The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 289

<Chapter 207-Misunderstanding

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Chapter 207: A Misunderstanding.

Clara

I take a step back almost instinctively. I don’t know if it’s because of the way Ethan is standing in the doorway… or because of the way his gaze shifts from me… to Alexander… and then back to me. He doesn’t say anything. And that… is worse.

Alexander doesn’t move immediately either. His reaction is different. Much more controlled, even… comfortable.

He smiles.

“We have a visitor at the company, Mr. Blackwood,” he says in that measured tone of his. “It’s good to see you here.”

I feel something inside me tense up. I don’t like it. I don’t like that tone, I don’t like the timing, I don’t like… any of this.

I look at Ethan. He’s still silent. His jaw is tense. His eyes… aren’t angry in the explosive way I feared. They’re… hard. And that worries me even more.

I don’t want this to escalate here. Not in the office. Not in front of anyone… So I take a deep breath and regain control before anything breaks.

“Can you leave me alone with my fiancé, Alexander, for a moment?”

My voice is firm. Firmer than I feel inside.

Alexander looks at me, then at Ethan. And nods.

“Of course.”

He starts walking toward the door, and as he passes Ethan… He pats him on the shoulder. A brief gesture, but enough. I see Ethan’s eyes barely drop at that touch. And how his expression changes, not much. But enough for me to notice. So I can feel it, Alexander leaves, the door closes. And now… Silence falls with all its weight.

My heart is pounding, very pounding. I take a step toward Ethan.

“My love…” I say softly. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

୮

He doesn’t answer, he doesn’t move. He just looks at me, and in that look… there’s so much. Questions, discomfort. And something else… something I recognize. Insecurity.

I swallow, I understand. Of course I understand. I exhale slowly.

“It’s not what it looks like…”

He swallows, I see him do it. I can almost hear him. And then, finally, he speaks.

“Explain it then…” he says, his voice low, restrained. “Because it does look like what I saw.”

The way he says it… isn’t aggressive. But it is direct. No filters, no softening of anything. And I can’t help

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but feel that little tug in my chest. Because I know exactly what he saw, he saw us close, he saw us hugging. He saw us in a mornent that, from the outside… doesn’t look professional. It looks… personal.

I take a deep breath.

“We just closed the Boston project,” I begin. “The partner came by unexpectedly. He reviewed everything and gave the go-ahead to start construction today. In a month, we’re opening in a month, Ethan.”

I look at him, holding his gaze.

“Ethan… this is huge.”

He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t look away either.

“It was a moment of emotion,” I continue. “Of accomplishment. Of… relief.” I pause briefly. “That hug… that’s what it was.”

Silence… I feel my own words hanging between us. But I know it’s not enough, not for him. Not now.

I take another step toward him.

“There’s nothing between Alexander and me,” I add, more gently. “Nothing beyond work.”

His expression doesn’t completely change, but something in his eyes… shifts.

“What you saw… isn’t what you’re thinking.”

He finally looks down for a second… and then back at me.

“What I saw…” he says, “was another man touching you too familiarly.”

There it is, it’s not an exaggerated complaint. It’s something much simpler, much more honest. And harder

to ignore.

I feel a small lump in my throat.

“I understand why you saw it that way…” I reply. “But it’s not like that.”

I move a little closer. Close enough so there’s no distance between us.

“It’s not like that for me.”

My voice is lower, more intimate… clearer.

“And you know it.”

He watches me silently, as if measuring every word. Every gesture. Every intention.

“I came because you left this…” he says suddenly, reaching into his pocket.

୮

He takes out my phone. He holds it between his fingers for a second… the tension barely breaks.

“You forgot it… a little while ago, while I was coming here. I noticed you had a lot of missed calls from him.”

I blink, surprised.

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“”I let out a small, nervous laugh. “Yes, I noticed. Just before the partner arrived, he… he said he called, but… “I extend my hand, but he doesn’t let go immediately.

“I also came because wanted to see you, amidst your morning rush. I feel like we didn’t say goodbye properly,” he adds.

My gaze softens.

“Ethan…”

But then his expression hardens slightly again.

“And I found this.”

Silence.

There it is again, the weight, the moment. I don’t withdraw my

“Look at me,” I say gently.

He already is.

“I’m here with you,” I continue. “Not with him.”

My voice doesn’t tremble, doesn’t hesitate.

hand.

“I’m building something with you. Not with anyone else… You’re my fiancé, I’m yours… Ethan. But this is my job, and regardless, Alexander is part of my team, and today, today I was overcome with emotion for something truly significant in my career.”

The air between us shifts slightly, subtly. But I feel it.

“It’s you,” I add, more quietly. “It’s always been you… This, God, I’m so embarrassed that you saw this, but my love, it’s always you.”

His eyes remain on mine, and for a second… It seems that everything else fades away. But not entirely, because this… isn’t completely resolved. Not yet, and I know it. And so does he.

“I just came to return your phone. Be more careful next tirne.”

୮

His tone is serious. I reach for my phone, bite my lower lip, and feel like crap about this.

“Ethan…”

“I have to go now. I need to be at rny office. I was supposed to be there half an hour ago, and… the traffic was terrible.”

His expression is different; I know the displeasure remains.

“You’ll come pick me up, right?”

That’s what he said this morning…

“I’ll wait for you at home. I have a visitor in my office. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, then I’ll send a driver for you.”

<Chapter 207 Misunderstanding

Those words-it was obvious. Therein lies his annoyance.

“It’s… it’s fine.”

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He nods, gently runs his hand-along my cheek, and leans in to kiss me. I’m surprised at how he manages his emotions despite the discomfort.

“We’ll talk about it at home. This isn’t the time for… for explanations.”

I nodded hesitantly.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“Me too…”

He turns away, and before he can leave, I pull him close and hug him. I don’t say anything, and neither does he. I just hug him, feeling foolish for doing so, knowing this awkward moment is going to lead to an

uncomfortable conversation with him.

“See you, darling.”

His-tone remains serious. I feel him take my hand and gently remove it from his body. Without another word, Ethan walks toward the exit and heads down the hallway.

“Shit,” I mutter.

Why did I do that?

I admit, emotion got the better of me.

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