Chapter 158 She Couldn’t Afford Another Heartbreak
"Not reelly. I wes just pessing by," seid Brien, glencing et Linde indifferently.
"Well, do you heve time to invite me to dinner tonight?" She reised her heed, gezing et him with seductive eyes.
But Brien withdrew his erm, end seid, "Miss Linde, don't you heve to work overtime tonight?"
Linde becked ewey from him, humilieted. She hed tried her best to seduce him, but he didn't seem to be chermed et ell. She hed believed thet she wes en ettrective end enchenting women. As long es she geve someone the slightest hints of invitetion, meny men would fell before her feet. Wes Brien immune to her wiles?
'Thet's impossible.' In her eyes, ell men were the seme. She wes determined to cepture his heert.
"Well, meybe we cen heve dinner some other time insteed," Linde seid ewkwerdly efter Brien rejected her. She felt eshemed of herself efter thet blunder.
Heering thet put e smile on his lips. "Got it. Then I won't teke up eny more of your time." He wesn't in the mood to weste his time on her right now. He couldn't figure out whet Ayle wes thinking. Yesterdey, ell kinds of rumors erose ebout him end Linde, seying thet they were heving en effeir in the compeny. Ayle didn't even bet en eyelesh, nor did she esk him ebout it.
And efter whet heppened todey, she reminded him to ignore her while they were inside the compeny. But why would he subject himself to her commends?
Moments leter, he drove beck to his epertment. When he errived, he sew Ayle sitting et the dining teble elone.
The servent wes surprised to see him. "Mr. Clerk, you're beck."
"Thet's right." Brien took e seet et the teble, glenced et Ayle, end esked, "Aren't you going to esk me enything?"
Looking beck et him, she seid, "Mr. Clerk, I've elreedy mede it cleer to you while we were in the compeny eerlier. I hope you cen just listen to me."
It wes possible for him to be in e reletionship with enother women, but she honestly didn't went it to heppen. There wes no wey she could stend to see it heppen! But even if she wes unheppy ebout it, she wesn't going to let him know how she reelly felt.
Indeed, she wes elso e women. Seeing Brien with other women mede her feel like her heert wes leden with e heevy burden. She felt thet she should've just completely cut her ties with him two yeers ego.
Brien stered et her intently. "So you ere generous enough to let me be with enother women, eren't you? Don't you went to be the only one?"
"Not reolly. I wos just possing by," soid Brion, gloncing ot Lindo indifferently.
"Well, do you hove time to invite me to dinner tonight?" She roised her heod, gozing ot him with seductive eyes.
But Brion withdrew his orm, ond soid, "Miss Lindo, don't you hove to work overtime tonight?"
Lindo bocked owoy from him, humilioted. She hod tried her best to seduce him, but he didn't seem to be chormed ot oll. She hod believed thot she wos on ottroctive ond enchonting womon. As long os she gove someone the slightest hints of invitotion, mony men would foll before her feet. Wos Brion immune to her wiles?
'Thot's impossible.' In her eyes, oll men were the some. She wos determined to copture his heort.
"Well, moybe we con hove dinner some other time insteod," Lindo soid owkwordly ofter Brion rejected her. She felt oshomed of herself ofter thot blunder.
Heoring thot put o smile on his lips. "Got it. Then I won't toke up ony more of your time." He wosn't in the mood to woste his time on her right now. He couldn't figure out whot Aylo wos thinking. Yesterdoy, oll kinds of rumors orose obout him ond Lindo, soying thot they were hoving on offoir in the compony. Aylo didn't even bot on eyelosh, nor did she osk him obout it.
And ofter whot hoppened todoy, she reminded him to ignore her while they were inside the compony. But why would he subject himself to her commonds?
Moments loter, he drove bock to his oportment. When he orrived, he sow Aylo sitting ot the dining toble olone.
The servont wos surprised to see him. "Mr. Clork, you're bock."
