Chapter 27 He looks down on you
After the last email exchange where Sylvia had blocked him, Cyril lost all contact with her. He had no idea what she was up to or how to reach her at all.
Meanwhile, the exposing rumors about Karina only intensified, with more sordid details. dug up.
Cyril knew this information would inevitably come out and be scrutinized for veracity. While falsehoods could potentially be buried, the truth would always surface eventually.
Having expected this situation, Cyril didn’t intend to intervene much. Businessman that he was, he understood what actions benefitted him and which didn’t. Clearly aiding Karina brought him no advantage here, so he had no reason to keep getting involved. Still, he had promised her some assistance.
The news coverage was scathing enough that Cyril had Karina issue a public apology under his name, stating she would reflect seriously on past misdeeds and not repeat them.
–
But many netizens found this inadequate the statement wasn’t even made by Karina herself. Now hiding behind her agency, she expected this to just blow over? They kept demanding she make an in–person apology.
Karina pleaded with Cyril again. “If I do that and get banished abroad, my career here will be over! I worked so hard for what I have you’d just let it vanish easily?”
Cyril gazed at her impassively. He was finding Karina increasingly unrecognizable too.
Gradually Cyril realized the people he knew had transformed beyond his perception. It was as if Sylvia’s presence had cloaked their behavior in normalcy before. With her gone, their façades had crumbled away.
He couldn’t say if this revelation was good or bad. But knowing it took Sylvia’s absence for their true nature to emerge left Cyril deeply disappointed in himself for not seeing through
them earlier.
He recalled Sylvia’s past pleas about Karina constantly texting and taunting her, begging Cyril for an explanation and to make it stop, saying she wouldn’t intervene between them, just wanting him to put family first.
But Cyril had ignored it entirely, even mocking Sylvia for meddling. How foolish he had. been! Sylvia saw their truth long ago yet still strove to shelter his family. With her no longer around to cover for them, their ugliness was laid bare.
Cyril had been in a strange mood the past few days but work obligations continued. He was
Chapter 27 He looks down on you
meeting a business associate at a restaurant when a luxury car pulled up.
The restaurant was known for excellent privacy, popular for sensitive discussions. Cyril casually glanced over, then did a double take–out stepped Sylvia, intimately clinging to
Bruce’s arm!
They laughed together as Bruce regarded her with a doting smile that seemed out of character. Yet he treated Sylvia with great indulgence.
Why were they together again? Cyril had questions last time but now their closeness bothered him immensely. He knew Bruce’s stature. If Sylvia got involved, she could be utterly ruined when his temper turned. After all, they had been family once. Cyril didn’t want to see Sylvia throw her life away like this.
2/2
way out.
Hurrying through his business, Cyril lingered by the entrance to catch Sylvia on her She and Bruce were in a private upstairs room. Booking it required significant status and fees Cyril couldn’t match yet despite his success.
After waiting almost an hour downstairs, Sylvia finally emerged while talking on her phone, going to the front desk to retrieve a cake she had ordered. Cyril saw his chance.
Catching sight of him, Sylvia inwardly groaned. Why did she have to run into Cyril while trying to enjoy a nice dinner? She ignored him, moving to brush past back inside. But Cyril kept blocking her way no matter where she tried to slip by.
“What do you want? If you’re aspiring to be a bouncer, take it up with the manager instead of obstructing me,” Sylvia said irritably.
They hadn’t had an amicable conversation in a long while. Dialogue between them tended to be fraught nowadays.
“I saw you arrive with Bruce. What’s going on there?” Cyril asked.
Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “Who I dine with is none of your business. Don’t interfere.”
“He’s not right for you. You’ve no clue what Bruce is capable of. If he decides to torment you, you can’t win against him!”
“Oh, is this your way of saying he could never desire someone like me? Well, sorry to disappoint, but Bruce is very taken with me and makes it clear. If you have objections, take it up with him directly,” Sylvia said cuttingly.