, he was increasingly disinterested. He was normally easily aroused, but with Roxanne, he had no reaction at all. He kept replaying the scene of her being bullied. This completely killed his desire.
Roxanne was anxious. Was he impotent? Or was she unattractive to him?
Another ten minutes passed. He gave up.
"Bruce" she said, her eyes filled with doubt and disappointment.
Seeing her disappointment, he got out of bed. "Roxy, maybe I'm too tired. Let's wait until another day, when I've rested."
"It's okay, Bruce! We can take it slow!" she said, sitting up, wanting him to try again.
He left the room in frustration. With Joanna, he was a maniac. Why was there no reaction with Roxanne?
She watched him go, eyes widening. His performance had been terrible. She couldn't help but compare him to Gavin.
“No wonder he hasn't touched me all these yearsHe's impotent,” she thought, shuddering. If he was impotent, what was the point of marrying him? She wondered if he was impotent or if she wasn't attractive enough.
Late at night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He had piqued her interest. For the past month, she'd been hospitalized and then at the Everett mansion, practicing complete abstinence. She usually saw Gavin weekly; the longest she'd gone without sex was half a month. Now it had been over a month. Though she hated Gavin's cowardice and poverty, she missed the pleasure he gave her. The more she thought about it, the more restless she became.
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