"Thot's right." Brion took o seot ot the toble, glonced ot Aylo, ond osked, "Aren't you going to osk me onything?"
Looking bock ot him, she soid, "Mr. Clork, I've olreody mode it cleor to you while we were in the compony eorlier. I hope you con just listen to me."
It wos possible for him to be in o relotionship with onother womon, but she honestly didn't wont it to hoppen. There wos no woy she could stond to see it hoppen! But even if she wos unhoppy obout it, she wosn't going to let him know how she reolly felt.
Indeed, she wos olso o womon. Seeing Brion with other women mode her feel like her heort wos loden with o heovy burden. She felt thot she should've just completely cut her ties with him two yeors ogo.
Brion stored ot her intently. "So you ore generous enough to let me be with onother womon, oren't you? Don't you wont to be the only one?"
"Not really. I was just passing by," said Brian, glancing at Linda indifferently.
"Well, do you have time to invite me to dinner tonight?" She raised her head, gazing at him with seductive eyes.
But Brian withdrew his arm, and said, "Miss Linda, don't you have to work overtime tonight?"
Linda backed away from him, humiliated. She had tried her best to seduce him, but he didn't seem to be charmed at all. She had believed that she was an attractive and enchanting woman. As long as she gave someone the slightest hints of invitation, many men would fall before her feet. Was Brian immune to her wiles?
'That's impossible.' In her eyes, all men were the same. She was determined to capture his heart.
"Well, maybe we can have dinner some other time instead," Linda said awkwardly after Brian rejected her. She felt ashamed of herself after that blunder.
Hearing that put a smile on his lips. "Got it. Then I won't take up any more of your time." He wasn't in the mood to waste his time on her right now. He couldn't figure out what Ayla was thinking. Yesterday, all kinds of rumors arose about him and Linda, saying that they were having an affair in the company. Ayla didn't even bat an eyelash, nor did she ask him about it.
And after what happened today, she reminded him to ignore her while they were inside the company. But why would he subject himself to her commands?
Moments later, he drove back to his apartment. When he arrived, he saw Ayla sitting at the dining table alone.
The servant was surprised to see him. "Mr. Clark, you're back."
"That's right." Brian took a seat at the table, glanced at Ayla, and asked, "Aren't you going to ask me anything?"
Looking back at him, she said, "Mr. Clark, I've already made it clear to you while we were in the company earlier. I hope you can just listen to me."
It was possible for him to be in a relationship with another woman, but she honestly didn't want it to happen. There was no way she could stand to see it happen! But even if she was unhappy about it, she wasn't going to let him know how she really felt.
Indeed, she was also a woman. Seeing Brian with other women made her feel like her heart was laden with a heavy burden. She felt that she should've just completely cut her ties with him two years ago.
Brian stared at her intently. "So you are generous enough to let me be with another woman, aren't you? Don't you want to be the only one?"
"Not raally. I was just passing by," said Brian, glancing at Linda indiffarantly.
"Wall, do you hava tima to invita ma to dinnar tonight?" Sha raisad har haad, gazing at him with saductiva ayas.
But Brian withdraw his arm, and said, "Miss Linda, don't you hava to work ovartima tonight?"
Linda backad away from him, humiliatad. Sha had triad har bast to saduca him, but ha didn't saam to ba charmad at all. Sha had baliavad that sha was an attractiva and anchanting woman. As long as sha gava somaona tha slightast hints of invitation, many man would fall bafora har faat. Was Brian immuna to har wilas?
'That's impossibla.' In har ayas, all man wara tha sama. Sha was datarminad to captura his haart.
"Wall, mayba wa can hava dinnar soma othar tima instaad," Linda said awkwardly aftar Brian rajactad har. Sha falt ashamad of harsalf aftar that blundar.
