While Elara smiled, enjoying the cold wind blowing on her face, refreshing her, Andrew sat in his office, waiting for everyone involved in the project to gather and explain how the proposal had leaked in the first place.
And while he was thinking about the proposal, forcing himself to concentrate, his mind couldn’t help but wander to Elara.
Everything he had believed so far felt like a lie, his heart full of regrets.
He remembered how many times his family, especially his mother and sister, insulted Elara for her humble background, and how many times he stopped her from coming to the company because she wouldn’t understand a thing and didn’t have a business degree.
Even though she topped her university, he never allowed her to work elsewhere, afraid that her identity as his wife would be exposed and that his mother wouldn’t like it.
The number of times his grandfather had asked him to take Elara to a party, and he had always said she wouldn’t relate to a thing at the party.
And all those times when he didn’t let her accompany him, he took Beatrice.
He remembered the time when his mother had questioned her birth origins, and she had gotten so angry and said she was from a reputable family, too.
At that time, everyone had laughed at her rather than believing her.
His grandfather always knew. The only identity they needed to protect was not to tell everyone she was Elara Frost, but that promise didn’t have to apply at home. That was what his grandfather told him.
But did it really matter? Would things have been different? No. For his mother and sister, social life was everything. If they couldn’t tell others she was Elara Frost, she was still as good as useless.
The thought of how wrongly he treated the woman who always greeted him with a smile, even through her pain, who always cared about him, and even went ahead to help his family time after time, writing lyrics for Carla, preparing food for his mother, helping his grandfather with medicinal herbs...
Andrew sat on the chair, covering his face with his hands, his head pounding loudly.
"Sir, we will find the traitor. The team is investigating everyone’s emails and personal belongings to see who leaked the proposal. Please don’t beat yourself up for it," Jason said.
Andrew shook his head. It wasn’t the proposal he was really worried about. It was true, it was a significant project, but they could always get another project, but Elara... he wouldn’t get the same wife, the same woman again. Ever.
Jason looked at his boss before closing the door and walking over to him.
He placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, pressing it comfortingly.
"Is it because of Miss Elara’s identity? Do you regret mistreating her now?" Jason asked.
Andrew looked up with bloodshot eyes and shook his head.
"No, Jason. I have been realizing my mistakes for a couple of months now. I thought I still had a chance. Even after the divorce, I thought I would court her and make her believe I would change for her love, but now everything has changed." Andrew slapped his forehead angrily.
Jason’s gaze wavered at the man he had never seen distressed.
"Sir, please calm down. I know her identity revelation is making you question why a girl like her would come back, but that woman was once madly in love with you. Maybe there’s still some hope for you," Jason said.
Andrew shook his head.
There was no chance. Not now, after what he had done.
Elara would never forgive him for what he did.
"Not now. Not anymore," Andrew said repetitively, tears rolling down his face.
Jason’s heart broke when he saw his boss’s tears, who always acted tough.
Though he wished for Miss Elara to leave his boss when he saw how he treated her, now seeing him repent and regret like this...
"Sir, don’t lose hope. Maybe—" Jason started again but was cut off mid-sentence by Andrew.
"You don’t understand, Jason. I slept with Beatrice. Elara will never forgive me for that," Andrew said.
Jason stood there frozen in his place.
"Sir. What are you talking about? Even though everyone said something was going on between you two when Miss Elara was here, and I really thought you treated Beatrice really well, I never doubted your character. I can’t believe you," Jason said, stepping back from Andrew.
Though Andrew and Elara were divorced, and it wasn’t immoral, Jason still didn’t like the sound of it.
Seeing the only person who trusted him and stayed with him through thick and thin, Andrew took a deep breath before he told Jason everything.
Jason narrowed his eyes at his words.
"Are you kidding me, sir? Miss Beatrice’s and Miss Elara’s forms are completely different. Even the way they do their hair and wear clothes is different. No matter how drunk you were, how could you mistake another woman for Miss Elara? Are you lying to me?" Jason asked.
Andrew shook his head.
"No. Trust me, Jason. I am not lying. I have fallen in love with Elara. You know me. I wouldn’t be ashamed of doing something that I did with a conscious mind," Andrew said.
Jason looked at his boss, who was like his elder brother and best friend, and pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Then in that case, pardon my words, but I sense foul play, sir. Don’t misunderstand, but Miss Beatrice isn’t someone you should underestimate," Jason said.
Andrew shook his head.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Jason? Are you telling me a girl orchestrated her own ra—her dignity to be taken away like this?" Andrew asked.
Jason looked at his boss for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"That’s for you to realize, sir. Think about that night and the morning you woke up—every single detail matters. Maybe you are missing something. I’ll go check how the investigation is coming along," Jason said before he left the office, leaving Andrew deep in thought.