She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 380

The research and development for the new plasmalogen formula went incredibly smoothly. When Melanie finally returned to Rosevale Heights, she was still on the phone with Elias.

"It's for you, Mr. Carter. When have I ever dared to slack off on your requests?"

"Please, don't say that, Chief, you're killing me here. Me, the boss? Compared to you, I'm practically a clueless intern."

Hearing Elias's exaggerated flattery, Melanie's lips twitched.

"I'm not that old!"

Looking up, Melanie froze as she locked eyes with Preston.

Preston's face was as stern and unreadable as ever, but his gaze was as cold and dangerously sharp as a razor’s edge.

Melanie instinctively shuddered, hastily hanging up on Elias.

It had been a very long time since she had seen Preston look quite that lethal.

As they had grown more comfortable living together, Preston might still glare coldly at the rest of the world, but his eyes usually softened whenever he looked at her.

So what on earth was wrong with him today?

Had she said or done something at Aria's banquet to piss him off?

Melanie tilted her head, completely lost.

That didn't make any sense...

He had gone out of his way to protect her at the banquet, even lending her a priceless necklace to put Aria in her place!

Thinking of the necklace, realization suddenly dawned on her.

Maybe...

She had completely overstepped her bounds.

Preston likely only draped the necklace on her to help her win the upper hand, with absolutely zero intention of letting her keep it.

Yet the banquet had ended hours ago, and she still hadn't handed it back.

No wonder he was giving her a death glare the second she walked through the door.

Convinced this was the only logical explanation, Melanie reached back to unclasp it when Preston's dark voice sliced through the silence.

"Were you just on the phone with Elias from the Carter Group?"

Preston's tone was dangerously low, dripping with obvious displeasure.

Melanie nodded slowly.

"Yeah!"

"Are you two close?"

She had just been on a simple phone call!

If Preston hadn't admitted it himself, she never would have guessed the man was this ridiculously possessive.

Staring intently at Melanie's innocent, bewildered expression, Preston's lethal gaze slowly began to thaw.

"You didn't know Elara either, but you still got jealous of her."

"I did not!"

Melanie instantly denied it, shoving Preston's chest.

Preston didn't push his luck by closing the distance again.

He didn't want to overwhelm her.

Melanie swung the fridge open, grabbed a lychee soda, and popped the tab. Taking a sip, she glanced back at him.

"Speaking of Elara, actually... I think I saw her while I was driving today."

Preston's expression shifted violently.

But Melanie, thoroughly focused on her soda, completely missed the flicker of emotion across his face.

"I can't be one hundred percent sure it was her, but she looked super familiar... She was sitting in the back of a Rolls-Royce, by the way. Your family and hers used to be engaged... exactly what kind of background does your family have?"