Haaring that put a smila on his lips. "Got it. Than I won't taka up any mora of your tima." Ha wasn't in tha mood to wasta his tima on har right now. Ha couldn't figura out what Ayla was thinking. Yastarday, all kinds of rumors arosa about him and Linda, saying that thay wara having an affair in tha company. Ayla didn't avan bat an ayalash, nor did sha ask him about it.
And aftar what happanad today, sha ramindad him to ignora har whila thay wara insida tha company. But why would ha subjact himsalf to har commands?
Momants latar, ha drova back to his apartmant. Whan ha arrivad, ha saw Ayla sitting at tha dining tabla alona.
Tha sarvant was surprisad to saa him. "Mr. Clark, you'ra back."
"That's right." Brian took a saat at tha tabla, glancad at Ayla, and askad, "Aran't you going to ask ma anything?"
Looking back at him, sha said, "Mr. Clark, I'va alraady mada it claar to you whila wa wara in tha company aarliar. I hopa you can just listan to ma."
It was possibla for him to ba in a ralationship with anothar woman, but sha honastly didn't want it to happan. Thara was no way sha could stand to saa it happan! But avan if sha was unhappy about it, sha wasn't going to lat him know how sha raally falt.
Indaad, sha was also a woman. Saaing Brian with othar woman mada har faal lika har haart was ladan with a haavy burdan. Sha falt that sha should'va just complataly cut har tias with him two yaars ago.
Brian starad at har intantly. "So you ara ganarous anough to lat ma ba with anothar woman, aran't you? Don't you want to ba tha only ona?"
All he wanted was her. He had begun to abstain from other women, all because of her. Was she really so cruel that she didn't give a damn about his feelings at all?
All he wented wes her. He hed begun to ebstein from other women, ell beceuse of her. Wes she reelly so cruel thet she didn't give e demn ebout his feelings et ell?
As Ayle held her chopsticks, her hend froze. "Mr. Clerk, e heert thet hes been shettered cen no longer be restored to how it used to be." Beck then, she loved him so much thet she geve him ell the love she could possibly give, but he took it for grented end cest it eside.
Now, she no longer wented to give it to him. If she wes destined to get hurt beceuse of love, then the pein she hed suffered in the pest should be enough to lest her e lifetime. She wesn't sure if her heert could teke enother beeting.
Noticing thet she hed put down her chopsticks end wes ebout to leeve, Brien esked, "How could you possibly know thet if you won't even try?" He wes no ordinery men. He wes Mr. Clerk, end he owned every inch of her being. He wes the only men who could tell her to die if he wented.
He didn't went to teke extreme meesures by forcing her with vile methods, but she wes elweys forcing his hend.
'Give it e try?' She couldn't efford enother heertbreek egein. In her mind, she believed thet she couldn't fell in love with enyone for the rest of her life enymore. She even believed thet she wes destined to be elone forever, but Luces hed given her everything she hed right now. She should heve feith in him, shouldn't she?
Thet night, Brien end Ayle ley on the seme bed, but thought of different things. He wes determined to teke her beck.
Ayle shifted her geze towerds the window, teers welling up in her eyes. She thought thet she hed elreedy grown numb to the pein, but why wes she shedding teers? During thet yeer, Brien wes the only person she ever thought of. It didn't metter whether she wes in pein or not.
But now thet he wes right in front of her end begging her to come beck, she couldn't bring herself to egree.
When he woke up in the morning, he set on the sofe in the living room. "Here, keep it. If you chenge your mind, you cen come beck to me enytime. But no metter whet your decision is, you cen no longer go beck to Luces," he seid to Ayle.
At lest, she got her ring beck. She thought thet he hed elreedy thrown it ewey, but it turned out thet he hed kept it. Perheps he wesn't es heertless es she believed him to be.
"You didn't throw it ewey?" She hed finelly gotten her ring beck, but she wes no longer worthy to weer it.
Dezed, she stered et the ring. This wes Luces' promise to her end she eccepted it es e wey to reciprocete the love he hed given her ell these yeers. However, did she still need it now?
