Chapter 109
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Sam pulled his sleeve free from Zoe’s grip and said sternly “No gossiping during work hours, or I’ll dock your pay.”
“Come on, don’t do that! Making money isn’t easy!” Zoe whined, pouting playfully.
Emma entered Justin’s office, placing the documents on his desk. “Justin, these are from the sales director. He asked me to pass them to you.”
“Okay.” Justin took the documents and set them aside without even glancing at them.
Emma pulled up a chair and sat across from him, her tone soft with concern. “Justin, is something bothering you? You look upset. If you’re dealing with something tough at work, you can talk to me.”
She added gently, “I may not know if I can help, but at least I can listen and ease your worries.”
Her gentle, considerate demeanor and the fact that she was his lifesaver made her the perfect candidate for a wife -or so he had thought.
Justin stared at her for a long moment.
“It’s good that you’re here. I need to talk to you,” he said.
“What is it? You can just say it, Justin,” Emma replied with a hint of curiosity.
Carefully choosing his words, Justin spoke with as much softness as he could, trying to minimize the blow.
“Emma, I think it’s time for us to end this.”
“End this…” Emma’s face froze, her voice trembling. This wasn’t what she had expected.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, her body slightly shaking, her lips pressed tightly together as she frowned.
Justin felt a pang of guilt but continued in the same gentle tone. “It’s been three years. I thought my feelings for you were the same as they were back then. But… they’ve changed. That’s my fault, not yours.”
Emma stared at him, stunned. As his words sank in, she quickly calculated the best way to respond in her favor. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her face in large drops.
“Justin, are you rejecting me? You know I’ve never been with another man. Even when I was struggling on the streets of Merika State, starving and homeless, I never considered using my body to survive. I waited for you to come find me…” She sobbed, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Emma, I’m not rejecting you,” Justin said, his voice heavy with guilt. “Three years ago, I did love you. But now, what I feel for you is gratitude for saving my life–not love
“Justin, why? How could you stop loving me all of a sudden?” Emma cried, her voice full of despair.
Why? Justin wasn’t sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the way, his heart had shifted. His love was no longer for Emma but for Emily.
It was his fault. He had realized it too late, hurting not just one but two women in the process.
Unsure of how to respond, Justin handed her a tissue, lowering his head in remorse. “Last night… I was drunk. But don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer. I’ll make it up to you.”
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 109
Emma shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want your compensation, Justin. All I want is you. Three years ago, and now–I’ve always loved you. I don’t blame you for last night, so please don’t insult me by offering money.”
Justin’s guilt deepened. “Emma, I have nothing else to offer you except money.”
His sleepless night had brought clarity that he no longer loved Emma. If not for the banquet, he might have married her before realizing where his heart truly lay. At least now, he still had a chance to make things right.
“Don’t say that, Justin. I’ve never cared about your money, so don’t use it to insult me,” Emma said, wiping her tears as her voice cracked with sobs.
She hesitated before asking cautiously, “Is it because of Emily?”
“Yes,” Justin admitted.
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