Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 70

Edmond let himself be pulled up, slowly unclenching his fist.

He had been gripping it so hard that a deep, red indention was now branded into his palm.

He stared at the ring, feeling an agonizing sensation in his chest, as if a fist had reached in and mercilessly crushed his heart. Every beat sent a tearing pain through his body.

How could she throw it away?

How could she...

"Edmond, maybe I should take you to see a doctor first..." Ferris suggested, deeply unsettled by his boss's pale, sickly complexion.

It took a long time for Edmond to finally stand up straight.

He waved his hand dismissively and took a deep, shuddering breath. He carefully slipped the ring into his breast pocket, pressing it firmly over his heart to make absolutely sure it wouldn't fall out.

He seemed to recover instantly, stepping back into the role of the cool, composed CEO of Starlight Media.

"She's just angry," Edmond suddenly murmured.

Ferris blinked in surprise.

Edmond's voice was low, sounding like he was trying to convince Ferris, but truly desperately trying to convince himself.

"She's just angry. She's upset about Juliette Sterling, upset because I didn't communicate clearly with her. That's why she's throwing a tantrum."

He reached up and patted the ring in his pocket.

"As long as I explain everything to her, it'll be fine," he said, his words tumbling out faster than usual. "As long as I tell her that Juliette coming back had nothing to do with me, that Juliette returned on her own and I never made her any promises..."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing sharply.

"As long as I apologize to her, she'll come back."

Hearing the word 'apologize' come out of Edmond's mouth gave Ferris severe whiplash.

In all his years, he had never once heard this man say the word 'sorry'.

When it came to Nora, she had always been the one to cave, always the one chasing after him.

He never had to lift a finger; he simply had to stand still, and she would always come running back.

But now, Ferris caught a glimpse of a deeply pathetic desperation he had never seen in the man before.

He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for their floor.

As the elevator ascended, he stared blankly at the changing numbers and suddenly spoke. "Human emotions aren't a faucet. You can't just shut them off."

His voice was low and gravelly. "She's loved me for so many years. There is absolutely no way she could just walk away from all that overnight."

Ferris stood half a step behind him, keeping his mouth shut.

"She's just waiting for me to apologize. Once she cools off, she'll come back."

The moment he finished the sentence, the elevator doors slid open.

Edmond paused mid-step, turning back to look at Ferris. His eyes were burning with a terrifying, absolute delusion.

"She will."

Watching Edmond's retreating back as he walked into the office, Ferris couldn't help but feel a profound wave of pity.

Just how utterly terrified of losing her did a man have to be, to lie to himself this completely...