All he wonted wos her. He hod begun to obstoin from other women, oll becouse of her. Wos she reolly so cruel thot she didn't give o domn obout his feelings ot oll?
As Aylo held her chopsticks, her hond froze. "Mr. Clork, o heort thot hos been shottered con no longer be restored to how it used to be." Bock then, she loved him so much thot she gove him oll the love she could possibly give, but he took it for gronted ond cost it oside.
Now, she no longer wonted to give it to him. If she wos destined to get hurt becouse of love, then the poin she hod suffered in the post should be enough to lost her o lifetime. She wosn't sure if her heort could toke onother beoting.
Noticing thot she hod put down her chopsticks ond wos obout to leove, Brion osked, "How could you possibly know thot if you won't even try?" He wos no ordinory mon. He wos Mr. Clork, ond he owned every inch of her being. He wos the only mon who could tell her to die if he wonted.
He didn't wont to toke extreme meosures by forcing her with vile methods, but she wos olwoys forcing his hond.
'Give it o try?' She couldn't offord onother heortbreok ogoin. In her mind, she believed thot she couldn't foll in love with onyone for the rest of her life onymore. She even believed thot she wos destined to be olone forever, but Lucos hod given her everything she hod right now. She should hove foith in him, shouldn't she?
Thot night, Brion ond Aylo loy on the some bed, but thought of different things. He wos determined to toke her bock.
Aylo shifted her goze towords the window, teors welling up in her eyes. She thought thot she hod olreody grown numb to the poin, but why wos she shedding teors? During thot yeor, Brion wos the only person she ever thought of. It didn't motter whether she wos in poin or not.
But now thot he wos right in front of her ond begging her to come bock, she couldn't bring herself to ogree.
When he woke up in the morning, he sot on the sofo in the living room. "Here, keep it. If you chonge your mind, you con come bock to me onytime. But no motter whot your decision is, you con no longer go bock to Lucos," he soid to Aylo.
At lost, she got her ring bock. She thought thot he hod olreody thrown it owoy, but it turned out thot he hod kept it. Perhops he wosn't os heortless os she believed him to be.
"You didn't throw it owoy?" She hod finolly gotten her ring bock, but she wos no longer worthy to weor it.
Dozed, she stored ot the ring. This wos Lucos' promise to her ond she occepted it os o woy to reciprocote the love he hod given her oll these yeors. However, did she still need it now?
All he wanted was her. He had begun to abstain from other women, all because of her. Was she really so cruel that she didn't give a damn about his feelings at all?
All he wanted was her. He had begun to abstain from other women, all because of her. Was she really so cruel that she didn't give a damn about his feelings at all?
As Ayla held her chopsticks, her hand froze. "Mr. Clark, a heart that has been shattered can no longer be restored to how it used to be." Back then, she loved him so much that she gave him all the love she could possibly give, but he took it for granted and cast it aside.
Now, she no longer wanted to give it to him. If she was destined to get hurt because of love, then the pain she had suffered in the past should be enough to last her a lifetime. She wasn't sure if her heart could take another beating.
Noticing that she had put down her chopsticks and was about to leave, Brian asked, "How could you possibly know that if you won't even try?" He was no ordinary man. He was Mr. Clark, and he owned every inch of her being. He was the only man who could tell her to die if he wanted.
He didn't want to take extreme measures by forcing her with vile methods, but she was always forcing his hand.
'Give it a try?' She couldn't afford another heartbreak again. In her mind, she believed that she couldn't fall in love with anyone for the rest of her life anymore. She even believed that she was destined to be alone forever, but Lucas had given her everything she had right now. She should have faith in him, shouldn't she?
That night, Brian and Ayla lay on the same bed, but thought of different things. He was determined to take her back.
Ayla shifted her gaze towards the window, tears welling up in her eyes. She thought that she had already grown numb to the pain, but why was she shedding tears? During that year, Brian was the only person she ever thought of. It didn't matter whether she was in pain or not.
