Chapter 8

“Irene,” Albert approached and held my hand. “I’ve never remarried. You’ve always been in my heart.”

I looked at our clasped hands and suddenly asked, “Would you be willing to stay in this small town for me and give up your position as the CEO?”

Albert was taken aback. I could see his hesitation. My expression remained calm, even emotionless.

“You said there were many misunderstandings between us, but I understand all of them. And I know that the Austin Group and your position in the business world are far more important to you than I am.”

“So before our marriage, you wanted to marry a rich heiress for a business alliance. After our marriage, you were ambiguous with those ladies. Do you know when I made up my mind to give up?”

“It wasn’t when Vera told me you were going to marry a more powerful woman and asked me to leave on my own. Nor was it when I unilaterally proposed divorce and you readily agreed. It was when I discovered the blueprint of the mansion you designed yourself in college to marry a rich heiress.”

After my divorce from Albert, I had to wait for thirty days to get the divorce certificate.

The next day, Albert left for a business trip abroad due to a company merger, while I was in a very awkward situation. I was neither his wife nor could I immediately cut ties.

I had planned to move out of the master bedroom, but unexpectedly, a team of construction workers moved in one after another.

“You don’t need to move,” Vera’s assistant said with a hypocritical smile.

“How could a rich young lady live in a room you once occupied? Besides, Mr. Austin designed a mansion himself in college to marry a noble lady.”

“From the architectural style to the interior decoration, everything was custom–made at the highest level, which is worthy of Mr. Austin’s status.”

The Austin Group was financially strong and bought the entire plot of land to build a mansion. I stood on the balcony, watching that mansion, from the blueprint to the physical structure, from the foundation to the roof, luxurious and magnificent, breathtaking.

At that moment, I finally woke up.

No matter how many times I prepared lunch for him, no matter how many times I tied the carefully selected tie for him, I was ultimately just an unexpected interlude in his life.

That mansion didn’t belong to me. Nor did Albert.

“You promised not to remarry within five years, and you still have feelings for me. I believe that. But you tacitly allowed the rumors about you and Ms. Paisley to spread and tied the interests of the Austin Group to her family.”

“That’s undeniable. You asked me to go back to Santarisom with you, wanting to be with me again, but you’ll never be willing to give up your family business for me.”

I sighed in a low voice, “You’re smart and composed. You should understand that you can’t have both me and the Austin Group. And I know you will never choose me.”

“Irene.” Albert’s voice was hoarse. The usually calm and self–controlled elite CEO now appeared vulnerable.

“It was my fault for not cherishing you before and making you suffer. I’ll talk to my mother and she’ll change her attitude. The entire Austin family will respect you, and we can live happily. It has nothing to do with the Austin Group. Why…”

I sighed softly. “It seems you still can’t make a choice.”

Albert froze, subconsciously loosening his grip.

“Albert, you have your brilliant career, and I have my own life pursuits. Maybe they’re ordinary, but I’m content. Some flowers bloom in the wild, in the desolate plains. But your brilliant life isn’t in the wild. You and I are destined to be apart.”