Chapter 360: Vanessa Wiped the Tears from Her Face

Vanessa wiped the tears from her face, restoring her usual elegant composure. She walked to the office door and knocked firmly. Harrison watched her retreating back, awkwardly withdrawing his outstretched hand. Of course. He was just an assistant. What right did he have to comfort her?

Inside the office, Derek heard the knocking and immediately concealed the pill.

"Enter."

Vanessa pushed the door open and stepped inside, her expression now composed with a faint smile. "Hello, Derek. It's been too long. I brought you those cakes you like." She walked to his desk and placed an elegant container filled with exquisite pastries from a renowned patissier. These were limited edition creations she had queued hours to obtain. Derek glanced at the desserts without expression. "You shouldn't be out right now. The paparazzi are everywhere."

"I missed you," she murmured, moving to sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so tired of all this. Why don't we stop scheming against Sienna? Let's get married, start a family, live simply. I'll transfer all my Bennett assets and shares to you. I'll support you completely as your devoted wife."

Her voice was soft and pleading. Yet Derek found her offer insulting. Her pitiful portion of Bennett shares? What use were those to him? His hands settled on her waist. "Vanessa, you're not thinking clearly. Why rush? Let's wait until you control at least fifty percent of the shares." Fifty percent? That would require taking shares from Sienna and her parents! Impossible in her current disgrace. He was making excuses to delay.

Her expression turned mournful as she searched his eyes. "Derek, I don't want any of that anymore. I'm exhausted. I just want you. Let's abandon these plans against the Bennetts and Sienna, please?" Noticing her unusual behavior, Derek pushed her away and patted her head. "You're not yourself today. I have urgent matters to handle. Go home and rest. We'll discuss this when you're feeling better." Vanessa pressed her lips together but finally stood after a long silence. She paused at the door. "Derek...do you still love me?" Love her? Love?

Derek's hand stilled on the document he'd picked up. After a prolonged pause, he replied, "Vanessa, haven't I always promised I'd never let you down?" He'd give her anything except marriage—money, status, even his body. That constituted not letting her down. She smiled faintly. "I understand now. Forgive my childishness. I'll let you work. I'll visit again soon." Her voice remained gentle, her smile bright and innocent. But the moment she left Prescott Industries and entered her car, her eyes turned icy and dark.

Derek wanted to marry Sienna! He wanted to remain married to her forever! Was he discarding Vanessa now that she'd become useless? First the Bennetts treated her coldly, and now Derek? After everything she'd done? All because she wasn't born a Bennett? Because she'd fabricated her identity? No. Absolutely not. Her fingers tightened around the recording device in her bag—disguised as a lipstick, utterly ordinary yet technologically advanced. She had captured their entire conversation. 'You'll regret this, Derek. You'll regret everything!'