Chapter 81: The Day We Faced Each Other Again

“Was this your plan? You arranged all of this, didn’t you?”

Ariana instinctively stepped back. The excitement that had filled her face went rigid, her eyes trembling. “You really have no shame, Mr. Matheus.” Her lips lashed out, but her heart pounded hard at the sight of Christian standing right in front of her. They were at the door of the meeting room, Lorne and her personal secretary both silent.

“How have you been?” he asked, his voice calm, yet it made Ariana’s eyes narrow sharply.

After a year of successfully running away, she had never expected to meet her husband in a place like this, with the same purpose, at a major project presentation involving many companies and invited corporate giants, including Crownbridge Group.

“Let go of me,” she said, her voice low and sharp.

Christian stared at the woman in front of him, then glanced at his arm wrapped firmly around Ariana’s waist. The corners of his thin lips began to curve as Ariana flinched when he pulled her closer.

“Have you lost your mind?” she struggled, glancing nervously around. “Let me go, now.”

“You’re so cruel to me,” he whispered near Ariana’s flushed face. He caught one of her fingers as she tried to pry his arm away, his warm breath brushing her skin.

“We have nothing to do with each other anymore. I’m here only for work.” Ariana pressed every word with the hatred and revulsion surging in her chest.

Anger instantly changed Christian’s expression. His gaze sharpened like a predator’s. Ariana held back the tightness in her chest, feeling her resentment surge again, but suddenly her vision flickered and her body swayed unsteadily.

“Go in. You arrived first,” Christian said quietly.

Anne rushed over, taking Ariana’s arm. “Are you alright?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Ariana nodded, touching Anne’s hand, but the corner of her eye instinctively glanced at Christian. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“I won’t let you make me lose this project,” Ariana said loudly, her eyes gleaming with ambition as she looked straight at Christian.

“We won’t know until the results come out, will we? Go ahead and prove what you just said,” Christian replied, a mocking smirk on his face as he crossed his arms arrogantly. “Good luck, my wife.”

Tightening his hand at his side, Christian stepped back, then gestured toward the door, giving Ariana the way.

“Don’t waste your big opportunity,” he added with a soft chuckle, his voice gentle and warm despite it. “Do you want to go in with me?” he teased.

“Ridiculous.”

Ariana blinked sharply and started walking into the room. As she moved, she muttered under her breath without realizing it, “How strange. Did he hit his head or something?”

Christian remained where he was. His sharp eyes did not leave his wife’s retreating back for a single second. Lorne stood behind him, finally daring to speak, his voice cautious yet laced with warning.

“Are you really fine competing for the project with Mrs. Ariana, sir?” he asked, his eyes uneasy.

Straightening his expensive suit, Christian lifted his chin slightly. A faint smile returned to his lips, but this time there was a strange delight on his face.

“What answer do you want to hear from me, Lorne?” Christian responded, his tone light.

Lorne stared, confusion filling his eyes. He had begun to feel that something was wrong with the way Christian had been thinking this past year.

“We need this project too, sir,” Lorne pressed, reminding him urgently. “Things will only get worse if we lose again. The losses in Highland are already significant.”

The corners of Lorne’s eyes tightened with deep concern. He knew very well that their company’s financial position was on the brink. Yet Christian only responded with indifference.

“We’ll see,” Christian replied shortly.

Frustration sharpened Lorne’s gaze behind his glasses. Christian adjusted the cuff of his shirt, then lowered his voice, making it deeper before stepping into the room.

“Besides, Crownbridge Group should have gone bankrupt a long time ago, so what’s the point of all these projects?”

Lorne froze, his body stiff. “What did you say? All of this is the result of your years of hard work.”

His body tensed, unable to move his feet to follow Christian, who walked leisurely toward the participant seats. “He really is going to destroy this company with his own hands.”

The presentation session had been underway for quite some time. Ariana performed brilliantly without the mask of a false face and voice. She laid out her project plan in great detail, the Egmund company logo shining brightly. She commanded the stage, leaving several representatives from other companies visibly impressed.

“We will not only build physical beauty. We will also prioritize integrity, without compromising safety and the unique character of this city, so that people will feel like they are coming home.” Ariana’s voice was clear and authoritative. A few times she was distracted by the obsessive gaze from Christian, but she managed to ignore it.

“Are you confident you can complete such an extensive project within the timeline we’ve set?” a doubtful question came with a skeptical look. Ariana smiled faintly and pressed her presentation remote. The slide shifted to detailed charts.

“Of course. We have partnered with highly reliable third parties. As you can see, we did not come unprepared,” she answered firmly, full of confidence.

After Ariana’s presentation ended with satisfaction and praise, it was Christian’s turn. He had drawn the last slot.

The atmosphere in the room became extremely tense. He did not send a representative. He delivered the project proposal himself.

“What is this? A company as large as Crownbridge Group isn’t even presenting a cost structure?” Anne’s muttering reached Ariana’s ears, though she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead. It was followed by other whispers.

Ariana was stunned in her seat. Her eyes stared in disbelief at the presentation screen from Christian’s company and the way he answered questions. “I’ve heard about the problems Crownbridge Group is facing, but how could he give such a poor presentation? I know Christian’s standards very well.”

The client finally stood to close the meeting. “We will discuss and announce our decision. We will give it one more day,” he said seriously. “Please prepare additional material that will impress us further.” After that, the participants began leaving the room one by one.

Eventually, only Ariana and Christian remained in the spacious room. Christian took the seat Anne had just vacated. His eyes fixed on Ariana, the longing in his gaze making the air feel suffocating.

“Ariana, how is our son? Did you bring him here as well?” Christian asked.

“He’s my son,” Ariana replied sharply, her tone cutting. “Focus on your own life. You were never worthy of being his father.”

Ariana quickly gathered her files and started to leave, but suddenly stopped. Christian grabbed her wrist, his face dark.

“Please don’t go yet. I miss you so much.”