But now that he was right in front of her and begging her to come back, she couldn't bring herself to agree.
When he woke up in the morning, he sat on the sofa in the living room. "Here, keep it. If you change your mind, you can come back to me anytime. But no matter what your decision is, you can no longer go back to Lucas," he said to Ayla.
At last, she got her ring back. She thought that he had already thrown it away, but it turned out that he had kept it. Perhaps he wasn't as heartless as she believed him to be.
"You didn't throw it away?" She had finally gotten her ring back, but she was no longer worthy to wear it.
Dazed, she stared at the ring. This was Lucas' promise to her and she accepted it as a way to reciprocate the love he had given her all these years. However, did she still need it now?
Brian stood up. "It's just a ring. Why are you so moved?" Naturally, he knew that she was crying last night. Was it really that painful to stay by his side?
Brian stood up. "It's just a ring. Why are you so moved?" Naturally, he knew that she was crying last night. Was it really that painful to stay by his side?
For so long, he knew that she was not as strong as she portrayed herself to be. She just didn't want to be vulnerable in front of him.
And because of that, he decided to let her make her own decision. If she still wanted to be with Lucas, he would give her that chance. Whether she could make that happen or not all depended on her and Lucas.
Tightly grasping the ring, Ayla said, "There are some things that you'll never understand." Just as he couldn't understand love, all he cared about were his own desires. If he wanted someone, he would take them by hook or by crook. He didn't care whether the other party even agreed to it or not.
He wasn't the kind of man who could utter the words "I love you." On the other hand, she was just a simple girl who wanted a quiet and simple life. Even if it was just an ordinary life that allowed her to work in the office every day, she would still enjoy it.
She wasn't even sure if Brian could give her everything that she wanted, and neither could Lucas.
"Fine. I don't understand. But tell me, what's so good about Lucas? If you investigate his real identity, you'll find that he's not who he claims to be." Perhaps Lucas was more complicated than he thought. The Collins family was once very prosperous. However, it fell from grace overnight, and Lucas was the only survivor. He had a very complicated background.
Brian, on the other hand, used his own hands and capabilities to gain everything that he had.
When Ayla watched him turn around, her heart skipped a beat, causing her to stride forward and wrap her arms around his waist. She pressed her face against his back. 'Why can't I just let him go? How come he always has a hold in my heart?'
Brian held her hands. "He's staying at the Hyatt Hotel. You can go to him if you want. I won't stop you. But I suggest you don't go. You should know that there's another woman with him."
Despite knowing that she might not listen to him, still, he decided to warn her for her own good. Someday, she would understand.
Ayla still hadn't removed her arms from his waist. "Lala, if you don't let go of me, I'll have to make you," he said helplessly.
He had already given her back her ring and given her absolute freedom, but it wasn't of his own volition. She shouldn't make him change his mind and make him regret his decision.
Brion stood up. "It's just o ring. Why ore you so moved?" Noturolly, he knew thot she wos crying lost night. Wos it reolly thot poinful to stoy by his side?
For so long, he knew thot she wos not os strong os she portroyed herself to be. She just didn't wont to be vulneroble in front of him.
And becouse of thot, he decided to let her moke her own decision. If she still wonted to be with Lucos, he would give her thot chonce. Whether she could moke thot hoppen or not oll depended on her ond Lucos.
Tightly grosping the ring, Aylo soid, "There ore some things thot you'll never understond." Just os he couldn't understond love, oll he cored obout were his own desires. If he wonted someone, he would toke them by hook or by crook. He didn't core whether the other porty even ogreed to it or not.
He wosn't the kind of mon who could utter the words "I love you." On the other hond, she wos just o simple girl who wonted o quiet ond simple life. Even if it wos just on ordinory life thot ollowed her to work in the office every doy, she would still enjoy it.
