He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 959

Yardley was rendered completely speechless. He wanted to argue, but the words died in his throat.

It was true. She had warned him repeatedly to keep his distance from Veronica. But back then, he had smugly assumed she was just jealous and trying to ruin his prospects. Blinded by arrogance, he had treated Veronica as a crucial ally, believing he could use a marriage of convenience to anchor Flynn Group to Thorne Industries.

Instead, he had tied his own noose. Not only had he gained absolutely nothing, but he was now completely at Veronica's mercy. His own mother was being ordered around like a servant in her own home, and he had to grit his teeth and endure it all for the sake of the 'bigger picture.'

He was suffocating under the weight of his own terrible choices.

Julian watched the exchange quietly. He had noticed that whenever Scarlett wasn't dealing with Yardley, she was incredibly emotionally stable. But the moment Yardley entered the picture, it was as if every painful memory came rushing back. She instantly turned defensive and sharp, completely different from the soft, affectionate woman she was with him.

It made him both fiercely proud and deeply heartbroken. Proud, because his love had finally made her feel safe enough to lower her guard. Heartbroken, because it showed just how agonizing her years with Yardley had been. No woman naturally wanted to live with her guard up constantly; it only happened when they had endured too much hurt.

He gently squeezed her hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles. "Alright, sweetheart, there's no point in getting angry about what's already done. Our firm still has billions tied up in Flynn Group's projects. If they go down, our investments will take a hit too."

He took a deep breath, and for the first time, a hint of genuine defeat crept into his voice. "I need to know Kane's exact situation. Is he in custody? Just how massive is the crackdown on his syndicate?"

Scarlett suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "We do know a few things. But why should we tell you? You've always been so incredibly arrogant. Surely you can use your own vast connections to figure it out. Asking us like this... should I interpret this as you begging us?"

She knew the word "begging" would feel like a knife twisting in his ribs. But she said it anyway. She didn't say it just to watch him humiliate himself. She genuinely wanted him to wake up—to realize that his unchecked ego was the exact reason he was standing on the edge of a cliff.