Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 367

But right now, the craving hit him with relentless force, crashing over him like a tidal wave.

The longing, the love, the guilt, and the regret that he had forcefully suppressed for years tore at his soul like vicious beasts.

He signed a quick message to Leo, stood up, and left Summer's office.

He found a male employee and asked for a cigarette, but he didn't light it. Instead, he simply snapped it in half and held the broken tobacco to his nose, breathing in the scent.

The window in the stairwell was wide open. The cold wind howled against him, but it couldn't blow away the deep regret, hatred, agony, and love he still harbored for Xenia.

But speaking of love now was nothing more than a sick joke.

He looked down, a bitter laugh escaping his lips, completely engulfed in a suffocating cloud of loneliness.

As he walked back from the stairwell, he coincidentally ran into Vivian as she was leaving. Summer and Leo were keeping her company while she waited for the elevator.

Miles knew Xenia didn't want to look at him, so he forcefully restrained his gaze, gave a brief nod, and turned toward Summer's office.

The moment Miles stepped inside, the elevator arrived, and the three of them stepped in.

"It's so soft. Such a good kitty," Vivian murmured, holding little Serenity and gently stroking its fur.

Serenity purred in delight, sticking out its tiny pink tongue and playfully extending its paws, putting on a full display of cuteness.

Vivian fell even more in love. Who could resist something so adorable?

Leo watched the kitten with an indulgent smile, reaching out to catch the tiny paw swatting in his direction.

Suddenly, the elevator jolted violently. The overhead lights flickered frantically.

With a harsh grind, the elevator ground to a halt, plunging them into absolute darkness.

A sharp screech echoed from the kitten.

Summer immediately turned on her phone's flashlight and aimed it toward Vivian.

At some point, Vivian had collapsed to the floor, curled into a tight ball. She was clutching the kitten so fiercely that little Serenity was crying out in pain.

While Summer calmly ordered her assistant via the intercom to hit the emergency button and contact maintenance, she quickly glanced at Leo.

Leo's face was chalk-white. His heart hammered against his ribs, and his hands gripped the armrests of his wheelchair in a white-knuckle hold. It was obvious the sudden malfunction had terrified him.

But he was a brave boy. He didn't want his mother to worry, and he knew Vivian needed comfort more than he did.

Forcing himself to stay composed, he spoke, his slightly awkward speech patterns remarkably steady. "Mom, I'm okay. Check on Vivian. Is she afraid of the dark?"

Summer didn't have time to worry about anything else. She knelt down and saw that Vivian's face was completely drained of color. Her eyes were vacant and unfocused, and her body was shaking uncontrollably.

Summer immediately wrapped her arms around her, gently rubbing her back. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here. Don't be afraid. You're safe."

Summer continuously stroked Vivian's rigid, trembling back.

Once Vivian was slightly less tense, Summer carefully pried the distressed kitten out of her grip.

Leo immediately took Serenity, cradling the kitten in his arms and stroking its fur to calm it down.

Even then, he didn't forget to look at Vivian with deep concern.

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