The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 334

Chapter 244-ring Without trading

Chapter 244: Caring Without Invading.

Ethan

There are days when an entire company is functioning, and yet you still feel like nothing is quite right. That Thursday was one of those days. I had three financial reports in front of me, two acquisition proposals, a meeting with investors in forty minutes, and my phone buzzing every ten minutes with issues I would normally handle effortlessly. Normally, anyway. But Clara was in Boston. And so was my mind.

I stared at the laptop screen without really looking at the numbers, imagining the weather there. The rain. The project under pressure. The tension in her jaw when something gets complicated and she tries to maintain composure while internally calculating twenty solutions at once. Then another thought appeared

Alexander.

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly.

I wasn’t worried about Clara. I trusted her more than I ever thought possible to trust anyone. What bothered me was him, his unavoidable proximity. A shared flight, hours together, problems to solve side by side. Crises bring people together. They always do, and Alexander is the kind of man who knows how to exploit emotional cracks, awkward silences, moments of vulnerability.

Would he stare at her too much? Would he try to make himself indispensable? Would he use his calm demeanor to intrude where he wasn’t wanted? The mere thought made my jaw clench.

I picked up my phone, wanting to call her… I didn’t. Clara would hate to feel like I was watching her, and she’d be right. So I did something more mature and far less satisfying: I kept working.

I lasted exactly seven minutes. There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Vanessa entered with a folder in her hand and the impeccable confidence of someone who refuses to go down without a fight. She was dressed soberly, elegantly, professionally; she always knew how to present herself well to the world.

“I need fifteen minutes,” she said.

I looked at my watch.

“You have ten.”

She closed the door behind her and sat down without being invited. Nothing new.

She slid the folder toward me.

“Transition matters pending. I want to get everything sorted out before I leave.”

I opened the document-organized, precise, complete. Nothing new there either, Vanessa always did a good job.

I reviewed key points while she talked about accounts, suppliers, internal timelines, and the people who would have to take over certain tasks when I left for good. I answered only what was necessary specific questions, brief instructions, no room for anything else. When I finished, I closed the folder.

Chapter 244-aring Without invading

“It’s well prepared.”

Thank you.”

Silence.

She didn’t move. I knew what that meant. The real part of the visit was coming.

Vanessa slowly crossed her legs.

“When is your wedding?”

I looked up a

“Soon.”

“Tha

rprised. Just tired.

ve you one.”

peared on her lips, sad. More sad than ironic.

arming.”

still changing the subject.”

ed around the office, as if memorizing it.

be big?”

nswered without thinking, because that’s what I really wanted to talk about.

It’ll be intimate.”

She nodded slowly.

“Clara would like that.”

I said nothing.

“She always pref not out of int

Vanessa

“Don’t

she continued. That made me look at her more closely

now.”

<Chapter 244 eating Without invaring

#15 Paint

The sentence hung between us for a few seconds, awkward because of its honesty. I didn’t contradict her, because I couldn’t.

“And you?” I finally asked. “What will you do when your days here are over?”

She barely shrugged.

“Leave.”

“I already understood that.”

“Maybe I’ll go back to my father’s city for a while.”

Her tone was casual, too casual.

“I need distance.”

I nodded once, not promising help. Not offering comfort, not opening emotional doors I shouldn’t have.

Vanessa watched me, waiting for something more. There wasn’t any.

“You could say you’re sorry,” she murmured.

“I’m sorry it ended like this.”

It was true. Just not in the way she wanted.

“But it was necessary.”

Her expression hardened slightly.

“Always so decisive.”

“I learned to be so late.”

We remained silent… Then she stood up. She picked up her bag.

“I hope you’re happy this time, Ethan.”

The phrase could have sounded kind, but it wasn’t entirely. Nor was it cruel, more like exhausted.

г

1 looked directly at her.

am

act before she could hide it.

ed to the door and stopped, her hand on the handle.

lucky

ok my head.

<Chapter 244-Caring Without invading

“No.” I paused. “I’m the lucky one.

She didn’t turn around, just opened the door and left. The office fell silent. I checked my phone again, no new messages from Boston. That worned me more than I’d admit out loud.

I picked up my phone and typed just three words.

“Have you eaten anything yet?”

I sent it… Because while other men are wondering how to approach a woman… I’m still learning how to take care of her without invading her space.

Comments

LUCK DRAW

Vote

273

Chapter 245-The Work of My Hands, Parf

#20 Phanta