when she left he went crazy (Hope and Christopher)

Chapter 168: It Was Just A Ruse.

I was momentarily stunned.

In nearly an instant, I grasped Christopher's current identity, though disbelief lingered. How could this be? Wasn't Christopher bankrupt? Evidently, it had all been a cunning ruse.

It turned out Christopher wielded more power now than ever before. Realizing this, my first instinct was panic. I had thought I severed all ties with him, but now he was the largest shareholder in my company.

Clinging onto a sliver of hope, I mused that perhaps Christopher was merely accompanying Daniel as a friend for this inspection.

Daniel, smiling, introduced us. "Ms. Royston, Ms. Wilson, may I presente our new Vice President of the RF Group, Mr. Valence."

Though the position sounded subordinate to Daniel's, his subservient demeanor betrayed the truth. Daniel always I

lingered a step behind Christopher, his body language laying bare the real hierarchy.

Given the RF Group's newfound dominance over Elevatejoy, I suppressed my discomfort and managed a faint smile. "Really? I thought your boss was coming? Where is he?" Daniel's smile widened. "He had an urgent matter to attend to."

"Alright," I nodded, opting not to press further. Elissa too sensed something was amiss, but our years of intuitive camaraderie allowed us to tacitly decide to address the most pressing issues first. Our group marched into the conference room. The initial meeting was brief and superficial. Soon, Daniel dismissed the others, turning to Elissa. "Ms. Wilson, could you show me your design department?" The implication was clear,

"Mr. Martinez, Hope is the director of the design department, she knows it better..." Elissa, worried about leaving me alone with Christopher, began to refuse.

Seeing Christopher's calm demeanor, I interrupted, "Elissa, you take Mr. Martinez. I have some questions for Mr. Valence."

Certain things needed to be addressed directly, and postponing them any longer would only drag out the inevitable.

Elissa hesitated, sensing my resolve, before finally conceding and leading Daniel away.

For a moment, the office was emptied of everyone but Christopher and me.

He fixed his gaze firmly on me but remained silent, poised, waiting for me to in

Initiate the conversation. An inexplicable aura of control surrounded him.

I stood, feeling a surge of agitation, and cut to the chase. "You u are the real power behind the RF Group, aren't you?"

"Yes." Christopher didn't avoid the question at all, his voice steady, almost unrepentant. So, can we consider getting back together now?"

"Getting back together?" I couldn't grasp how Christopher could always broach this subject so easily.

He stood too, leaning slightly forward with one hand on the table, his brow furrowed slightly. "That's what you said that day, remember?" Christopher's question made me recall.

His remark dragged me back to that evening on the doorstep when he asked if we could reconcile once he regained his status. I had given a casual, perfunctory answer at the time, something I had forgotten soon after. But Christopher evidently hadn't.

I stared at him, a twinge of helplessness tugging at my lips. "Christopher Valence, do you really think you're that impressive?"

Christopher was stunned for a moment. "What?"

I said calmely, "All these maneuvers, so clever. Everyone believed Jacquar had shifted allegiances, but it was you all along. You even fooled the Harris family."

Chapter 168: It Was Just A Ruse.

Gazing at the man I had once longed for day and night, I continued, "On one hand, you're engaged to Kimberly Harris; on the other, you've secretly invested in my venture. Is this how you define affection?"

I let out a sarcastic chuckle. "In your ideal scenario, I suppose I should be eternally grateful now, shouldn't 17"

"No." Christopher murmured, avoiding my gaze as he loosened his tie. "I just want you to have a smoother life."

"Alright, then," I said, my voice steady. "Name your price. Withdraw your 51% stake in Elevatejoy, and I'll feel more at ease."

From the beginning, it seemed, Christopher and I had never truly understood each other. He once regarded me as a weed in a wasteland, undeserving of a second glance. Now, he viewed me as a rose in a greenhouse, believing I needed to be coddled.

But my trust in Christopher was shattered. How could two people so fundamentally disconnected force a relationship to thrive?

Christopher's demeanor stiffened, his lips pressing into a hard line. "Hope..."

I smiled. "Didn't you say you wanted me to have an easier life?"

Christopher tried to explain, "With the RF Group backing you, your life will be easier"

I looked down at the bustling traffic below the high-rise, feeling a pang of desolation. "Christopher Valence, you've never understood what I truly desire. You haven't even granted me the most basic respect." He looked at me. "I know..."

"What do you know?" I said, my emotions complex. Before investing in me, did you respect my wishes? Have you thought about telling me that it was you backing Elevatejoy?" Christopher's ton

can..."

tone took an unexpectedly humble turn. "Then what are your wishes? Alright, I promise to respect your wishes from now on, as much as I

I cut him off. "My wish is to have nothing to do with you!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Christopher denied. "That's impossible."

I laughed knowingly, "You see. All your respect and goodwill are based on your own desires."

The person Christopher wanted to satisfy was never me, but himself.

He frowned deeply, his expression growing colder. "Is this really what you think?"

"Evelyn Valence causing trouble daily, and you always taking her side, claiming it was just to repay a debt,” I said, surprisingly calm despite resurrecting painful memories. "When Kimberly Harris appeared, you left me with a few empty words about trust and practically vanished.

I continued, "Even now, your single-minded desire to reconcile is just because you're not used to it. Did you ever consider asking me how I felt? You only cared about your own. As long as I didn't die or leave you, that occasional possessiveness was enough for you."

With each word, Christopher's cold countenance melted into one of guilt. "Hope, it's not what you think. I may not fully understand love and I may have done many things that hurt you, but my intentions were never as malicious as you believe."

"Christopher Valence." I began, as his eyes held a mixture of confusion and earnestness. 'I will not reconcile with you."

Being Christopher's partner had proven too challenging, too draining. So many things, even when recalled now, still stung with bitterness and were unbearable to revisit.

He seemed on the verge of speaking, his voice tight. "So, no matter what, you won't forgive me?"

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "Whether I forgive you or not doesn't matter. You should ask the baby if she forgives you."

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