Chapter 92
Gregory stayed silent for a long time. I didn't have time to waste on him.
Originally, I just wanted to get involved with him, seduce him, and make him take the bait, create conflict between him and Sophia. Who knew that, before the conflict even started, Sophia had sent herself to prison? Now I have no interest in flirting with him anymore. I just want to take good care of Oscar, help him recover from his injuries, and slowly live our own life.
"Emily," just as I turned to leave, Gregory finally spoke. When he looked up at me, his face was full of sadness. "Whether it's Emma or Sophia, I owe them both. I owe the Brown family. As a man, I should take responsibility. Now that they're in crisis, I can't just stand by and do nothing."
He paused, then pulled himself together and looked at me intently. "After all, this is a lose-lose situation. Maybe worse than lose-lose. If the Brown Group's reputation is ruined, all three parties will suffer losses. And the market value the Brown Group will lose is impossible to estimate. So, whether for business or personal reasons, I hope you'll think it over carefully."
I got straight to the point: "I already told Jasper, it's not like he has no options. Don't he and his dad still have some shares? Selling them could pay back part of the debt. I advised him to decide quickly. Once the bank and lenders get wind of this, his house and cars might be seized to repay the debt right away. If he sells then, I'll definitely lowball him. Of course, if he really can't make it, I could give him a job."
Let him taste what it's like to be sold to Solstice. That could work.
Gregory frowned at me. "Don't joke like that. I still believe you're kind at heart, Emily. No matter how much you deny it, I can't help seeing you as Emma. You two are so alike. So I don't think you'll push them to the edge. If... if you really need to take it out on someone, I wronged Emma more. You can take it out on me if you want."
I just looked at him once, and he could imagine all sorts of scenarios. He probably feels pretty good about himself right now, thinking I'm interested in him.
How ridiculous. He probably doesn't know there are even more exciting scenes waiting for him ahead.
"I have no grudge against them, and certainly none against you. It's just business. I'm just doing what I should from my position. His current situation is entirely his own doing. Nobody forced him to misuse company funds. If you really want to help him, have him pay back the money first, and I can still give him a job. Otherwise, we'll see each other in court." I restated seriously.
"If there's nothing else, I'm heading back." I turned to leave.
"Wait, there is something." In his urgency, he grabbed my hand, but didn't dare look me in the eye.
I instinctively pulled my hand away from his grip right away. That kind of contact left me feeling rejected. I barely maintained a calm surface. "Speak quickly if you have something to say."
Under the streetlight, I could see Gregory's face gradually turning red.
He licked his lips, seeming to find it hard to speak. "Emily, ever since we first met and had that misunderstanding, I probably haven't had a good impression in your eyes, plus with Sophia's situation... But I have to be honest with you, I really can't treat you like an elder. I... I can't help thinking about you, seeing you as someone very important. So I don't want anyone to leave a stain on you."
He looked at me. "Regarding the Brown family's situation, I won't force you to decide, and I'll respect your choice. I just hope you can show some mercy. Even if not for the Lopez family, not for me, at least for Emma. She definitely wouldn't want her own family to end up with nothing."
I stepped back two paces, looking at him in disbelief. "Why would you think I'd make a decision against my own wishes because of the Lopez family, because of you? Who do you think you are?"
Gregory frowned, his expression showing frustration. "Yeah, who am I to you? You're my uncle's fiancée. Even if I wanted to be someone to you, do I even have a chance?"
I had already decided not to have anything more to do with him. Why is he coming to me on his own?
If he won't let me have a peaceful life, then I'll use him for revenge.
I pretended to look shocked. "You... what are you saying?"
Gregory sighed deeply. "What am I saying? I'd like to know that myself. This is really the first time I've felt what it's like to be attracted to someone. Knowing these are feelings I shouldn't have, yet they've somehow latched onto me. I'm in pain too. I'm up every night, my thoughts pulling me in two different directions at once."
His frown deepened, as if his heart was suffering. "Emily, look at me now. Tell me, what should I do?"
Looking at him, I couldn't bring myself to say certain things. "I'm your uncle's fiancée. You have a wife. You even have that kind of relationship with Sophia. And now you're saying these things to me. Gregory, what am I supposed to think of you?"
Gregory grabbed his hair with his hands, slowly bent down, and squatted on the ground, his voice trembling. "I... I can't control it. I know I shouldn't get close to you, but I can't help wanting to look at you one more time. I even thought, if uncle wasn't my grandfather's child, would I have even a slim chance? I even secretly took his hair for a paternity test. Emily, why don't you say something to make me give up?"
I still didn't look at him. His pain, to me, was like the worst kind of acting. "If we really have to blame something... we can only blame meeting each other too late."
Sure enough, after I said that, a flash of light appeared on his previously gloomy face. He suddenly stood up, looking at me intently, then dejectedly lowered his eyes.
"I'll pretend I never heard what you said today. You have a wife, I have a fiancé. We two... are destined to only be relatives. Your uncle is still waiting for me in the hospital room. I'll head back first." With that, I turned and left without looking back.
He wants to be passionate, so I'll give him unrequited love and deep affection in return. I'm sure this scene will be hard for him to forget.
A cheap, sincere heart definitely can't withstand this kind of teasing. His supposed devotion is just a persona. He's still a scumbag.