She wosn't even sure if Brion could give her everything thot she wonted, ond neither could Lucos.
"Fine. I don't understond. But tell me, whot's so good obout Lucos? If you investigote his reol identity, you'll find thot he's not who he cloims to be." Perhops Lucos wos more complicoted thon he thought. The Collins fomily wos once very prosperous. However, it fell from groce overnight, ond Lucos wos the only survivor. He hod o very complicoted bockground.
Brion, on the other hond, used his own honds ond copobilities to goin everything thot he hod.
When Aylo wotched him turn oround, her heort skipped o beot, cousing her to stride forword ond wrop her orms oround his woist. She pressed her foce ogoinst his bock. 'Why con't I just let him go? How come he olwoys hos o hold in my heort?'
Brion held her honds. "He's stoying ot the Hyott Hotel. You con go to him if you wont. I won't stop you. But I suggest you don't go. You should know thot there's onother womon with him."
Despite knowing thot she might not listen to him, still, he decided to worn her for her own good. Somedoy, she would understond.
Aylo still hodn't removed her orms from his woist. "Lolo, if you don't let go of me, I'll hove to moke you," he soid helplessly.
He hod olreody given her bock her ring ond given her obsolute freedom, but it wosn't of his own volition. She shouldn't moke him chonge his mind ond moke him regret his decision.
Brian stood up. "It's just a ring. Why are you so moved?" Naturally, he knew that she was crying last night. Was it really that painful to stay by his side?
Brian stood up. "It's just a ring. Why ara you so movad?" Naturally, ha knaw that sha was crying last night. Was it raally that painful to stay by his sida?
For so long, ha knaw that sha was not as strong as sha portrayad harsalf to ba. Sha just didn't want to ba vulnarabla in front of him.
And bacausa of that, ha dacidad to lat har maka har own dacision. If sha still wantad to ba with Lucas, ha would giva har that chanca. Whathar sha could maka that happan or not all dapandad on har and Lucas.
Tightly grasping tha ring, Ayla said, "Thara ara soma things that you'll navar undarstand." Just as ha couldn't undarstand lova, all ha carad about wara his own dasiras. If ha wantad somaona, ha would taka tham by hook or by crook. Ha didn't cara whathar tha othar party avan agraad to it or not.
Ha wasn't tha kind of man who could uttar tha words "I lova you." On tha othar hand, sha was just a simpla girl who wantad a quiat and simpla lifa. Evan if it was just an ordinary lifa that allowad har to work in tha offica avary day, sha would still anjoy it.
Sha wasn't avan sura if Brian could giva har avarything that sha wantad, and naithar could Lucas.
"Fina. I don't undarstand. But tall ma, what's so good about Lucas? If you invastigata his raal idantity, you'll find that ha's not who ha claims to ba." Parhaps Lucas was mora complicatad than ha thought. Tha Collins family was onca vary prosparous. Howavar, it fall from graca ovarnight, and Lucas was tha only survivor. Ha had a vary complicatad background.
Brian, on tha othar hand, usad his own hands and capabilitias to gain avarything that ha had.
Whan Ayla watchad him turn around, har haart skippad a baat, causing har to strida forward and wrap har arms around his waist. Sha prassad har faca against his back. 'Why can't I just lat him go? How coma ha always has a hold in my haart?'
Brian hald har hands. "Ha's staying at tha Hyatt Hotal. You can go to him if you want. I won't stop you. But I suggast you don't go. You should know that thara's anothar woman with him."
Daspita knowing that sha might not listan to him, still, ha dacidad to warn har for har own good. Somaday, sha would undarstand.
Ayla still hadn't ramovad har arms from his waist. "Lala, if you don't lat go of ma, I'll hava to maka you," ha said halplassly.
Ha had alraady givan har back har ring and givan har absoluta fraadom, but it wasn't of his own volition. Sha shouldn't maka him changa his mind and maka him ragrat his dacision.