When Josie came knocking, Mallory had locked herself in her room, sitting on the floor watching a movie. The projector’s light illuminated her face, giving her lips a pale appearance.
She let out a sigh and placed the food she brought on the ground. “The Mallory I know has never been this downcast. Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
She didn’t move, just stared at the screen. After a while, she said, “Zendaya has gone abroad. There was a prenuptial agreement, so she won’t receive any property. She will leave with nothing, even though the Simmons family’s business has been largely taken over by Calvin.”
Considering Calvin’s lack of ruthlessness, it was a form of mercy that Zendaya’s life was spared.
Josie kept up with the news. “Isn’t this a good thing?”
Mallory shook her head. “I still can’t get over it. He actually used his own marriage as a bargaining chip, willingly betting his entire life to torment Zendaya. And what about me? I’m just a pawn he willingly brought into his grand scheme, perfectly positioned to hinder Zendaya.”
When Mallory thought about Calvin’s ruthless and meticulous plan, she felt heartbroken, realizing that she was merely a pawn.
Josie didn’t know how to comfort her. In the end, she pulled her up and said with a bitter smile, “Dexter is getting married soon. How about you keep me company and we go for a drink?”
Mallory finally raised her eyes.
Josie had organized a gathering at the bar, filled with young men. As soon as they walked in, a crowd was dancing amidst the vibrant lights. However, what she hadn’t expected was to find Calvin among them.
He was sitting on the sofa, fiddling with a lighter. Upon seeing Josie, he even greeted her, “We meet again.”
Josie tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Mallory turned around and left.
Calvin stepped forward, and just then, a woman wearing rabbit ears approached him, her snow-white chest looking rather seductive.
“Mr. Barrett!”
Mallory’s first instinct was to retreat, but her hand was tightly grasped. Her hand was sweaty as she was shocked to see him.
Calvin lowered his voice and said, “Don’t embarrass me.”
Mallory couldn’t resist his command, her eyes still filled with fear and unease.
The woman with rabbit ears gave them a knowing look. Soon, everyone in the room knew that she was Calvin’s new flame. But why did she seem somewhat familiar?
The rabbit ears disappeared into the crowd, while Josie quietly retreated. She sat on the terrace and ordered a glass of whiskey.
Calvin handed Mallory a glass of wine.
She looked up calmly. “Are you insulting me, Mr. Barrett?”
After all these days, this was the first time Calvin felt flustered. When she called him “Mr. Barrett,” there was no longer any hint of desire in her voice. She had changed.
Leaning over, Calvin said, “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
She naively thought that she and he were on equal footing in this game of chess. But in reality, he was the mastermind.
Mallory realized that, deep down, she had developed anticipation and… love for Calvin. He had the ability to make her fall for him, yet she had no confidence in herself. This was the root of her agony, the original sin of their encounter.
Calvin always carried himself with grace and elegance. He wiped away her tears. “The past is completely over. From now on, there’s only you.”
It was as if she hadn’t heard him.
“I want to know this. When you were using me to cause Zendaya pain, did you ever feel a twinge of compassion for me?”
Calvin remained silent.
Mallory was intelligent, and as calm as he was, he would never get emotionally attached to a chess piece. And so, she understood.
Calvin pressed his lips against her bright red ones, looking somewhat bewildered.
“You like me, and I like you too. Isn’t that enough?”
“But you’ve put me in the most disgraceful position. You could have rejected me outright when we first met, but you didn’t. You watched me fall apart bit by bit, Calvin. What right do you have to say you like me? Are you even worthy?”
