Chapter 51: The Wristband
I followed Fletcher and Duke into the CEO’s office, trembling with nervousness.
“Mrs. Lynton, will a cup of coffee work?”
I glanced at Fletcher, who was removing his suit jacket, and gave a slight nod.
A moment later, the spacious office was empty, save for Fletcher and me.
The man, dressed in a black shirt, sat at his desk, his long fingers swiftly flipping through documents. His already serious face was full of focus, as though I didn’t exist at all.
Clearly, he was deliberately ignoring me.
I didn’t rush either; when I need something
1/14
of patience.
So, I picked up a financial magazine from the coffee table and began to read patiently.
However, before I could finish the table of contents, Fletcher’s voice cut through the silence. “Ms. Grande, you certainly seem to have a lot of free time.”
His gaze remained on the papers in front of him, his tone indifferent, but dripping with
sarcasm.
To be honest, after hearing that tone twice tonight, I was no longer surprised.
I closed the magazine and spoke softly, “Mr. Lynton, there’s something I think I need to explain.”
2/14
Chapter 51: The Wristband
5 Points
Fletcher didn’t respond. At times like this, it usually meant I could continue the conversation.
“We were wrong to contact Davina privately, but I never intended to make things difficult for her.” I paused, then continued, “Moreover, the reason we contacted a lawyer wasn’t to confront Lynton Group…”
“Wasn’t it?” Fletcher suddenly interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain. “The information I got was that Ms. Grande specifically sought out a criminal lawyer.”
He put extra emphasis on the word “specifically.”
Under his cold gaze, I had no choice but to lower my stance. “We were wrong” I admitted.
3/14
Chapter 51: The Wristband
“Then why come to me?” Fletcher shot me a look of contempt. “Haven’t you already got Professor Fleming as your capable ally?”
When Winston was mentioned, I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. After all, Winston had acted with good intentions.
“Heh,” Fletcher sneered, “First, you’re pretending to want reconciliation in front of the lawyer, and now you’re busy looking for another one for help.” He chuckled coldly. “Ms. Grande, do you always play both sides?”
The words “play both sides” were bitten out of Fletcher with a sharpness that seemed to cut through the air.
I certainly couldn’t tell him that the reason we were so eager to find a lawyer was because Davina had been adamant. Instead, I softened my tone. “Mr. Lynton, you’re right.
4/14
The Wristband
5 Points
Our biggest mistake was thinking of you as someone petty. But, upon reflection, I realized–you’ve always been so generous and magnanimous. How could you ever stoop to our level?”
I wouldn’t have said that under normal circumstances, but with the urgency of the situation and a little alcohol in me, flattering words came naturally.
Fletcher seemed taken aback by my unexpected praise. After a brief moment of silence, he awkwardly looked away and, returning to his paperwork, said, “Charlene, I never realized you could talk like this.”
His tone was light, as if he didn’t mind.
I seized the opportunity and added, “It’s just what I truly think–honest words, nothing
more.”
5/14
A soft cough escaped Fletcher as he pressed the button on the phone in front of him, then asked, “Why is it taking you so long to make a cup of coffee?”
Well, it seemed he wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation.
Moments later, Duke entered with a cup of coffee.
“Mrs. Lynton, your coffee.”
I immediately rose to take it, but then an odd sensation hit the back of my head, followed by a sudden loss of control over my hands. Before I knew it, with a loud splash, the cup of coffee splashed directly onto my chest.
“Watch out!”
6/14
Along with the warning came the sharp sting of the scalding liquid on my skin.
“How is it? Does it hurt?”
Fletcher’s anxious voice rang in my ear. I looked up to find his clear gaze on me, and in an instant, his long fingers reached for the buttons on my blouse.
I rushed to stop him, but as I did, my palm brushed against his warm one.
The brief contact made my heart skip a beat.
Before I could pull my hand away, Fletcher held it firmly.
“Go out.” He said this to Duke.
His command was low and pressing against my ear, and in the next moment, his arm
7/14
tightened around my waist, pulling me into him.
The familiar scent of soap filled my senses, and my heartbeat quickened. Confused, I looked up only to meet the blazing intensity in his eyes.
Was it a trick of the light?
Just a moment ago, Fletcher had been ready to throw me out.
I stepped back and gently refused, “Thank you, but… I’m fine.”
But my retreat only brought him closer, step by step, a push and pull that eventually trapped me against the sofa.
The man before me was radiating an almost palpable sense of aggression, his gaze
8/14
nepier bl: The Wristband
locked onto mine with an intensity that was almost suffocating.
The distance was so short that I could
see the muscles in his throat move as he swallowed.
“Mr. Lynton, I think I should-”
Before I could finish, Fletcher silenced me with a kiss.
It was as though he was trying to devour me, his lips demanding and forceful as he pried open my mouth, pulling me into a desperate, urgent kiss.
For a second, all my resistance faltered.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but at that moment, there was no thought of rejecting him.
9/14
My rationality began to drown in the heat of his kiss.
It was absurd, yet undeniably real.
But just then, I noticed Fletcher’s fingers tracing my wrist, and my sanity came rushing back in a wave. I turned my face away, showing my disgust.
Fletcher froze, clearly sensing the shift in my demeanor.
In an instant, the tension between us vanished, replaced only by awkwardness and confrontation.
After a moment, I heard Fletcher ask, “Is this wristband really that important to you?”
Just now, if I wasn’t mistaken, Fletcher had
10/14
Chapter 51: The Wristband
+ 5 Points
been about to rip off the wristband.
Thinking of that ugly scar, pain spread across my chest.
“Speak up, the man emphasized, his tone clearly irritated. “Charlene, is the thing Winston gave you so important that you can’t even take it off when you’re intimate with me?”
I met Fletcher’s gaze in disbelief, only to find the corners of his eyes reddened, his deep gaze filled with resentment.
In that instant, the pain from the scar turned into a dagger, driving deep into my heart.
It had been two years already, the wound had long since healed. Though it had lost some of its beauty, it was, in essence, healed,
wasn’t it?
11/14
So why did my heart still hurt so much at this very second?
Fletcher, if you had only bothered to look at the pattern on the wristband, you wouldn’t be saying such things.
We stood in silence for a few seconds before Fletcher’s lips moved slightly, and he spat out two words, “Get lost.”
In that moment, my nose tingled, and tears poured out uncontrollably.
I had promised myself that I wouldn’t shed another tear for this man after that day. How was it that, in this moment, I’ve lost all my dignity?
It seemed like I had ruined everything.
12/14
The next morning at the office, I immediately contacted the lawyer to discuss the next steps.
Since reconciliation was impossible, we would have to take the legal route.
After hanging up the phone, I turned around! and saw Davina standing in the doorway.
She stared at me, surprised. “Charlene, are you really going to sue Letch?”
I couldn’t help but laugh despite myself..
Yes, I was going to sue Fletcher, but the one who had started all this was now looking at me with a look of innocent curiosity.
“What else should I do?”
“Don’t rush, Charlene, I have an idea,” Davina
13/14
said with a sly smile. “Tonight, I’ve booked a private room at Savory Haven. I’ll send you the details later, and you and Professor Fleming should come. Let’s pretend it’s a coincidence and sit down to have a nice chat, what do you think?”
Davina’s unexpected suggestion caught me off guard.
But then she added, “Tonight is our 100–day anniversary.”
14/14