She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 534

But she couldn't wrap her head around it. What right did he have to be angry?

If anyone was going to be furious, it should be her, shouldn't it?

Standing there with Preston, their eyes locked in a tense standoff, Melanie finally decided to break the silence when he refused to speak.

Just as she opened her mouth, his deep, magnetic voice cut through the air.

"Get in."

It was a sharp, two-word command. Already in a foul mood, Melanie couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes.

But operating on the principle that they needed to hash things out, she pulled open the passenger door and slid in.

Preston got behind the wheel and smoothly pulled the car into traffic.

The white BMW tore down the streets.

The entire ride was suffocatingly silent.

It wasn't until she realized they weren't heading toward Rosevale Heights that she finally spoke up. He had veered off the main road and was driving up a dirt path into the mountains.

"Where are you taking me?"

The moment she asked, Preston slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt.

They were completely surrounded by a dense, pitch-black forest, the kind of absolute darkness that triggered a primal sense of dread.

It was completely desolate and eerily silent.

Just Preston and Melanie.

Preston stared straight ahead into the gloom for a long moment before turning his head to look at her.

"Bringing you to a place like this... are you scared?"

Melanie met his gaze. His eyes were like pools of ink, deeper and darker than the woods surrounding them.

After a brief pause, she smiled.

"No."

Preston blinked, caught off guard.

"Because of you and your ex, I couldn't focus on a single damn thing all day! Time is money! If you don't explain yourself right now, I'll strangle you and leave your body in this ditch!"

Even though he knew she was exaggerating, the absolute fury in her expression was very real. Preston couldn't help but let out a helpless, affectionate laugh.

"So... you saw a photo of me and Elara, and you were so jealous it ruined your whole workday?"

When he phrased it like that, Melanie pressed her lips together and refused to answer.

"To think I made my workaholic girlfriend lose her focus... were you really that jealous?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Melanie slapped him hard on the chest.

He was the one who had chased her relentlessly in the beginning, so she should be the one holding all the cards. How had the power dynamic suddenly shifted?

"Wipe that smirk off your face, or I swear I'll never speak to you again!"

Melanie crossed her arms over her chest, feigning absolute indifference.

Preston's burning gaze remained fixed on her face, making her cheeks flush with heat.

"I'm sorry, Honey. I was wrong... I can explain the photo, and I promise... I won't let Elara manipulate a situation like that again. So please, Honey... promise me you won't bring other men into our home either, okay?"