Fickle Hearts, Shifting Ties

On the other end of the call,Gregory let out a quiet sigh.Though there was sadness in his voice,there was also relief."Anya,I’ve told you before.Samuel will treat you well."

He had never been wrong about people.

Anya’s face was pale,but she forced a small smile.Her voice was soft as she said,"I believe you,Dad."

Gregory sighed again."Mr.Harrington has never given up on you.He has been waiting for you all this time.Whenever you’re ready,just let me know and you can meet him.If you’ve made up your mind,I’d rather you marry early.That way,I can be at ease."

"Who’s getting married early?"

A lazy,amused voice interrupted from behind.Anya's fingers tensed and she hurriedly hung up the call.

Chris stood there,dressed impeccably in a tailored suit,a smug smile playing on his lips.Seeing her reaction,he chuckled."What were you talking about?Afraid I might hear?"His voice carried a teasing lilt,his fair,handsome face filled with quiet arrogance.

Something inside Anya clenched at the sight,so she lowered her gaze and asked back,"Why do you walk in so silently?"

He wrapped his arms around her from behind,nuzzling against her neck like it was second nature.His voice was low,tinged with an almost childlike dependence."Because you were too lost in thought."

As he leaned in,a strong scent of perfume enveloped her senses.Chris had never been one to wear fragrance.The only person who could have left such a lingering scent on him was that woman.

Even though it was not the first time she had noticed it,the dull ache in her chest resurfaced,as piercing as ever.Taking a slow breath,she forced the pain down and asked,"Chris,when are you going to marry me?"

In one sentence,the arms around her tensed.A moment later,he slowly let go."Anya…why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

She turned to face him,searching his expression,refusing to let any flicker of emotion escape her notice.Then,she repeated slowly,"I just asked when are we getting married?"

Chris's brows furrowed slightly,but he quickly relaxed,slipping into his usual nonchalant demeanor."Anya,marriage is different from love.I don’t want you to feel tied down.Besides,we’re still young.There’s no need to rush."

At that moment,something inside Anya shattered completely.

Over the years,every time she mentioned marriage,Chris always had an excuse.Always a reason.

Now,when she finally saw the truth,she realized that he had never intended to marry her.Because once he was married,he could no longer keep up his charade.

He claimed to fear that marriage would bind her,but the one who was truly afraid of commitment was him.

She could still hear his past promises echoing in her mind."Anya,wait for me.I’m not worthy of marrying you yet.When I inherit the family business,I’ll give you the grandest wedding the world has ever seen."

Once,those words had filled her with warmth and anticipation.Now,they felt like needles piercing her heart,one by one.

Anya forced a smile,though her heart had long gone numb.

She gazed at him steadily,her voice quiet but firm."Don’t lie to me.Where were you today?"

Her unwavering stare made him falter for a brief second,but just as quickly,he composed himself.Anya had been home all day.There was no way she could know where he had been.

Reassured by this thought,he let out a relaxed chuckle and met her gaze."I was at the office all day.I’m exhausted.But why are you asking?"

Anya remained silent,her expression unreadable.Did he think that just because she had stayed home,she would believe whatever he told her like a fool?

The air between them grew heavy.The silence stretched.

Perhaps sensing her doubt,Chris pulled out his phone and held it out to her."Baby,check it yourself.If you don’t believe me,you can go to the company and ask the employees.I was there all afternoon.I didn’t go anywhere else."

Ridiculous.The company belonged to his family.Naturally,his word was law there.

Anya stared at him.Her heart was numb from the ache.

She dug her nails into her palm,trying her best to suppress the storm of emotions raging within her.As she stared at Chris’s sincere and utterly convincing face,an unsettling realization crept over her.

How could someone lie so effortlessly without the slightest change in expression?

If she had not already known the truth and had not seen the video with her own eyes,she might have foolishly believed him.

Thinking of this,a bitter smile curled on her red lips."Tell me,how exactly does one end up smelling like perfume after spending the entire day in the office?"

The moment the words left her mouth,the easy confidence on Chris’s face froze.His red-rimmed eyes lifted to meet hers,his expression instantly turning wounded."I can explain.Maybe…maybe an employee accidentally brushed past me."

Anya was exhausted.Just how close did he have to be for the scent to cling so persistently?

She was done and did not want to ask anymore,but on the other hand,he seemed desperate to prove something.Without hesitation,he pulled out his phone and dialed one of his employees.

A female voice on the other end answered respectfully,"The president has been at the company all afternoon.Miss Morrison,if you don’t believe me,I can pull up the surveillance footage for you."

Beside her,Chris turned to her with anxious eyes."Anya,do you really need to check the CCTV before you trust me?"

The air between them grew thick with tension.Anya’s gaze lingered on the cold sweat forming on his forehead and the subtle,fleeting flicker of panic in his eyes.Then,suddenly,she smiled.

"Forget it,"she said softly.

She had no interest in checking the surveillance footage.If he did not want to marry her,then forget it and she would marry someone else.If he no longer loved her,then she would stop loving him too.

Chris had no idea what was going through her mind.The moment he heard her response,the tension in his shoulders melted away,knowing that Anya would still believe him.

Watching that unconscious sigh of relief escaped him,Anya’s smile turned cold and ironic.

From this moment on,she would waste no more of her time on him.

Whatever he did,none of it mattered to her anymore.