She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 996

He still had that striking mop of white hair, but his usual tailored suits had been swapped out for an aggressively bright ocean-blue Hawaiian shirt and a pair of board shorts covered in a coconut tree print.

He looked utterly ridiculous standing in a corporate office, which perfectly explained why the receptionist had sounded so distressed on the phone.

"Angel!"

Shawn leaped off the waiting room sofa the second he spotted Melanie, throwing his arms wide as he lunged toward her for a hug.

Everett Kingsley, who was standing nearby, looked utterly horrified.

Without missing a beat, Preston stepped smoothly in front of Melanie. Shawn halted immediately, dropping his arms.

"Angel's ex-boyfriend is as hauntingly persistent as ever."

Shawn's eyes narrowed on Preston, that familiar, dangerous edge returning to his gaze.

Melanie stepped up to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Preston, her expression cool.

"Just get back from vacation, Mr. Sterling?"

"Yeah, exactly! I just got back from the Rosa Archipelago. Brought you tons of souvenirs!"

Shawn gestured toward Everett as he spoke.

Melanie followed his gaze.

"Mr. Sterling did bring a massive crate of local snacks," Everett confirmed cautiously. "He said it was to share with the whole company."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Sterling. That was very generous of you."

Melanie kept her tone strictly professional, a polite wall between them.

Shawn sighed, looking theatrically crushed.

"It's been so long since you've seen me. Did you really not miss me at all?"

"Of course I did..."

Melanie flashed a flawless, practiced smile.

She had missed him terribly, actually.

She'd been dying to corner him and rip the truth out of him about whether or not he infected Elina with that virus.

"Oh, right!"

Shawn suddenly snapped his fingers.

He reached into the pocket of his board shorts and pulled out a small, palm-sized velvet box.

"This one... is a special souvenir. Just for my Angel."

Right in front of Preston and Everett, Shawn popped the box open, revealing a sight that left everyone stunned.

Melanie blinked, her smile faltering.

Shawn's voice dropped, carrying a coercive, threatening undertone.

Melanie chuckled, keeping her composure perfectly breezy.

"Preston, accept this on my behalf."

The smug grin on Shawn's face instantly shattered.

As her assistant, it was entirely within Preston's job description to accept gifts from business partners on her behalf.

Preston didn't hesitate. He reached for the box, but Shawn snapped it shut with a sharp *clack* and shoved it aggressively back into his pocket.

The sheer pettiness of it almost made Melanie laugh.

"You're so cruel to me, Angel."

Shawn lowered his gaze, his entire aura bleeding with a dark, predatory hostility.

"Well, to make it up to you, let me treat you to dinner. Consider it a welcome-back meal."

That single sentence instantly brought the bright, psychotic smile back to Shawn's face.

He pointed a thumb straight at Preston.

"I'll agree, as long as he's not invited."