Chapter 78 No Way Back

Chapter 78 No Way Back

The birthday banquet ended with everyone happy and satisfied.

You could tell Henry was in an incredibly good mood today, maybe the best he'd been since returning to the country.

Near the end of the dinner, Damien's cousin came and sat beside me, making small talk.

"How did Damien end up coming back today? Do you know?"

I laughed at the question. "You really think I'd know?"

"Well, you two..."

"My decision hasn't changed," I said firmly. "Not about that."

She paused, after seeing the reaction on my face, she said. "From what I saw today and how Uncle Henry was acting, I thought maybe you two had reconciled."

"It's not possible for us to reconcile in this lifetime." The words came out flat, matter-of-fact. "That's just how it is."

She sighed softly after hearing that and didn't bring up the topic again.

When the banquet finally ended, and guests started leaving, I stood by the door seeing off the important guests one by one.

When Caspian left with the crowd, I didn't have time to look at him properly. Just caught a glimpse of his car's taillights as the vehicles departed in an orderly convoy.

After I'd seen all the guests off and was about to leave myself, Henry stopped me.

The cleaning crew was working downstairs, so Henry called me up to his study on the second floor.

Since Quinn Industries had come under investigation, I hadn't visited him much. Not for any particular reason, just that I'd been so busy.

Seeing Henry in much better condition now, I was genuinely happy for him.

But I had no idea what he wanted to talk about.

"You haven't been back in a while. I know you've been busy with Quinn Industries matters, and I've been wanting to talk to you, but couldn't find the right time." Henry settled into his chair. "Today's a rare good day for me, so I wanted to speak with you."

"Grandfather, you must be exhausted from today. You should rest."

He waved that off, paused for a moment, then continued. "I know Damien did some foolish things. We had a terrible fight about it... I can't defend what he did, but if he's already regretted it, could you give him another chance?"

I'd been listening quietly, head down, and suddenly laughed. "Would Damien actually regret anything?"

"He does!" Henry answered firmly. "He already regrets it."

I looked at him. "Did he tell you that himself?"

Henry shook his head, meeting my eyes. "I know what he's been doing. I couldn't stop him at first... But I know he stopped later. When someone with his temperament and determination stops, it means he's thought it through. It means he regrets it."

I remembered what Grayson had told me.

The witnesses who'd testified against Quinn Industries had recently changed their statements and were no longer framing the company.

This was probably what Henry meant by Damien stopping.

Actually, I'd thought about this at the time too, but I hadn't wanted to dig deeper.

Coming from Henry's mouth, it was probably true.

But I didn't want to think too much about it. First, because the other party was Damien, and I didn't want to know everything he did or why he did it.

Second, because Dad was already dead. No matter how the situation changed now, it wouldn't help anything.

"Grandfather, I know you've been good to me. I know you've done a lot for me." I met his eyes. "But some things, once they happen, there's no going back."

Henry listened, silent for a long time before speaking again. "Even if I promise you—"

"Grandfather, you can't promise anything." My voice was quiet but steady. "My father is dead, and he's never coming back. That's my answer."

Logic told me clearly that Dad's death probably wasn't directly related to Damien.

He'd been in poor health. His heart condition was serious, and at that time, it was the illness that caused his sudden death.

But I couldn't separate his death from what Damien had done.

For the rest of my life, I wouldn't be able to separate them.

Hearing my answer, Henry couldn't say another word.

After leaving the Blackwood Estate, I stopped by the freight company first before heading back to Jade Bay.

When I opened the door, the apartment was empty, quiet, and pitch dark.

I stood at the entrance for a moment before going inside to change my shoes.

In the shoe cabinet, the men's slippers sat there quietly.

My thoughts were complicated and hard to sort through. After thinking for a bit, I pulled out my phone and called.

But the moment the call connected, it suddenly cut off.

I froze for a second, staring at the screen until the phone automatically ended the call.

At that moment, I just felt confused.

Until the phone suddenly rang again.

I opened it to see a photo of the interior of a car, with a caption that just said: Come here!.

I zoomed in on the photo, and after recognizing the parking garage pillar visible through the car window, I immediately turned around and headed back downstairs.

Caspian's car was parked on the second basement level.

I got in quietly, careful not to disturb him as he was in the middle of a video conference.

I sat silently beside him, waiting for his meeting to end.

But I never expected this cross-ocean conference to last so long that I couldn't help falling asleep against the comfortable seat.

When I woke up again, someone was kissing me.

I opened my eyes groggily, caught a glimpse of the man's features close to mine, reached out to pull him closer, and between our lips responded enthusiastically.

I figured Caspian must have missed me.

The way a man misses a woman's body.

But I never expected that Caspian would kiss and then slowly pull away.

I looked up at him, confused.

He looked back at me and said slowly, "You're this tired. Go upstairs and rest."

Something wasn't right.

I tilted my head, studying him. "You're not coming up?"

"Next time," he answered.

What was that kiss just now for, then?

I bit my lip, and after a moment of silence, suddenly huffed. "Fine. Next time, I won't really want to either!"

I shoved the car door open and got out, heading straight for the elevator.

Both elevators were running at the same time. I'd just stepped out of the left elevator when the right one opened almost simultaneously on this floor.

I moved forward quickly, about to slip inside my apartment and close the door, but it was too late.

Caspian followed me through the door and shut it behind both of us with a definitive click.

I found myself pressed against the entrance wall, listening to him ask in that deep voice, "'I won't really want to either'... Isn't that a bit presumptuous?"

I lifted my leg gently and rubbed it against a certain somewhere.

"Well, I mean, if Mr. Vale is thinking that way..."

He'd clearly shown me his answer in the car, but he'd still held back, trying to play the gentleman. Then he couldn't resist one provocative sentence.

I didn't know what he was thinking. I just knew that tonight, I didn't want him to leave like this.

"I need a clear answer," Caspian murmured, his nose brushing against mine.

I met his lips and whispered back, "Then check for yourself."