Richest Mogul

and make

Annie turned to Emma and said, “You can head back to the office. Make sure the video edits are done. I have something else to take care of.”

Emma nodded quickly. “Sure, Ms. Silver.”

Over an hour later, Steven returned to his apartment. He had recently bought this new place, a spacious unit in a complex where several of his colleagues also lived.

This apartment was going to be his future home with Mona.

As he was about to unlock the door, someone suddenly hugged him from behind. He froze for a moment, then snapped out of it.

Thinking it was Mona, he spoke with a playful tone, “Stupid girl, didn’t you say today’s update wasn’t ready and you’d come back tomorrow? Why are you here now?”

This kind of spontaneous surprise was exactly something Mona would do.

His voice was filled with affection, a tone that clearly showed how much he cared for Mona.

When Annie heard Steven’s words, it felt like a knife had been driven straight into her heart. The pain was so intense that it made it difficult for her to breathe. She had to take a few deep breaths just to regain some composure.

Her eyes welled up with tears. There was a deep sense of hurt, mixed with a longing for the

closeness she once had with him.

But when the person hugging him didn’t speak, Steven began to sense something off. A strange perfume filled his senses, not the one Mona wore. His face immediately darkened as he pushed the person away.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

The question was sharp and instinctive. Then, in the next moment, he saw her–Annie.

The moment Steven saw Annie, his expression shifted instantly. His brow furrowed, and his face turned cold. “Why is it you? What are you doing at my place? How do you even know where I live?”

His barrage of questions sent a chill through Annie, freezing her in place. Tears streamed down her face. It was the first time in years she had felt this vulnerable, this defeated.

“Steven, do you really have to treat me like this?” Annie shot back, her voice trembling with All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

emotion.

All the promises they once made to each other flashed through her mind–their vows,

their

shared dreams about the future. It all felt like yesterday, so vivid and sincere.

She wondered if all of that had been wiped from his memory because of Mona.

If it had been someone truly exceptional like herself, maybe she could accept it. But Mona was just an online writer and not even a well–known one. She was so ordinary, with such a simplistic personality, that it was hard to believe he could genuinely love her.

Steven frowned, his face still expressionless. “We made everything clear years ago, Annie. We shouldn’t be crossing paths anymore, and you shouldn’t be coming here.”

“You’re right, that was years ago. I made a mistake back then, but it’s been so long. But Steven, are you really going to keep hating me forever? I’ve explained it before–I was a Silver back then. I had no choice but to follow my parents‘ wishes.

“They controlled my every move. But since then, every single day, I’ve regretted it. I never stopped thinking about you. For three years, I’ve held on to any chance to see you.

“And when I heard you had a girlfriend, and you’re planning to marry her, it tore me apart. Seeing you today at the mall, I realized… I can’t lose you.”

Annie’s voice softened, her vulnerability laid bare as she stepped forward. She knew if she didn’t say something now, there would be no more chances. Steven knew her well enough to

understand her words.

She had finally taken that step, her feelings painfully sincere.

Steven looked momentarily stunned. Seeing his reaction, Annie wiped her tears and forced a

smile.

She continued, “I asked someone today if it’s possible to make up for a mistake from the past, and they told me to go after it with everything I’ve got. I don’t want to wait any longer. I know if I do, I’ll lose you completely.”

Her heartfelt confession was enough to make anyone’s heart ache.

Steven’s gaze darkened. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “You lost me a long time ago. I’m getting married. Don’t come looking for me again. Take care of yourself, Annie.”

Chapter 1220