Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: I Can’t Afford to Play

”That’s not necessary. You don’t have to be so polite to me.” Leon Lynch stared straight ahead, his expression blank.

”But I still wanted to thank you.”

SCREECH! The car stopped abruptly, and since Nora Ainsworth wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, her head nearly slammed into the windshield. Her heart leaped into her throat.

”Is it for your peace of mind, or because I covered for your little secret last night?” His eyes were cold as ice, pinning her in place. ”Nora Ainsworth, you can’t possibly think I’m stupid enough to believe a man and a woman go out drinking late at night, only to sleep in separate rooms, can you?”

Nora Ainsworth’s expression froze. She met his gaze and forced herself to say, ”I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leon Lynch leaned back, rolled down the window, and lit a cigarette. ”Nora Ainsworth, why play dumb with me? I’ve had countless women, so naturally, I don’t care that you’re not a virgin. Just remember this: as long as you’re my fiancée for even one more day, don’t you dare cheat on me. You can’t afford the consequences.”

Nora Ainsworth glared at him. ”Cheat on you? Don’t be so sure of yourself. Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you catch me in the act? Let me tell you something, Leon Lynch, you’ve got it completely backward. I’ve lost count of the times *you’ve* cheated on *me*, yet you have the nerve to bite back!”

Leon Lynch’s face turned livid. ”We’re talking about this right now. Don’t change the subject.”

”If you insist on calling off the engagement, I won’t argue. Besides, we don’t love each other. We’ll never be happy together, so it’s better this way.” She went to open the car door, but he yanked her back forcefully.

Leon Lynch’s eyes darkened. He yanked her into a harsh embrace, completely unlike his usual self—utterly domineering. Nora Ainsworth was stunned by his aggression, and by the time she came to her senses, she realized it wasn’t easy to struggle free.

He held Nora Ainsworth fast. ”Once the game has started, you don’t get to just quit. Nora Ainsworth, I will not call off this engagement. I’ll just wait and see how you juggle things between me and Herman Hawthorne!”

She froze for a moment, then raised her hand and slapped him across the face, the impact stinging her palm.

The red imprint of her five fingers immediately stood out on his icy face.

It felt as if a weight was pressing on her heart. She wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, yet she also felt a profound sense of sorrow.

’I was clearly in Quentin Grant’s car, but everyone assumes I’m involved with a man I’ve never even met.’

”I’m sorry.” She was the first to break the silence. ”Whether we call off the engagement is your prerogative. I have no right to decide.” She got out of the car.

Just as she shut the door, his strained voice followed her out. ”Tell your family the engagement is still on.”

She gave a slight nod, wrapped her coat tightly around herself, and strode quickly away.

Inside the car, Leon Lynch watched her go, his lips pressed into a tight line.

Nora Ainsworth could feel a pair of eyes boring into her back, and she quickened her pace, soon vanishing from his view.

She glanced over her shoulder and, seeing that Leon Lynch’s car was long gone, finally sat down on a roadside bench to rest.

Her temples were throbbing.

She looked up absently and found herself staring into a pair of deep eyes.

Her pupils constricted. Nora Ainsworth immediately got up to leave, but Quentin Grant’s car pulled up beside her. His voice was cold. ”Get in.”

A defiant spark lit Nora Ainsworth’s eyes. ”Last night has already blown up into a huge mess, and now they’re mistaking you for Herman Hawthorne. We can’t see each other anymore. You can do whatever you want, but I can’t afford to play these games!”