Chapter 358
Chapter 358:
Erik’s insight took Stewart by surprise.
Stewart had never been one to engage in casual encounters, never placed much faith in something as ephemeral as love. During his college years, he had dated sporadically, only to discover that most women pursued his status rather than his character — the predictable chase grew tedious, prompting him to sever those hollow connections.
After assuming control of the company, he had courted a starlet. She presented herself as guileless yet harbored calculating ambitions beneath that innocent facade, relentlessly pressuring him to invest capital and leverage his influence until she achieved stardom. Nevertheless, she ultimately abandoned him for a fresh face in the industry.
The reality remained stark — he had never formed genuine emotional attachments to any woman who had crossed his path. They served merely as temporary diversions during moments of restlessness. Since none had ever offered authentic affection, their departures had always been swift and uncomplicated.
T𝗵𝖾 𝘣𝖾𝗌𝘵 𝘳𝖾𝗏𝘪𝗲𝘸𝗌 о𝗻
This marked the first occasion anyone had dared suggest he cared too much about a woman’s opinion.
“Why don’t you break it down for me? How exactly do I care so much about Gabriela p>
To Stewart, Gabriela — so youthful and naive — was unlike any mature woman he’d ever been with.
He cared for her? Impossible.
Erik leaned closer, his voice barely audible. “You must promise not to lose your temper p>
Stewart cast him a sideways glance and laughed softly. “Very well p>
Erik continued carefully, “When we first encountered Gabriela again, we were unaware of her memory loss. She declined to assist you with the model repair, and you concluded she had moved forward, erased Allan from her mind, which triggered your anger p>
Stewart found that explanation insufficient. “In the past, Gabriela devoted herself completely to Allan — she would have sacrificed everything for his sake. I don’t p>
“Of course I begrudge her seeking a new man after Allan’s death. But her pretending that none of our shared history held any meaning? That is what infuriated me p>
“That is precisely the problem!” Erik declared. “Mr. Williams, you and Gabriela never shared an intimate bond. Her romantic choices should be irrelevant to you. Why does her personal life provoke such a strong reaction in you p>
Stewart’s body went rigid. Abruptly, he seized the book resting in his palm and delivered a sharp blow to Erik’s forehead. “Have you lost your senses, addressing your employer with such insolence? Since when am I forbidden from caring p>
Erik massaged his wounded head, grumbling, “Gabriela doesn’t belong to you. So what gives you the right to dictate her life p>
“Are you determined to challenge me further?” Stewart lifted the book once more, then suspended it mid-strike.
Six years earlier, he had willingly risked hundreds of millions for her benefit, funding the development of software with virtually no commercial promise. Now, because of her, he found himself outmaneuvered by a young woman. He truly knew very little about Gabriela. If anything, he remained merely the fool who had squandered a fortune on a worthless business venture.
Observing Stewart toss the book back onto his desk, Erik recognized that his words had finally penetrated his employer’s defenses. He exhaled with profound relief. “Mr. Williams, you invest too much emotional energy in Gabriela. When she fails to meet your expectations, disappointment consumes you. You are behaving completely unlike yourself today p>