Why?

Just look at him. I'd give him everything I own.”

Melissa listened with a dull expression.

The proprietress continued speaking, saying things like, "If a man like that loves me, I'd be willing to even give 20 years of my life."

Out of the blue, Melissa inquired, "Will he always suffer if he despises me?"

The proprietress affirmed, "Naturally. He's human, not a machine."

Melissa pressed further. "What if I'm undeserving of him? What would he do?"

The proprietress chuckled. "Well, all I can say is that that's his decision to make, not yours. If he likes you, you're worthy of him.

Think about all those girls from rich families he had blind dates with! They should be considered ‘worthy of his love', but then what?

He still wouldn't choose them if they didn't capture his heart, now would he?"

Melissa's heart raced.

Locking eyes with the proprietress, she declared, "I need some time off. I want to go to Duefron."

The proprietress, though surprised, patted Melissa reassuringly.

"Freshen up and change before you head out."

"Alright," Melissa responded, tears glistening in her eyes. She aimed to be courageous this time. After all, she had confronted Ryan's mother, causing her a concussion. What else couldn't she face?

Melissa's intention was clear-to seek out Marcus in Duefron.

She yearned to confess the truth and question his feelings. Did he still desire her?

Three hours later, Melissa flagged down a taxi from Duefron Airport to the Fowler Group. Serendipitously, it was lunchtime. During the journey, she grabbed onigiri, a favorite of Marcus, from a sushi restaurant.

The atmosphere in the Fowler Group's lobby shifted noticeably when Melissa entered.

There were now at least 36 different versions circulating about the relationship between Marcus and Melissa, but the outcome of each version was grim-they had broken up.