All Chapters of Don’t Beg for Love : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The private gathering was located several floors above the ballroom.The elevator doors slid open.I stepped inside,Then immediately regretted it.Andrew Hale was already there… Alone.For a brief moment, I considered waiting for the next elevator.That would have been ridiculous.So I stepped inside.The doors closed.As the elevator began its ascent, silence settled around us.Thirty-one.Thirty-two.Thirty-three.I watched the changing numbers.Across the polished steel doors, Andrew's reflection watched me, intentionally, without averting his gaze for a second.The elevator hummed softly around us.Thirty-four.Thirty-five.Eventually, I turned my head.Our eyes met.He didn't look away, just kept staring as if he had all the time in the world.And the longer the silence stretched, the more oppressive it became.“Do you need something?” I finally asked.One corner of his mouth lifted. “No.”"Then stop staring."His gaze moved slowly over my face. “I forgot what you looked like.”

Not long after, the World Designers Council released its’ official announcement.[The screening phase was conducted under full anonymity protocols across multiple evaluation layers, including creative restriction tests, psychological adaptation assessments, and blind jury scoring. Out of over 12,000 global applicants, only 1,532 designers have been accepted into the main challenge.][Notably, the acceptance list includes several high-profile industry figures whose participation was previously unconfirmed. And among the confirmed entrants is the long-rumored legendary designer known as “Designer X”.] I stared at the screen for a moment longer than necessary, my gaze fixed on the name.Designer X. Hesitation flickered for a second. I let it slip away, before setting down the tablet.The sound it made against the wooden surface was soft, almost absorbed by the air itself.Beyond the open terrace, coconut trees shifted slowly with the wind, their shadows stretching across the still surf

…Lake Geneva appeared in fragments between buildings as the car moved through the city.A flash of blue water.A row of elegant stone facades.Flags fluttering outside embassies.A distant fountain rising high above the lake before disappearing again behind a cluster of trees.The streets were clean, almost unnaturally so. Even the traffic seemed quieter. Cyclists glided past outdoor cafés. Well-dressed pedestrians crossed intersections without rushing. Everything moved with a kind of effortless order.Like a city accustomed to power.The car turned onto a broader avenue lined with luxury boutiques and historic buildings before slowing to a stop.Ahead stood The Montclair Geneva, one of the city’s most prestigious lakeside hotels and the official residence for distinguished guests attending the Global Economic Forum.Its pale stone façade overlooked the water. Tall windows reflected the afternoon sunlight, while a line of national flags stretched across the entrance.The moment the c

For a moment, a deafening silence descended.The entire hall seemed to have frozen, before whispers erupted from every direction.“What!?”“I thought he wasn't attending!”“The Andrew Hale? No way!”The audience glanced at each other as if the speaker had just pulled a huge prank. Most people began bringing out their phones. Several reporters were already scrambling to communicate with colleagues.The auditorium was thrown into a frenzy, but I barely heard any of the noise.I didn't even realize I’d stopped breathing until the curtains began to part.And he stepped onto the stage.The whispers died almost instantly. He wore a dark tailored suit without a single unnecessary detail. No flashy accessories. And yet, the moment he appeared beneath the lights, the entire room adjusted.His steps were unhurried as he crossed the stage, as though standing before thousands of influential people was no different from entering an empty room.After the silence, applause began, growing louder and

After Cassandra’s words, the whispers began immediately,And more people closed in.I folded my arms. “Miss, are we familiar?”Cassandra frowned, her composure cracking. Then she put on an aggrieved look and came forward.“Annalise, I know…”Her words withered behind me, because I was already heading out of the hall.The Next Day,A knock woke me up.The sunlight streaming through the corridor windows told me immediately that I overslept.Thinking it was Aurelia, I opened the door to find a young lady dressed in a neat OL suit waiting outside.“Good morning, Ms. Sterling.” The lady looked relieved to see me awake. “Ms. Sterling, the Leadership Panel has already commenced.”“Huh?”My brows furrowed.She immediately held out a cream-colored envelope. "Mr. Hartmann asked me to deliver this personally. He said it was very important."Leon?I took the envelope.Inside was a guest card bearing my name, and beneath it was a hastily written note.[Stop sleeping. You're on the panel.]I stared