Her infatuation with Leonel was a well-kept secret. He embodied everything she had ever wanted.

Yet, Leonel avoided her advances with a cool detachment.

He gently pushed Anika aside and took a seat on the sofa, resting his hands on his knees while fixing her with an intense gaze.

Feeling let down, Anika closed the door softly behind her.

She smoothed out her dress and managed a strained smile. "You've finally agreed to see me! Have you spoken to Alexis?"

As Leonel pulled out a pack of cigarettes and was about to Light one, his eyes caught sight of a man's coat on the sofa. It was a coat he recognized as his own from a previous visit.

Noticing his focus, Anika glanced at the coat and gave a rueful smile.

"I know what you're thinking. You want to break things off with me so you can chase after her again. You're hoping to reconcile with her, aren't you? But Leonel, think about how many times you've been here and how much we've hung out. She definitely knows about us. We've been over for two months, even though we didn't really slept together. Don't tell me you still expect her to think you're innocent though. Wake up. I bet she despises you and finds you disgusting!"

Anika spat out the words, her voice tinged with bitterness.

She lit a cigarette, and after taking a few drags, she said sarcastically, "I've lost everything. My career's a mess, and even my family and friends look down on me for getting involved with a married man. But it doesn't matter. At least I still have you, Mr. Douglas... You've been dumped by your wife, and your kids can't stand you. Compared to my mess, you're struggling even more, right? You used to have it all."

Leonel looked at her with a cold gaze, his eyes void of any emotion.

In that moment, Anika and he were nothing more than arch enemies.

Yet men often acted more ruthlessly than women. Leonel was determined to settle everything once and for all.

He exhaled a cloud of smoke slowly, and then said casually, "If you leave Duefron and go back to your hometown, I'll arrange for someone to marry you, Anika. That's the last thing I can do for you."

Shocked, Anika asked, "You expect me to marry someone else?"

Leonel crushed his cigarette and rose from the couch, his voice icy.

“I've done all I can. Anika, stop testing my patience! Noreen will book your ticket."

With that, he walked out without a backward glance.

As he reached the door, Anika yelled desperately, “If you never cared for me, why did you ever take me back, Leonel?"

He paused, a smirk playing on his Lips. "That just shows how Little you understand how despicable a man can be."