Chapter 15
That night, Blake didn’t sleep at all.
Morning sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on his cold, resolute profile. The bloodshot exhaustion couldn’t hide his burning-bridges determination.
He couldn’t keep lying to himself, couldn’t hesitate another second.
He had to end this mistake immediately, then go get her back!
He dialed Harper directly, voice unprecedentedly cold and distant: “Harper, meet me. We need to talk.”
At a quiet coffee shop, Harper still carried yesterday’s hurt and displeasure from their fight, whining: “Blake, you were so mean yesterday! You better apologize to me…”
“Let’s break up.” Blake cut her off directly, tone calm but unquestionably final.
Harper instantly froze, her expression solidifying like she hadn’t heard right: “…What? Blake, you’re kidding, right?”
“I’m serious.” Blake looked at her, eyes showing no trace of attachment. “We’re not right for each other. This is over.”
Harper’s face went white instantly-shock, disbelief, then massive panic and rage! She lunged for Blake’s hand, voice shrill: “WHY?! Just because of yesterday’s little thing? Blake, you bastard! How can you do this to me?! I won’t break up! HELL NO!”
She cried hysterically, desperately trying to salvage things, even threatening suicide: “If you dare break up with me, I’ll jump off this building! Make you regret it forever!”
Before, Blake definitely would have softened, would have compromised.
But now, looking at this face that once obsessed him, he only felt tired and disgusted.
He calmly pulled his hand free, stood up, looking down at her with ice-cold detachment: “Harper, don’t embarrass yourself. Let’s end this with some dignity.”
Then he walked away without another glance or moment’s hesitation.
After handling the breakup, Blake immediately returned to his company, arranging all urgent matters at lightning speed, commanding his assistant: “Book the next flight to London! Push back all my appointments!”
He had only one thought, crazy and urgent: find Madison! Right now! Immediately!
He couldn’t stand Ryan lurking around her! Couldn’t accept the possibility of losing her completely!
The ten-plus hour flight left Blake unable to sleep, his mind replaying possible scenarios, anxiety and strange, near-panicked anticipation burning through his nerves.
The plane landed and he didn’t even go to his hotel, heading straight to Madison’s apartment based on his team’s intel.
Evening in London, sunset painting the streets warm gold.
Blake’s car had just stopped outside the apartment building when he immediately spotted that familiar, dejected figure leaning against a lamppost-Ryan!
And Ryan saw him almost simultaneously.
Instantly-the air thick with gunpowder!
Ryan obviously hadn’t expected Blake to suddenly appear, stunned for a second before his face showed mockery and hostility: “Bro? What’re you doing here? Thought you were back home with your precious Harper?”
Blake strode over, his expensive suit unable to hide his travel-worn exhaustion and the ice-cold menace in his eyes. He ignored Ryan’s mockery, voice suppressing fury: “Ryan, go back to the States. Now. This isn’t your business.”
“Not my business?” Ryan laughed coldly, straightening up, meeting Blake’s gaze fearlessly with the same obsession and madness: “Bro, what gives you the right to order me around? As her ex? Or as… my new competition?”
“RYAN!” Blake’s warning was ice-cold, fury building in his eyes. “Don’t test me!”
“Test you?” Ryan lost it completely, grabbing his brother by the collar, eyes wild with rage. “What’s your fucking problem?! YOU dumped her on me! YOU said you didn’t give a shit! Now I’m into her and you wanna play the jealous boyfriend?! You can’t just take her back like some fucking toy!”
“LET GO!” Blake’s face was iron-dark, gripping Ryan’s wrist with tremendous force.
The brothers were like enraged lions, tearing into each other on this foreign street over the same woman, completely past civility, violently shoving and confronting each other!
“Go home!”
“Fuck that! YOU go home!”
Their angry roars and physical conflict drew stares from passersby.
Finally, Blake used his strength to shove Ryan hard!
Ryan staggered back, hitting the lamppost, panting and glaring at Blake like a hungry wolf ready to pounce.
Blake straightened his wrinkled collar, eyes coldly sweeping over Ryan before turning toward the apartment building without
another word.
Blake’s arrival turned Madison’s already suffocating life into complete hell.
