You Are The Apple of My Eyes novel Chapter 781

Bryant got up and fetched a warm towel for Valerie, giving her some time to calm down.

When he returned, he gently wiped her face with the towel. The moist warmth of the towel had a soothing effect on Valerie for her body eventually stopped trembling.

Bryant asked her, "Earlier, you implied that Leon threatened you. What did he say?"

Valerie held onto the towel. The fluffy white fabric was now stained with all the colors of her makeup: different shades of brown, black from her mascara, and red from her lipstick and cheek tint.

Now bare-faced, her skin was smooth and fair like a baby's. In contrast, the towel looked as if it had been dropped into a muddy puddle.

Valerie gripped the towel in her hands.

She answered, "Leon blamed me for the rumors about our relationship. He told me to do something to stop them and asked how long it would take. Finally, he warned me that he didn't want to wait too long."

When she recalled Leon's dangerous smirk, her scalp tingled as if something had crawled up her spine.

Bryant frowned in concern. "So he wants you to stop the rumors from spreading further. Did you tell him how long it would take for you to do that?"

"No, I didn't." Valerie's voice wobbled as she started to cry again. "He didn't mind the rumors before. Why should I be the only one to stop them? And what can I do? Should I explain myself to everyone, one by one? How can I make it clear that we're not a couple? I don't know how to explain it in a way that won't make me lose face."

She dropped her head to rest on her knees as she continued to speak. "How could he do this? How could he blame it all on me? He's the only one who benefits out of the rumors. I know that he threatened me because he's worried that Michelle might hear the rumors and misunderstand."

Her arms hung limply by her sides, but her hands curled into fists as she complained about the injustice.

"It's been three years, Valerie, but you still don't know Leon at all." Bryant felt a headache coming on so he massaged the space between his eyebrows. "To that guy, there are only two kinds of people in the world: people he cares about and people he can use.

When he cares about someone, he would do anything for that person, no matter the cost. You, of all people, should know that."

Valerie's back stiffened.

Yes, she knew. She used to be on the receiving end of Leon's thoughtfulness.

Bryant continued, "As for the people he doesn't care about, he finds ways for them to be of use to him, and he would make the most of it. When rumors about you two arose, he used you as a shield so that other women would not approach him.

He said and did nothing to refute those rumors because, in that way, he was taking advantage of you." Bryant smiled helplessly.

Should he should feel lucky that Leon regarded him as a friend?

But they weren't just friends. They were also connected because of business. Although the Feng Group was listed under his name, the chairman of the board was Nina and the second largest shareholder was Leon. When Vance and Donald reached the age of majority, they too would have executive positions.

Bryant was merely a manager with a high pay grade. His own shares in the company were less than ten percent.

If he failed to make the Feng Group successful, he would be held responsible for it, and the Feng family on C Island would also be implicated.

So his and Leon's vested interest in the group was greater than their friendship.

But because they were friends, Leon treated him with kindness and patience.

Bryant and Valerie fell silent, lost in their own thoughts. It got so quiet in the room that one could hear a pin drop. The man sighed occasionally while his cousin hiccupped.

Bryant's words made Valerie feel even more depressed. "But...he said that we were friends. He shouldn't have used me like that."

Bryant got up once more to sit on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. He pressed his fingers together and pressed his forehead against them. He looked as if he was struggling with something, but after a pause, he turned to look at her. "Valerie, do you really want me to spell it out for you?"

Valerie slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes were swollen, making her seem like a delicate and pitiful lily that had been buffeted by strong winds and rain.

This was her usual trick.