Chapter 9 Mrs. CrawfordWon’t Lose
She paused slightly, quietly turned her head, and looked up.
Osvaldo’s noble and handsome face suddenly appeared.
He had come back…
And he was holding the key to her house.
“Need this?”
His deep and calm voice seemed to carry a hint of comfort. He must have heard the conversation just now.
Valentina turned her head away, took a deep breath, and forced herself to hide all heremotions. She wiped her eyes, suppressed the turmoil in her throat, and replied hoarsely, “Nope. Why did you come back?”
“The key.”
He lifted the key slightly, his deep gaze still fixed on her face.
Valentina turned away and took another deep breath. The next second, her eyes no longer looked watery.
“You heard everything?”
She didn’t want anyone to see her vulnerability or embarrassment.
There had been countless times when she cried just to let it out, but each time she forced herself to recover on her own.
Valentinawas never one to be fragile.
Chapter Ms. CrawfendontLese
Osvaldo remained standing, looking down at her. His eyes seemed to be able to see through all her thoughts.
“Want to cry?”
His low voice sounded like a cold breeze from the depths of a forest. It was chilling and quiet.
Valentina paused, took a long breath, and after a moment, replied in a strained voice. “I don’t want to cry for anyone. I don’t want to hurt anyone, either.”
At that. Osvaldo let out a low chuckle. After a moment of silence, he said in a deep voice, “Thinking like that will only make life harder for you.”
Hearing this, Valentina slowly raised her eyes and looked at him in
confusion.
He reached out and placed the key on the table.
“Not every compromise is rewarded with gratitude. Only when you stop wronging yourself can you rise above others. Only a fool sacrifices themselves to fulfill others. And I don’t think you’re one,Ms. Campbell.”
His words were boldly domineering.
But when they came from him, Valentina didn’t find them arrogant. Instead, she felt a commanding aura that came from someone born to lead.
Hearing that, Valentina forced a bitter smile. “Looking back now, I guess I really am that fool.”
The man chuckled softly, eyes fixed on her. After a while, he said in a deep voice, “But clearly, you don’t have to, right?”
“Wouldn’t that just make me seem colder and more forceful?”
Chapter 9 Mrs. GramlordWon’t Lose
Valentina spoke softly as if murmuring to herself.
19
But Osvaldo scoffed at the notion. “I’m really curious. What kind of worthless man would say something like that to you and make you suffer so hard?”
Valentina froze at that. Her starry eyes stared at him, and for a long while, she didn’t know what to say.
He was right.
She suffered a lot.
“Sorry you had to see me like this.”
She took a breath and said self–deprecatingly.
“This isn’t something to laugh at.”
Osvaldo lowered his gaze to her palm, which was smeared with bloodagain. “If you’re upset, strike back. No need to be so considerate of others.”
“I…I thought I could handle it. I thought I could be nice…”
“Don’t you think that only makes things even uglier?”
His words always hit straight to the point. They were so sharp that they sobered her mind in an instant.
“I have no interest in prying. The past is in the past. What matters now is our future, yours and mine.”
His deep eyes looked at her steadily as he continued, “I’m not forcing your to sort things out right away. These are your personal matters, and I won’t interfere. But from now on, remember thatyou are Mrs. Crawford. And
21:525
Mrs. Crawford will never lose.
“But do remember to rest well. If you’re not fully recovered, don’t push yourself. No need to make things harder on yourself.”
His tone was calm, yet every word carried the decisiveness and authority of a commander.
What kind of man was he to radiate such power? Even just looking at him. made her feel an invisible pressure.
Valentina’s eyes were filled with shock as she stared at him.
Even after he left, she remained in a daze.
ERESES
The black Mercedes once again sped through thecurtain of rain.
In the back seat, Osvaldo leaned back and closed his eyes to rest.
“Mr. Crawford, Sir Crawfordhas been calling repeatedly.”
“No need to respond. I’ll get back to him later.”
Osvaldospoke indifferently.
“Yes, Mr. Crawford. By the way. Madam Crawfordsaid once you decide when to officially take over, give her a call. The PR Department wants to arrange a handover ceremony.”
“Also, the Vice Presidenthas returned to Pherton. He’ll take office in at few days. The company may temporarily assign Mrs. Crawford to assist him so he can quickly get familiar with the operations. What do you think?”
21 52
Chapter & Mrs Crawfordéont Lese
At those words, Osvaldofinally opened his eyes.
“Personal feelings have no place in business.”
“Understood…”
Tobiaspaused for a moment before replying.
No personal feelings in business?
It seemed Mr. Crawford was still the same, strictly professionaland never making exceptions.
“Send someone to upgrade the streetlights in Riverfront Alley and make sure the surveillance system is fully operational. Safety must be ensured.”
Just as the thought crossed Tobias’s mind, Mr. Crawford suddenly gave
the order.
“Huh?”
Tobias froze, needing a moment to processthe information.
The streetlights in Riverfront Alley?
And the surveillance system?
Did Mr. Crawford mean…
Well then, fair enough. Those lights were getting old. Mrs. Crawford’s safety should be a priority. He took back what he’d been thinking.
“Is there a problem?”
Osvaldo frowned slightly.
Tobias quickly responded, “No problem at all, Mr. Crawford. I’ll get it
68.73%
21:52
done right away!”
Due to her hand, Valentinastruggled quite a bit just to finish a shower.
With her hair still loose and wet, she stepped out of the bedroom to get a glass of water. She vaguely heard something vibrating. After looking around, she realized the sound came from the sofa.
She walked over and saw that Osvaldo had left his jacket behind, and the sound was coming from the phone in his pocket.
She had no intention of snooping and didn’t answer, even though it rang several times.
After a while, her own phone on the table began to vibrate.
It was a landline number she didn’t recognize. After a brief hesitation, she picked it up.
Soon, a familiar, low voice came through. “It’s me, Ms. Campbell.”
“Mr. Crawford…”
Valentina paused, glanced at his still–vibrating phone, and continued, “I forgot to return your jacket. Your phone is still here, and it’s been ringing non–stop. Do you need me to bring it over?”
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ll pick it up tomorrow.”
Osvaldohad realized he had left his phone behind after arriving home, so he called her.
“But…”
Chapte
Valentina thought to herself that she might not be home tomorrow.
08.971
