Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer!: Kabanata 441 - Kabanata 450

"Then you're just coercing me under the guise of loving me!" I shot back.I knew it would upset Soren, but I had to say it. "Being with you was the best time of my life, but it was also incredibly stressful."Those days when you were taken in for questioning—I was constantly on edge. I could barely sleep. I lost hair. It was torture. Every single day felt like an ordeal."Miles was arrested for espionage, and it was Edward who set him up. Did you know that?"He fed Miles both the initial intel and money, taking advantage of the fact that he was broke and desperate. He tricked him into taking classified photos near your base and then leaked them!"Soren froze, his face darkening."Homeland Security is still investigating him. I've already been called in to give statements, and I'm sure there's more to come. If we don't break up, you'll be implicated too."I took a deep breath and tried to soften my voice. "Think about it. You would've done the same if you were in my place.""No,

I punched the bed in rage."Who are you swearing at so early in the morning?" a voice called from behind me.Startled, I jumped and turned.Soren sat on the couch in front of the window, sharply dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt, as though he'd been waiting for me to wake.The curtains were still drawn, but it was late enough in the day that sunlight filled the room.His face held none of the sun's warmth. It was a far cry from how he usually looked at me.I sat up slowly as realization sank in. This was it—the farewell.I didn't want it to feel so heavy or final, so I threw on the attitude of a spoiled princess. "Why didn't you say something if you were up? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"He rested his hands on the armrests, one leg crossed over the other. I'd never seen him take such an aloof posture around me. Not since the day we met.He looked like someone who'd decided he was better than me. And suddenly, I felt like I couldn't measure up at all."I've been up

I had never been hospitalized for being sick in my life! How was this possible?!Jean helped me complete the paperwork and led me to the inpatient wing.Unfortunately, that's where I ran into my ex-rival.Candy had a thermos with her, probably here to deliver some food.She seemed stunned by my appearance. "Taylor? Fancy seeing you here! Aww, you caught a fever from a breakup?"I rolled my eyes and walked past her. Talking to her wasn't worth my energy.However, Candy wasn't about to let it go. She quickly caught up with me and added, "You and Soren were actually serious, weren't you? He's sick, too, but he's staying home."I glanced at her. "He's unwell?""Mm-hmm. He's probably been really stressed out lately. He has some stomach issues, but I checked on him yesterday. He's recovering," she said sweetly, as though she were the one winning.Jean returned after paying for my stay.When she saw Candy, she immediately took my arm protectively. "Oh my God, why are you everywhere?

"Just what are you insinuating?" the woman snapped, rolling her eyes. "I'm self-aware enough to know my place!""Yeah, figures. You're too low to even be on the Kenways' level," I retorted before walking away.The woman, furious, blocked my path in the corridor. "What are you trying to say? Too low? As if you're not just as low and undeserving of the Kenways!"I didn't want to escalate things, so I replied calmly, "You're the one who brought this up in the first place. Now you're acting like your ego's made of glass?"You don't have the right to comment on me. At least I've actually dated Soren Kenway. What about you?""So what? He broke up with you in the end!"I smiled. "That's misinformation. I broke up with him."A woman who had emerged from the bathroom stared at me, eyes wide. "You what? No way. You're bullshitting me.""I can't force anyone to believe me. Suit yourself."I tried to move past, but the woman still blocked my way."Please. We live in a civilized society.

"Didn't drink just now?" Soren asked."No." I was stunned. "Did you come here at this hour because you were worried I would be drunk?"That meant Soren hadn't stayed at the restaurant for long either. Or maybe he had, but not to spy on me. It was just a coincidence. Still, showing up here now couldn't possibly be a coincidence. He was worried about me.We locked eyes for a long time. I waited for him to say something—anything—but his lips remained pressed shut.It was cold outside, and I was starting to feel painfully underdressed. Just as I was about to invite him upstairs, he turned away and headed for his car."Wait!" I blurted out before I could stop myself.What reason did I have to make him stay? And what would happen if he did?It would just be the two of us alone in my unit—two recently broken-up partners in the middle of the night. The perfect recipe for disaster. It could only complicate things further.I forced myself to look away and headed for my unit. Once there