Chapter 79 – Shattered Words

“What exactly am I supposed to think, Jeslyn?” Leonel asked, his sharp gaze locked on the woman before him.

Jeslyn froze. Her tongue felt heavy, as if every word she might speak could instantly turn into a weapon against her.

Jefran glanced between them, then smirked cynically. “I’m free this afternoon, Jeslyn. Let’s talk over lunch later. Not here—it’s dangerous. Someone might get burned,” he mocked before leaving, barely suppressing his irritation.

“So… are you planning to mend your broken engagement with him?” Leonel asked, his tone deceptively calm, though his eyes were piercingly cold.

“That’s none of your business,” Jeslyn snapped, turning her face away and walking off.

She had barely taken a step when Leonel’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Isn’t everything about this my business, Jeslyn?” His voice was low, not raised, but sharp enough to cut straight through bone.

Jeslyn halted, though she didn’t turn back. She could feel his gaze burning into her back, making her breath heavier.

“You have nothing to do with me, Leonel. Whatever we had never existed—it was all a mistake,” she said firmly.

She made to leave again, but Leonel caught her arm, pushing her gently yet firmly against the wall behind her. His body cornered hers, their faces now dangerously close.

“Don’t you dare,” Jeslyn warned, her eyes flashing.

“Why? Are you afraid?” Leonel mocked.

“There’s CCTV here. Start acting like the CEO you’re supposed to be,” she hissed.

Leonel stared directly into her eyes, deliberately ignoring her veiled threat. His lips curved slightly, almost into a cruel smile.

“CCTV?” he repeated softly, his voice low and cutting. “If there really is footage of us, do you think I’d care? Or is it you who’s afraid of something being exposed?”

Jeslyn tried to pull her arm free, but his grip was unyielding.

“Let me go, Leonel,” she hissed.

Instead of releasing her, Leonel leaned in even closer, their faces only inches apart. His warm breath fanned across her skin, making her tense even more.

“You’ve always pretended to be strong. But your eyes… they always betray you,” he whispered, his gaze tracing every flicker of her expression.

Jeslyn swallowed hard, fighting the trembling in her chest. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“No?” Leonel leaned so close his voice brushed her ear like a dangerous secret. “Then prove it.”

Jeslyn’s eyes flickered, but she quickly lifted her chin, forcing herself to stare back at him with manufactured courage.

“Stop interfering in my life, Leonel. You’re nothing to me. This is my life, and I’ll live it however I want,” she said coldly, pressing each word like a blade.

Her words hit Leonel harder than any physical blow. For the briefest second, his icy stare faltered before he inhaled sharply and finally released her arm.

“Your eyes can’t lie, Jessy,” he whispered.

“I don’t care what you think. The truth is, I never wanted you. I only want Jefran. Do you understand?”

Pain? It was clear as day—the way Leonel’s chest clenched at her cruel words. Yes, he had always forced his way, but he could never deny how deeply he loved Jeslyn. How much he wanted her.

His jaw tightened, his eyes blazing as he fought the storm threatening to explode. His hand curled into a fist at his side, trembling.

“Jefran, Jefran, always Jefran!” His voice broke into a bitter growl, choked with agony. “Haven’t you ever seen me, Jeslyn? Not even for a single second?”

Jeslyn’s gaze was steady, though her heart thundered painfully. “I’ve seen enough of you, Leonel. And that’s exactly why I don’t want you.”

Her words were like a dagger piercing straight into his chest. For a fleeting moment, his eyes shattered with pain—before he locked them again beneath his cold, unyielding mask.

Leonel stepped back, his expression flat, almost terrifyingly so. “Fine,” he said quietly but with weight that lingered like a threat. “If that’s your choice, don’t blame me when you regret it one day.”

Jeslyn froze. There was something in his voice that sent chills crawling down her spine—it wasn’t just a threat. It was a vow.

Without another word, Leonel turned and walked away, leaving Jeslyn pressed against the wall, trembling. The silence that followed was suffocating.

Jeslyn shut her eyes tightly, drawing a shaky breath. She knew her words had cut Leonel deeply, but she had to do it—for her twin. For what must be done.

“You’re finally here,” Jefran said as he rose from his seat when Jeslyn entered the private room of a luxury restaurant.

“Sorry, I had some work earlier,” Jeslyn replied.

“Sit down. I’m still wondering why you didn’t want to ride with me earlier?” Jefran asked.

Jeslyn sat across from him. “I brought my own car. Let’s not talk about that.”

“Alright. What do you want to order?”

“Actually, I’m not in the mood to eat. If you want to order something, go ahead,” Jeslyn said calmly.

“It’s lunchtime. Eating a little won’t hurt, right?”

“If you want food, order it. I’ll just have a drink.”

“Okay.” Jefran called a waiter, gave his order, and dismissed him.

The silence in the room grew heavy, broken only by the ticking of the clock that seemed unbearably slow.

Leaning back, Jefran studied her closely. “I don’t think you refused to eat with me earlier for no reason. You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

Jeslyn let out a long breath, trying to keep her expression calm. “You’re overthinking, Jefran. I’m just… tired.”

“Tired?” Jefran’s smile tilted, laced with sarcasm. “This must have something to do with Leonel, right?”

The name made Jeslyn’s shoulders tense slightly, though she quickly composed herself. “Don’t bring him into this. I came here to talk to you, not about him.”

“Fine. I won’t bring him up. So, what is it you want to discuss with me, Jeslyn?” Jefran asked, his eyes fixed intensely on hers. Their gazes locked.

“Jefran… is that marriage proposal still on the table? Because I want to go through with it.”

Thud.

***