Chapter 18
Every time Andrew heard another piece of good news about Emily, the liquor cabinet in his study would open that night.
He didn’t need anyone to accompany him. Sitting alone in the dark, he would stare out at the city lights through the floor–to–ceiling windows, pouring glass after glass of the strongest whiskey
down his throat.
When he saw the confident smile on Emily’s face as she accepted the award, he would chuckle and smile along with her. Then, without warning, his tears would fall into his burning whiskey, the scorching feeling stinging both his throat and his heart.
His emotions were a tangled mess. The pride he had for her achievements, the regret that had taken root in his bones, and the sense of irreplaceable loss would always devolve into an endless, icy sense of solitude.
As if guarding an unspeakable secret, Andrew discreetly used his means to remove every obstacle in Emily’s path.
Once, a foolish competitor tried to sabotage Emily’s fledgling studio with underhanded tactics. The next day, that company inexplicably found itself the target of a grave business compliance
investigation.
Someone had once secretly stolen Emily’s spot at an international exhibition. But soon after that, the organization was put under intense pressure to restore her spot, a demand they couldn’t
refuse.
Even when the family member of a core member of Emily’s team had difficulties seeking medical treatment, the world’s top medical expert “just so happened” to have an open appointment slot.
Every intervention had been executed flawlessly, leaving no trace that Andrew was behind it.
He no longer sought her gratitude. He even feared she might find out about his actions. This was merely his way of giving himself a reason to exist. It was his trivial, pitiful act of atonement.
The years continued to pass, first one, then two.
One day, a detailed report landed on Andrew’s desk.
Apart from the information regarding the latest milestone in Emily’s career, there was also a
candid photo of her standing side by side with a refined–looking young gentleman. They were
inside a bookstore, reading from the same book with relaxed smiles on their faces.
The man’s eyes rested on her face with open admiration and respect.
According to the report, this was Spencer Hudson, a renowned architect who’d just returned to the country. He came from an illustrious family and was accomplished in his own right. Moreover, he and Emily shared a lot of similarities in their professional careers and design philosophy.
More importantly, he had been her childhood schoolmate who’d interacted with her on multiple
occasions. It wouldn’t be wrong to call him an old acquaintance.
Chapter 18
Recently, they’d reconnected through a cross–disciplinary project and started spending more time together. Emily didn’t seem to reject his attempt to get closer to her.
“Spencer Hudson…” Andrew mumbled, his fingers cold.
The harmonious atmosphere in the photo stung him like a needle, stabbing right in the most tender spot of his heart.
Andrew had Emily by his side for five years, but not once had he ever shared such a peaceful and warm moment with her.
A surge of instinctive jealousy and possessiveness overwhelmed him. He almost gave the order to use every means necessary to drive Spencer out of his sight–and out of Emily’s life completely- just like how he’d easily removed every obstacle in his path before.
But at the very next second, Emily’s calm, pitying gaze appeared in his mind. Her words echoed in his head. “Things between us ended for good long ago.”
What right did he have to interfere? On what grounds could he act in such a manner?
As the agony swept through him, he clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms and drawing blood. He tried to use the physical pain to drown out the torment of jealousy that churned within him, as well as his reluctance to accept reality.
Andrew locked himself in the study for an entire day and night. The floor was covered in empty liquor bottles and the crumpled balls of paper he’d ripped apart.
Just as the sky slowly began to lighten, he hauled up his exhausted body and called Peter, saying hoarsely, “Look into Spencer Hudson and his family’s company. See if they’ve encountered any trouble recently. Don’t let anyone know about this.”
Peter came back with the results of the investigation in no time.
A major project the Hudsons were involved with abroad was currently in a deadlock due to the sudden changes in local government policies. The company’s funding was stretched thin, and Spencer seemed to be traveling in and out of the country frequently in an attempt to sort out this
matter.
Staring at the report, Andrew remained silent for a very long time.
In the end, he made a decision that came as a shock to himself as well.
Instead of adding more pressure onto the Hudson family, he used a discreet international connection he had and provided the project with critical funding through a third–party investor. He made sure it was a completely logical business move that wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.
He also smoothed things over with the local government, quietly resolving the crisis for the Hudsons.
Throughout this entire process, he made sure nothing could be traced back to him. The Hudsons would simply think they were fortunate to have found an investor willing to lend them a hand in their hour of need.
Afterward, Andrew stood on the balcony of the empty villa, watching as the first light of dawn
Charter, 18
rose on the distant horizon. A part of his heart seemed to have died out completely, but at the same time, an odd, painfully serene calm spread through him.
It finally hit him.
When a person loved another to the fullest, the love didn’t come in the form of selfish possession but the grace of letting them go.
It meant wishing her happiness, even if the happiness had nothing to do with him–even if the source of said happiness was another man.
Andrew had destroyed any right he had to be with Emily. All he could do now was ensure that the man who could remain by her side was good enough for her. He had to be good enough to give her all the love, respect, and protection Andrew never gave her.
This final act of stepping aside to ensure Emily’s happiness was the only thing he could give her. It was also the final and cruelest form of punishment he delivered to himself.
A few days later, Andrew called a company board meeting to make a solemn announcement.
He would gradually step down as CEO, retaining only the chairman title. The company’s daily operations would be handed over to the professional management team he had cultivated over the
years.
As for him, he would be settling abroad for an extended period. He wanted to focus on the philanthropic work involving the global environmental and educational foundations he’d anonymously set up in the past.
When the news came out, it sent shockwaves through the world. No one could understand why he was making such a hurried retreat from the limelight when he was at the height of his career.
After completing the handover, Andrew left without saying goodbye to anyone.
Before leaving, he went alone to the villa that was filled with the memories of endless hurt and just the tiniest flicker of warmth. He took one last look around before leaving without any further
sense of attachment.
As the plane climbed through the clouds, he watched the city below slowly shrinking from view. He knew that this time, he was truly leaving Emily’s world for good.
Chapter 19
דין
