He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 654

Her gaze was unwavering, devoid of any humor.

She waited for his decision in silence.

He just looked at her, holding his tongue.

She shrugged, adopting a nonchalant pose.

"My terms are on the table, Mr. Hayes. Oh, and one more thing—I want her to hold a press conference and issue a public apology." Her voice remained perfectly even.

This time, as her words hung in the air, he took a step closer.

She didn't flinch, holding his intense stare.

He leaned in, his long fingers lightly brushing against the skin of her cheek.

He then tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Are you doing this on purpose, Helena?" he asked, his tone devoid of anger, slow and deliberate.

She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Am I? I'm merely making a reasonable request. Everything has a price. I thought a businessman like you would understand that better than anyone."

A mocking smile played on her lips.

"Besides, you should know that Skye is my absolute bottom line. I couldn't care less what Mrs. Hayes does on her own time, but the moment she laid a hand on my child, she crossed it."

He watched her intently, seemingly weighing his response.

She was more than happy to finish her thought.

"But don't worry, I keep my personal and professional lives separate. I won't deliberately sabotage her over this. We'll still work together as planned. I know where to draw the line."

With that, she took a step back, establishing a safe distance between them.

The thinly veiled sarcasm in her words was palpable.

He obviously didn't miss it.

A dark, amused chuckle escaped him, his heavy gaze anchored onto her frame.

"Are you calling me a hypocrite, Helena?" he asked directly.

"Excuse me?" she played dumb.

He pinned her firmly against the corridor wall.

There was absolutely no escape.

She stood rigidly, refusing to respond to his demanding kiss.

He didn't push it further, eventually pulling back.

He released her waist but kept her firmly within his personal space.

Looking down at her, he laid out his conditions.

"You drop the charges, and I'll make her apologize publicly. As you said, let's keep it strictly professional. Her mess has nothing to do with what's between us." His tone brooked no argument.

She bristled at his dominating attitude but held her ground. "And if I refuse to compromise?"

Unfazed, he replied smoothly, "Helena, this is Riverton, not Coralia. I'm willing to play nice, but don't force my hand, understood?"

He didn't need to elaborate.

The underlying threat was crystal clear.