Chapter 9 Destroy You Because Of Love

"Then what are you unsatisfied with?" Jessie asked.

"I need to control the situation. Who knows what rumors are spreading outside as we have this meeting. Since I started this whole thing, I have to solve it and prevent it from impacting the company. I cannot work until this is fixed. Once this matter settles, I will resume work as the vice president," explained Armani. She bowed to everyone and continued, "I apologize for the loss I have caused to this company due to my personal reasons. I am really sorry, but I promise to work hard to raise the Xu Group's stock prices again."

She turned to Mary and added quietly, "Pack up all the things in my office."

Mary had not expected that things would degrade to this extent. Pursing her lips, she nodded obediently.

Armani dismissed the meeting and turned around to leave. She felt a touch of pity for Ben when her eyes fell on his face. But it was momentary, owing to the love she had once felt for him. It was like a few, ephemeral moments of sunset: bound to be followed by a dark night.

Once outside the office, Armani took the stairs instead of the elevator. She had to go down twelve floors and was surprised to find the staircase completely deserted. The steps were dirty with a few cigarette butts lying in the corners of the landings. Ordinarily, something like this would stress her out but she could not care about it right now.

Exhausted, she couldn't go on anymore. On the tenth floor, she squatted down with her arms crossed against her chest. She couldn't regulate her emotions. Tears came running down her cheeks like beads sliding down a broken thread.

She could not believe she had lost her father's company in this way. At this critical moment, all she could manage to do was loathe herself. Why had she been so careless? Ben's ambitions should've been clear to her from the very beginning.

While she was crying out loud, she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. A handkerchief with a fragrance she recognized was offered to her.

Ben always wore a perfume of the Glory Series, which was a very small brand. The fragrance was really unique and was preferred by only a handful of people. Armani was familiar with it. For her, it meant being in Ben's arms.

Every time he embraced her, this fragrance would wrap her up and transport her to another world.

She looked up at him. Instead of taking the handkerchief, she stood up and stared at him with her eyes red. "What are you doing here? Are you here to witness a loser who used to be proud and arrogant? Does it make you happy to see me like this?"

Ben sighed and shut his eyes. "Armani, you know me well. We have spent so many years together. You think seeing you like this could ever be easy for me? I love you so much and I cherish every single moment I get to spend with you. It is painful for me to see you suffer."

"Cherish? I don't deserve it. You can drop the act. You don't need to be kind to me."

"Armani, I just wanted to ask you one thing. If I return Xu Group to you and give you all my shares, will you forgive me?"

Armani was stunned. 'Does he mean…'

Seeing the look on her face, the man smiled bitterly. "I know in your heart, you have already nailed me to a pillar of shame. Hooking up with Jessie was the worst mistake of my life. I knew you would break up with me the moment you found out. I don't know what to do to ask for your forgiveness. I don't know how else to atone..."

"Oh, please. All you are only telling me is that you have the power to destroy me whenever you want," Armani sneered.

"I don't need to destroy you. Didn't you destroy yourself last night?" There was a hint of contempt in Ben's narrow eyes. He pinched Armani's chin, making her look straight into his eyes. His expression was a mix of pain and endearment.

"Ben, I never thought you would cheat on me so decisively. Did I deserve to be treated with disrespect after loving you with all my heart?

After seeing your photos with Jessie, I simply cannot love you anymore. In my eyes, you are just a dirty, disloyal man now."

Armani brushed off his hand from her chin.

"Ha-ha, I'm dirty! Well, we're even now. Think about it," Ben said with a mocking smile

'Even now, this man has the face to mention this. Does he think that love is merely a bargaining chip to meet the conditions of both sides?'

Armani didn't want to speak to him anymore. She turned around to leave but Ben caught her arm. Not only did he grab her tightly, he also pressed her against the wall. She was locked between him and the wall, unable to slip out of his grip.

"If you promise to be with me, I will return the Xu Group to you. You know that I don't give a damn about this business. I just want you. I can do anything to get you," he said through his teeth, tightly gripping both her arms.

This was the woman he had loved for so many years. Her eyes were red with tears brimming in them. He could never see Armani cry. Her small, soft nose was red. Her lips were pink and plump. All he wanted to do was kiss her.

But she was so perfect she couldn't accept a flawed lover for herself.

Armani's imperfections didn't mean anything to Ben. But she couldn't look past his imperfections. She was ready to abandon him without hesitation.

It pained him to think that she had snapped out of her love for him so easily.

"Ben, let me go," said Armani. She couldn't rid herself of him, so she gave up struggling. Lowering her head, she said in a hoarse voice, "Whatever hesitation I was feeling earlier, it's gone now. You are ruthless, Ben."

Ben was afraid he would lose her, so he had taken away the thing that was most important to her so he could threaten her. He couldn't see it yet but this blackmail was not love, it was poison.

Seeing that she was still determined, he said angrily, "Aren't you afraid that I will destroy Xu Group? Or, are you really so heartless that you won't give yourself a reason to compromise?"

He had thought she would give in when she found herself at a complete disadvantage. He had thought she would let him love and protect her again.

He was ready to sacrifice everything for her.

Ben was a proud man, but he loved her so humbly.

It was because of his pride that he was afraid of losing Armani.

"It can't happen, Ben. I hate you. I can't believe I ever loved you. I was either blind or brainless." Armani lifted her foot and kicked him between the legs with her knee. He was caught off guard, his face twisted in pain. He let go of her as he tried to gain composure. Taking the opportunity, Armani pushed him away and went down the stairs in a hurry.

"You will regret this, Armani." Ben grunted behind her. Inside, he swore that he would make her cry in front of him and make her suffer for the humiliation she had caused him today. He swore that he would get her no matter what.