The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 302

Chapter 217: Through her tears, Part 2.-1

Alexander

The engine runs constantly, almost hypnotically. And inside the car… there’s nothing. No music, no wor Just the sound of the road and her breathing uneven… broken at times.

I keep driving, my hands firm on the wheel, my gaze fixed ahead… but my attention isn’t entirely on the road. It’s beside me, in her.

I barely turn my head… Vanessa is leaning against the window, her gaze lost on some point that doesn’t exist.

She doesn’t blink much. She doesn’t move. She doesn’t speak. It’s as if everything she had inside… has already been released. And what remains… is emptiness. That makes me uncomfortable, not because! don’t understand the pain, but because… I’m not used to seeing her like this. Not her. Vanessa is always in control, always has an answer, always maintains her composure. This isn’t that

I look back ahead, my jaw clenches slightly. I don’t ask anything, not yet. Because there are times when talking… doesn’t help. And this… is one of those.

My hand moves almost reflexively to the inside of my jacket.

I search in the pocket and pull out a clean, simple white handkerchief.

I extend it to her without looking directly at her.

“Here.”

There’s no immediate response, but after a few seconds… her hand moves. Slowly, heavily. She takes it without looking at me, without saying anything, just holds it between her fingers.

And then… she brings it to her face, carefully wiping it away. As if that gesture were the only thing she can do now to hold herself together.

I keep driving, the light changes, and I move forward.

I turn at the next street, I recognize the route. I’m taking the road to her house, it’s automatic, the logical the right thing to do. But then…

“No.”

Her voice breaks the silence, low raspy

I glance at her, she’s still looking outside.

“Don’t take me home

There’s something in that tone. Something that isn’t just a request, it’s rejection Rejection of the the of loneliness, of what awaits her there I don’t say anything yet.

She swallows and then turns her head slightly toward me

“I don’t want to be alone tonight”

T

There it is, direct, without masks. Without pride, without anything. Just truth

Really…” she adds, more quietly. “I’m not feeling well.”

I grip the steering wheel a little tighter and sit down. I don’t need anything else I change lanes I take the next exit, the route changes

“Then I’ll take you to my house.”

It’s not a question, not a suggestion. It’s a decision, and she doesn’t argue, doesn’t respond. She just lets herself be led. The rest of the drive is silent again, but it’s not the same silence as before. This one is heavier, more conscious, more… intimate.

I glance at her again, and the handkerchief is still clutched tightly in her hand. As if it were the only thing steady in that moment. And for the first time since I picked her up… I don’t see her as a piece on a chessboard. Not as a dangerous woman, nor as someone playing a game. I see her… as someone who has just lost something important, very important. And doesn’t know how to cope after that.

I exhale slowly, turn my gaze back to the road, and keep driving. Because tonight… it’s not about understanding, it’s about not leaving her alone.

The drive to my house passes without either of us trying to fill it, and I don’t try. Because whatever she’s carrying… it’s not going to come out just by being persistent.

I arrive, the gate opens.

I go inside… Everything is exactly as it always is… tidy, immaculate, silent. But she doesn’t belong in that scene right now.

Vanessa gets out of the car without me having to say a word. I watch her as she walks a few steps ahead of me, slower than usual, as if each movement requires extra effort.

We enter, the door opens, and my housekeeper appears immediately, with the polished discretion of someone who knows when to speak and when to remain silent.

Her gaze falls on Vanessa, and she notices. Of course she notices, but she says nothing

Thents:

LUCK DRAW >

29

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