Chapter 17
“Are you okay?” Blake stood behind Lydia, full of concern and tenderness.
Her father’s death remained an open wound in her heart.
Lydia forced a smile and looked back at him. “I’m fine.”
Then her eyes flashed with coldness. “Can you help me? I want to destroy the Hayes family.”
“Of course. I’ll support whatever you want to do. Go ahead with your plans-I’ll step in if you need backup.” Blake affectionately stroked her hair, using his thumb to wipe away her tears.
Lydia nodded and instinctively embraced him.
During their time together, Lydia’s feelings for Blake had grown increasingly complex. With him, she felt relaxed and free to be herself.
With Blake’s help, Lydia secured her position as Reed Enterprises’ CEO and led the company to acquire Hayes projects at bargain prices.
She even actively suppressed Hayes development, selling some of her inherited stocks to trigger fluctuations in Hayes Group’s share prices.
Julian was overwhelmed trying to manage the crisis. He repeatedly sought meetings with Lydia, but she rejected every attempt.
The small gifts he sent were all returned.
Julian grew increasingly frantic as the company’s financial situation deteriorated. They couldn’t hold on much longer.
One day, Julian personally waited outside the Reed Enterprises building to catch Lydia.
Lydia emerged wearing a white suit with her hair pinned up, radiating a mature confidence he had never seen before.
His eyes filled with admiration as he stared at her, unable to look away.
“Lydia, can we talk?” he approached her, having lost his former arrogance.
Lydia didn’t even glance at him, flatly rejecting him. “My goal is to ruin you. There’s nothing to discuss.”
“What about your father’s death?” Julian stepped forward to block her path.
Lydia stopped, turning to look at him. “What did you say?”
“There’s more to your father’s death than you know.” Julian took a deep breath and spoke with apparent grief.
Lydia was skeptical but hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing to go with him.
Julian took Lydia to a restaurant she had once longed to visit. Throughout the journey, he tried to make conversation, but Lydia ignored him.
Undeterred, he continued reminiscing.
“Lydia, remember when I saved you? You were so scared, crying nonstop, and I kept telling you not to be afraid.”
“And that time you brought me chocolate and said you liked me-you looked so adorable.”
“Then on my birthday, you kissed me first. I was actually really happy about it.”
Lydia seemed deaf to his words, silently watching the scenery pass by outside the window. It was all in the past.
She couldn’t understand why Julian was saying these things now. Was he hoping she’d show mercy to Hayes Group?
“Lydia, we’re here.” Julian’s voice interrupted her thoughts as she got out of the car.
Julian had reserved the entire restaurant. He personally wheeled over the food cart, brought her flowers, poured her wine, and even played and sang
love songs for her.
These were all things Lydia had once dreamed of and mentioned to Julian.
But he had never taken her wishes to heart.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t heard or remembered-he had simply deemed her unworthy at the time.
“Julian, just say what you need to. Stop wasting time. I’ll never be with you again, and I won’t stop until I’ve completely destroyed you.” Lydia found the whole charade tedious and tossed aside the flowers.
Julian’s expression faltered, sadness washing over him. He had intended to plead for Hayes Group’s survival, but he also genuinely loved her and wanted her back.
“Lydia, I truly fell in love with you.”
“I don’t love you.”
Lydia’s blunt response left Julian speechless, forcing him to close his mouth in defeat.
After a long pause, he finally spoke again. “It was Vera who had someone inject your father with a muscle relaxant, causing his heart attack. It wasn’t just from being frightened.”
