Chapter 1012
Chapter 1021:
“What I was after? Well…” Bart’s spirits were high. “There’s still a considerable journey ahead. By the way, I must express my gratitude to your friend. Once she takes her leave, I can expedite my pursuit.”
Bettina was baffled. “What are you saying? I don’t get it.”
Bart sat comfortably in the armchair next to the bed and crossed his legs with ease. His partially unbuttoned pajamas revealed his well-defined six-pack. He drank the wine in his glass and placed it gently on the table.
“The men in the Lopez family all have vulnerabilities,” he said, his voice casual. “They wielded influence in the business world and had a way of growing their businesses. However…”
Bettina held her breath, gazing at him attentively. “What? I wasn’t aware of any vulnerabilities in them.”
Bart expressed his disapproval with a sneer. “No vulnerabilities, you say? Well, neither Arlo nor Milton could endure the emotional turmoil of a breakup. Perhaps you’re not aware. Back then, Arlo held the prestigious position of chairman of the board. But, for the sake of love, he relinquished his illustrious career to his young son, Milton.
Later on, when the woman he loved passed away, Arlo mysteriously vanished, leaving everyone uncertain about his whereabouts. Milton’s story mirrors his father’s. After Candice left, it appears that Milton lost his enthusiasm for work, let alone competing with me. From the look of things, it won’t be long before Milton steps down from his role as CEO. Like father, like son. That’s the truth.”
Bettina was puzzled and inquired, “What are you implying by ‘the truth’?” She felt there was an underlying message in his words. Up until that celebration party that night, Bettina had been in the dark about Arlo’s past. However, she didn’t expect that Arlo, the chairman of Royal Garden Corporation, had disappeared from the scene for the sake of a woman.
“Well, I’ve never shared this with you before,” Bart said as he rose and drew near to Bettina. “Didn’t Candice ever mention it to you? Her mother, Corrine Blake, was, in fact, Arlo’s secret lover.”
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝙜Ɐ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩷𝖼𝗈𝗺
Bettina’s astonishment was palpable. “What? Really?” Her disbelief was evident on her face.
Bart’s expression softened with a tinge of pity, and he sighed in response. “I didn’t anticipate that all the Lopez members would fall for the Blake family. Fate can be quite intriguing, don’t you think? It looks like Candice might not have revealed everything to you, despite her closeness with you.”
A smugness crept into Bart’s tone as he continued, “The Lopez family’s actions are pretty foolish. They’ve sacrificed wealth and power for love. What a rarity in today’s world. Women? To me, women are merely at my beck and call. Why would anyone go to such lengths?”
Bettina didn’t mind that Candice had refused to share such a thing. She knew that such information was too sensitive for anyone to disclose willingly.
Bettina’s voice trembled with frustration. “Did you already know about this? Did you take advantage of Candice because you knew she was my friend? Have you been lying to me all along?”
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