I Fell for the Man Who Ruined Me, Then He Forgot He Ever Loved Me Back novel Chapter 365

A stern reprimand suddenly echoed through the breakroom from behind them.

"What do you think you're doing?! Are you being paid to gossip about your superiors during company time?"

The frantic chatter died instantly. The group froze, slowly turning to face a furious Rowena Yates.

Rowena's sharp gaze swept across their faces, taking in every detail. "The three of you will write a formal apology letter regarding this incident. I want it on my desk by tomorrow morning."

The employees hung their heads, too terrified to even breathe.

"And you won't write it on company time! You do it at home after your shift!"

Rowena was so angry she could grind her teeth to dust. Amidst her fury, her heart ached for Sienna. Dealing with something like this... no wonder she kept it a secret.

Later that afternoon, Rowena went upstairs. Jorrod was still immersed in his schedule for the day, preparing to clear his evening for an industry gala.

After handing over the necessary files, Rowena debated with herself.

Normally, she wasn't one to overstep.

But if the rumors from the breakroom were true, she wanted to advocate for Sienna. She wanted to secure her a chance to return to work once she had physically recovered.

At the same time, she would be retaining top-tier talent for the company.

Jorrod was clearly still preoccupied with his documents, showing zero interest in anything outside of work.

But then.

That name. Those specific words.

When they reached his ears, the impact was shattering.

So shattering that he completely stopped what he was doing. Time ceased to matter.

Jorrod stared at Rowena, his eyes entirely devoid of readable emotion. His voice clipped out, every syllable deliberate. "What did you say?"

-

A man who usually lived by the second, Jorrod arrived half an hour late.

The banquet hall was ablaze with crystal chandeliers, scattering light like crushed diamonds across the attendees. The air was thick with the scent of fine wine and an overpowering blend of expensive perfumes, sweet enough to make one's head spin.

Jorrod leaned against a high table, staring down at his phone.

After finishing a business email, his thumb naturally hovered over the pinned chat at the top of his screen.

There was a single line of text lingering in the input box. It had been sitting there for a long time.

He hadn't found the courage to press send.

Under the dazzling glow of the city at night, Jorrod gripped the steering wheel. The car moved slowly, the neon lights bleeding past the windows in a continuous blur.

The interior was dead silent.

His sharply defined profile remained completely stoic.

Human desire was a terrifying thing; it constantly stretched until it consumed you.

At first, he thought he'd be fine.

As long as she could look at him without hatred and speak to him calmly, it would be enough.

Then, he changed.

He wanted her to truly see him. He wanted to be the only thing in her eyes.

And later, when her heart eventually softened and she offered him that glimmer of a chance...

He had failed to hold onto it. Yet, he still clung to her side like a desperate stray, scraping together a nameless, hidden existence just to remain in her orbit.

He had stayed awake almost the entire night after that.

He thought that would be enough.