Chapter 15
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Barrington stepped inside the CEO’s office and caught sight of a familiar figure from behind.
“Xanthe?”
The name slipped out before he could stop himself–but almost immediately, he realized he was mistaken.
‘There’s no way Xanthe, just an ordinary girl, could be the CEO of W Industries.
The woman didn’t turn around. But she deliberately kept her voice low. “Xanthe?”
Barrington quickly explained, “Sorry, I thought you were someone else. From the back, you look a lot like my wife.”
“But she’s just an average woman,” he hurriedly clarified.” She’s nothing like you, President Wentworths.”
Xanthe let out a cold laugh–mocking how clueless he was of his arrogance.
Her tone chilled. “I heard you insisted on seeing me. What is it you wanted to say, Mr. Connolly?”
A flicker of something sharp passed through Barrington’s eyes. “Well, I heard you’re about to marry Mr. Michelson. But he’s still seeing someone else.”
“And that someone happens to be…” He paused, clearing his throat. “My wife. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to walk into a marriage with a man who’s already keeping another woman on the side.”
Sunlight streamed down on Xanthe, casting a golden glow around her–but the air around her only grew colder.
“What man doesn’t stray?” she sneered. “I wonder–how do you see it, Mr. Connolly?”
Barrington frowned, adopting a tone of moral certainty. “If you’re married, you should be faithful. No matter who does it–cheating is wrong.”
Xanthe’s smile deepened at that. Then, she finally spinned around and looked the self–righteous man in the eye.
“Wow. So there really are people who can lie to themselves like this. Do you even believe half the things coming out of your mouth, Barrington?”
She stood backlit by the light, her features shadowed–but Barrington recognized her instantly, his eyes wide with shock.
“Xanthe… It’s you? You’re the CEO of W Industries?!”
He couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense–but the truth was staring him in the face.
“You… You… You told me you didn’t have any family. How could you be the heir to a company like this?”
Xanthe arched an eyebrow and took a few steps toward him, her voice laced with irony. “Back then, I really didn’t have parents–not in any way that mattered. I cut ties with them
11:27 Sat, 12 Jul M.
for you, and they wanted nothing to do with me.”
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“But the moment I left you,” she explained, “they couldn’t wait for me to come home and take over the company. So yes–W Industries is under my control now.”
Barrington’s expression turned sour. But the thought that she’d been willing to give up everything for him once–that she’d loved him that much–twisted something in his chest.
He stepped forward, slowly reaching out to embrace her.
But she moved aside without hesitation, not even letting his hand brush against her.
Then she glanced at the spot he’d nearly touched, as if it were something she found dirty.
“Xanthe, listen, nothing happened between me and Vionnet,” he clarified again. “She just came back and I felt obligated. We used to be close, you know? She’s just staying with me because her new place isn’t ready.
“I’ve actually loved you for a long time–I just didn’t realize it then. That’s why I didn’t realize early on how much you suffered.
“Please, Xanthe, give me another chance. Let’s start over. Forget everything that happened.
“You always said you didn’t like living here, right? Fine–I’ll move my company here. I’ll stay here with you for the rest of my life.”
His voice was sincere–every word came from the heart.
But all Xanthe did was laugh.
“My gosh, Barrington, are you really pathetic? I told you–I don’t feel anything for you anymore.”
Leaning back to her chair, she softened her tone.
“Out of respect for the fact that you’re my ex–husband, I’ll make sure you get a good seat at the wedding. Two weeks from now.”
Each word hit like a blade, slicing straight through him.
After a moment of silence, he clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as a flush crept into his eyes.
“You’re the one who drugged me that night, Xanthe. This started because of you.”
He took a step forward, tension radiating from his stiff movement.
“So don’t think you can just dump me now–like you get to decide when this ends just because you want to.”
His gaze sharpened with warning.
“If you’re really set on marrying Trevor, then blame yourself for the consequences.”
