Chapter 3

The moment the words left Alyssa's mouth, Justin's figure froze in place. His gaze wavered slightly as he said, "Alyssa, the company just went public. It's a busy time for the business now."

Was he really busy with work, or was it just an excuse because he didn't love her?

Alyssa let out a faint chuckle and nodded faintly. "Alright, I understand."

Dodging the question was often the best answer in itself.

Alyssa didn't press further and headed straight for the parking garage. They had only taken a few steps when the man beside her suddenly stopped.

Alyssa followed his gaze and saw a figure in the distance. The person had their head buried in their knees and was crouching under the dim glow of a streetlight.

It was Claudia.

Justin's gaze remained glued to that figure as he spoke hoarsely. "I have something to attend to. Head back by yourself for now."

After saying that, he strode toward the woman.

Alyssa's feet remained rooted to the spot. She watched helplessly as Justin reached out and pulled Claudia into a corner.

Claudia staggered a little from the pull. Justin didn't move to support her, but his pace noticeably slowed.

Alyssa's hands subconsciously tightened by her sides. And in the end, she decided to follow them.

At the corner of the hallway, Justin grabbed Claudia's wrist. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "You said you were leaving. Why are you still here?"

Claudia looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. "I… I just wanted to see you one more time."

Justin laughed coldly. He practically gritted out through his teeth, "You left so decisively back then. Why come back now?"

Claudia broke free from his grip and threw her arms around his waist. He buried her head against his shoulder and said in a choked voice, "I never wanted to leave you! It was my father who didn't agree to us staying together.

"He threatened to use you against me, saying if I didn't break up with you, he'd join forces with others to oppress you."

Justin didn't push her away. His hands clenched into tight fists as he said in a subdued tone, "Even if you had your reasons, you could have told me. We could have faced it together. But you chose to run away and only returned after three years.

"Now, what makes you think I would want a woman who once abandoned me?"

Tears streamed down Claudia's face, and she looked up at him through blurred vision.

"I didn't come back expecting us to be together again. I know you've had another woman by your side these last three years. I just wanted to see you one more time."

She let go and stepped back a few paces. In a broken voice, she said, "Knowing you're doing well is enough for me. I'll keep my dist—"

Before she could finish her sentence, her body suddenly went limp, and she fainted.

Standing nearby, Alyssa watched as Justin's cold facade crumbled and how he immediately gathered Claudia into his arms.

"Claudia?" His voice trembled slightly.

When he realized she had only fainted due to overwhelming emotions, Justin visibly relaxed.

He gently stroked her cheek, no longer suppressing his true feelings. He looked at the woman in his arms with a gaze full of calm affection.

"Claudia, it seems I'm completely at your mercy."

After saying that, he lifted her into his arms in a bridal carry.

Alyssa stood where she was and watched the man's figure gradually disappear from sight.

She suddenly felt a patch on her cheek. Upon reaching up to touch it, she found it was already wet.

Over the past three years, Justin had always treated her well. Even at his poorest, he would save up to buy her things.

Thus, she had believed it to be love.

But today, after witnessing how he interacted with Claudia, she suddenly realized that this was what Justin looked like when he truly loved someone. He would get angry and say things he didn't mean.

When he was with Alyssa, though, he only ever kept up a gentle facade.