The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 352

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<Chapter 262 Your Last Day, Part 1

Chapter 262: Your Last Day, Part 1.

Ethan

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I checked the calendar once more… Friday, Vanessa’s last day at the company. For some reason, that should have put me at ease from the start of the morning… but it didn’t. Not immediately… There was a strange unease inside me. Like a rotten root that had been buried too long and, even though it was being pulled out, still left disturbed soil.

I sighed, picked up the check on my desk, and stared at it for a few seconds before placing it back on the mahogany table. Final payment, settlement. The end.

I tapped the table gently with my fingers.

“Come in.”

My assistant came in carrying a folder.

“Mr. Blackwood, the documents for…”

“It’s good you’re here,” I interrupted calmly. “Please remind Vanessa that she needs to hand over the office equipment today and formally transfer her position to her successor.”

She nodded immediately.

“Of course, sir.”

I was about to leave when I spoke again.

“Oh… and tell her to stop by my office at the end of the day.”

Natalie hesitated for barely a second.

“Would you like me to schedule more time for you?”

I shook my head.

“It won’t be necessary.”

She nodded and left in silence; the door closed behind her. I was left alone, and for the first time in long time, I understood something with absolute elarity. I didn’t want to have any kind of connection with Vanessa anymore, none whatsoever. No after-hours calls, no unnecessary meetings, no awkward encounters, no tense silences. Nothing… Because it had all crossed too many lines. And I had allowed some of it.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a few seconds. Clara immediately appeared in my mind Her laughter, her voice. The way she looked at me when she believed in me, even on my worst days. I felt guilty because, even though I never loved Vanessa… I was selfish with her. I gave her space in my life, too much. And she mistook that for possibilities.

The rest of the day dragged on, terribly slow. I signed contracts, attended meetings. I answered calls, but my patience was wearing thin. And Vanessa… Vanessa avoided being too close to me.

Chapter 263 Tour Last Day, Part 1

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It wasn’t like other days; she didn’t arrive with unnecessary documents. She didn’t try to offer me coffee, she didn’t seek to be alone with me in a room. And yet, I could feel her presence in the building. As if tension lingered in the hallways.

When the clock finally struck the end of the day, I slowly let out a breath. Finally.

! picked up the check again; there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Vanessa entered, dressed entirely in black. Elegant, beautiful, and tired. Her eyes were perfectly made up, but even so, the emotional toll she was carrying was evident.

She closed the door behind her, not smiling. Neither did I. I barely glanced at her.

“Sit down.”

She remained standing. Then I simply held out the check to her.

“Here you are.”

Vanessa took it slowly, looked at the amount, and then looked up at me. And she smiled slightly. But it was a bitter, empty smile.

“Until you’re done with me, aren’t you?”

I looked at her silently, not answering. Because any response would only make things worse.

She lowered the check slowly.

“If I had known that this time working with you wasn’t going to be valued… I would have left a long time ago.”

I rested my forearms on the desk.

“I valued it for as long as I needed to,” I said honestly. “That’s why I hope another place gives you the recognition you deserve.”

She let out a small, hurt laugh.

“I didn’t want accolades, Ethan. You know that.”

I nodded slowly.

“Yes. I know.”

The silence fell between us, heavy, unbearable.

“But I can’t give you what you wanted either.”

I saw her swallow, her fingers closing around the check. And for a second I thought she was going to cry. But Vanessa was proud. Too proud to cry in front of me.

“You know what the worst part was?” she asked softly. “That you made me believe I had a chance.”

< Chapter 262-Your-Last Day, Part 1

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Lelosed my eyes for just a moment, because she was right. And I hated that.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t upfront with you from the start,” I admitted. “I don’t think I should have brought you into my life the way I did. + gave you hope where there was none.”

She laughed again, this time angrily.

“Hope? Is that what you call it?”

I didn’t answer.

“Do you know how many times I thought you were going to choose me?” she continued. “Do you know how many times I thought Clara was just a phase?”

My jaw tightened.

“Vanessa…”

“No! Let me speak because I’m not coming back here after today.”

She breathed heavily.

“Every time you allowed me… allowed me to be there… every time you made me a part of your life… every time you called me for work, let me accompany you to events… I thought you were feeling something for me.”

I stared at her.

“I did feel affection for you.”

She let out a bitter laugh.

“Affection doesn’t do this.”

She pointed to her chest.

“Affection doesn’t destroy someone like this.”

Guilt hit me hard because she was partly right. Maybe I never meant to hurt her. But I hurt her anyway, and deeply.

Vanessa looked down for a few seconds; when she looked back at me, her eyes were glassy.

“Do you love her that much?”

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