Chapter 72 – Between Power and Longing

“Leo,” Clarissa called out as she immediately wrapped her arms around Leonel, flashing him a sweet smile.

“What are you doing here?” Leonel asked coldly, peeling her embrace off of him.

He sat down on the sofa, and Clarissa instantly settled beside him, leaning in playfully.

“Do you have time tomorrow night?” she asked with a bright smile.

“Why?” Leonel narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp and suspicious.

“I want to invite you to dinner. You helped my father’s business when it was on the brink of trouble. As a token of gratitude, I’d like to take you out,” Clarissa explained.

“I don’t help people for free, Clarissa. You don’t owe me anything, and you don’t need to repay me with dinner,” Leonel replied in a cold tone.

“What’s wrong with you, Leo? You don’t seem fine,” Clarissa asked, her voice softer—she was once Leonel’s lover.

Leonel leaned back into the sofa, tilting his head up as if trying to calm himself. But his eyes remained sharp, brimming with turbulent emotions.

“If I don’t seem fine, that’s none of your business, Clarissa,” he said icily.

Clarissa gave a faint smile, though the sting in her eyes betrayed her. She looked at him with an attempt at understanding. “I was with you long enough to know when you’re falling apart, Leo. And now, I see the same signs.”

Leonel turned, locking eyes with her. Anger and hidden pain flickered within his gaze. “Don’t try to read me anymore. We’re finished. I don’t need your sympathy.”

Clarissa bit her lip, her sweet smile struggling to mask the ache inside. “Is it because of another woman? So it’s true—you already have someone else, Leo? Who is she?” she asked in a trembling voice. “Our two-year relationship has barely ended, and you’ve already replaced me? Must you be that cruel?”

“Don’t exaggerate, Clarissa. Our relationship was nothing more than a business arrangement. Now, we should just focus on our own lives. Remember, I already helped your father’s company,” Leonel’s sharp words made Clarissa’s fists clench tightly.

She stared at him deeply, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, pride keeping them from falling.

“So that’s it? Two years together, and all you ever considered it was a business deal?” her voice quivered, filled with both anger and disappointment.

Leonel said nothing. He simply turned away, lit a cigarette, and then put it out again—a habit that always surfaced when his thoughts were in disarray.

“In that case, I truly pity myself. Loving a man who never saw me as anything,” Clarissa whispered bitterly.

Leonel’s piercing gaze turned back to her. “I never asked you to love me, Clarissa. That was your choice.”

The words cut her deeper than she had expected. She fell silent, hands clenched tightly in her lap. The faint smile on her lips now twisted with bitterness.

“Very well,” Clarissa murmured before standing, her posture graceful though her heart was breaking. “If you refuse to see me now, I’ll make sure one day you’ll turn back and seek me, Leo.”

Leonel didn’t move, his eyes fixed coldly on the window. In his mind, only one name echoed—Jeslyn.

Meanwhile, Clarissa walked away with determined eyes. Beneath her wounded heart, a resolve was born. She would not allow any woman to take Leonel from her so easily.

Leonel stood before the mirror, his tall frame dressed in an elegant suit. His striking features reflected a cold, powerful aura—one that revealed no cracks of weakness. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist as he adjusted his tie with precision.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. “Sir,” Blade’s voice came as the door opened.

Leonel turned, his gaze sharp. “Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, Sir. Just as you ordered, the car is ready out front. The exclusive reporters will also be directed to the boardroom to cover the live ceremony of Clovies’ CEO handover to you,” Blade confirmed steadily.

Leonel gave a brief nod. He took his long black coat and strode out of the room with commanding steps. Every movement exuded authority, though a chilling edge lingered in his eyes.

As he walked down the long corridor, employees lined up and bowed respectfully, none daring to hold his gaze for too long. Leonel’s overwhelming presence left the air heavy with dominance.

Outside, a sleek black luxury car awaited with his driver in place. Security guards stood watch, ensuring absolute safety.

Without a word, Leonel entered the car. Blade took the front passenger seat while two escort vehicles followed closely behind.

In the backseat, Leonel leaned against the leather cushion, his eyes drifting to the snowy scenery outside. Yet his thoughts remained chained to one name—Jeslyn.

“How’s the search for Jeslyn?” Leonel asked, his deep voice slicing through the silence.

Blade glanced briefly at the rearview mirror, reading his master’s expression. “We’ve spread our men across multiple locations, Sir. Her last trace was still in the city, but afterward—vanished. Almost as if someone deliberately erased every lead.”

Leonel’s jaw tensed. His hand clenched tightly on his thigh, veins standing out under the strain. “I don’t care how difficult it is. I want her found. Immediately.”

“Yes, Sir.” Blade’s voice was firm, though he knew Leonel’s temper was a storm barely contained.

Leonel’s gaze returned to the snowy window. The frost outside mirrored the cold storm within him, yet Jeslyn’s face lingered in every reflection. Her smile, her voice, her last glance—they all merged with the ache of loss weighing down his chest.

He exhaled slowly, straightening his posture. “Today, the world will see who I am. Clovies belongs to me now. And after that, I will bring Jeslyn back—no matter what it takes.”

The motorcade surged forward toward Clovies’ headquarters. Security vehicles cleared the path, sealing off any potential threats.

In the backseat, Leonel’s gaze remained steady, unyielding. Between the empire he was about to seize and the emptiness Jeslyn had left behind, his heart carried both power—and longing.

***