?Chapter 1035:

    Ethan had recently acquired a small financialpany that needed someone to manage it. The team was still being put together. Ethan had nned to use this as a way to ce Gracie there, but she had no interest in leaving the current building. She wanted to be near Ethan. In her eyes, Brenna didn’t even need both floors.

    Knowing she was dependent on Ethan’s protection, she didn’t dare offend him too much. She clutched her phone, tempted several times to call Ethan. But in the end, she couldn’t resist and called, only to find his phone was off.

    She stared at the screen, her frustration mounting. In her mind, this was all Brenna’s fault. No matter how long she sat and stewed, she couldn’t figure out a single way to force Brenna out.

    While she wrestled with her thoughts, Brenna and Thiago sat in a quiet corner of a restaurant. They were going over revisions to a proposal, sipping orange juice as they talked. Around eleven, Lyndon arrived at the restaurant and joined them.

    Lyndon, a man in his thirties with a calm demeanor, walked in. “Miss Harper. Mr. Moreno. Sorry to keep you waiting. I left as soon as I got the call, but the road was long, and traffic slowed me down.”

    “No worries, Mr. Wilde. Have a seat and order whatever you like. Miss Harper’s covering lunch today,” Thiago said as he passed Lyndon the menu with a smile.

    “Excuse me, looks like the ce is full. Mind if I sit here and join you?” Darwin positioned himself by the table, offering a courteous smile as he asked Brenna if he could join her.

    He had spent the past several days trying to get Brenna to meet him—lunch, dinner, a movie—yet each time, she either turned him down politely or didn’t respond at all. Still, his interest in her hadn’t wavered. He meant to keep trying. Today, he’d sent her another message, but she hadn’t replied. Figuring he had nothing to lose, he took a chance and stopped by the restaurant, hoping their paths might cross.

    Surprisingly, he actually ran into her.

    Darwin felt lucky.

    Brenna was busy going over revision notes with Lyndon and hadn’t realized someone was waiting beside her.

    When she finally nced up, Darwin’s neatlyposed expression came into view.

    At that moment, Gracie’s smug face shed through her thoughts, and she immediately assumed Ethan had been treating her well.

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    Wanting to get back at Ethan, she said, “Sure. There’s room here. Sit wherever you like. I hope the food suits your taste.”

    “I’m not picky,” Darwin replied. Watching her immersed in a work conversation, he realized she hadn’t been making excuses about being busy after all. She truly had her hands full. The frustration he’d been feeling these past few days faded quickly.

    He introduced himself to Thiago and Lyndon with a handshake, then began eating.

    Once Brenna wrapped up her conversation with Lyndon, Darwin finally had a moment to speak to her. “Brenna, want to y tennis with me tonight? I found a new tennis club that just opened. The ce is actually pretty nice.”

    “Alright,” she replied, though her agreement was half-hearted. She nned to wait and see. If Ethan came to apologize and exin himself, she wouldn’t go. If he stayed silent, she’d go just to spite him.

    “I’ve got work to finish this afternoon, so I’ll leave now,” Darwin said, settling the bill at the cashier before leaving. “I’lle pick you up when you’re done for the day.”

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