Once I decided to leave Solmere Isle, I took the estate key to Vincent's territory.
I hadn't bothered with makeup. I wore jeans and a plain white jacket.
Most of the men didn't recognize me when I walked in.
But the moment I removed my sunglasses, the same men who used to call me "Madam" most enthusiastically went silent.
They all knew Vincent had fallen for someone else. A few crew members who had always been close to me started egging me on.
"Cheryl, we still think you and Boss belong together."
"What's he doing with some schoolgirl? He can't even take her anywhere without looking ridiculous."
"Why don't you sweet-talk Boss a little? He always listens to..."
I gave a self-mocking smile.
I had always looked naturally innocent. With smoky eyes and red lipstick, though, I could look strikingly seductive.
Plenty of men watched me from a distance, but Vincent was the one who protected me.
Anyone who cast another glance at me ended up at Blackridge Mine.
If I shed a single tear, Vincent would drop whatever he was doing and come soothe me.
That privilege had once belonged only to me.
This time, the men didn't get to finish speaking.
A whiskey glass shot toward one man's brow and shattered in two.
Vincent's expression turned thunderous.
"Anyone listening would think this place belonged to Cheryl. This is how you watch my business when I'm not here?"
The huge room fell dead silent. That was the kind of authority Vincent commanded.
Now he was using that authority against me.
I was about to explain when the girl behind him peered out with studied innocence. "Vincent, is this the Cheryl you told me about?"
"We're dressed almost exactly alike!"
Vincent frowned and looked me over.
My jeans and white jacket were almost identical to Lily's outfit.
He looked at me with doubt in his eyes.
"Cheryl, did you investigate Lily?"
Up close, Lily bore an unsettling resemblance to me at 18, especially in that sweet, innocent outfit.
I understood exactly what game she was playing, but I didn't bother saying anything.
Instead of assuming I had investigated Lily, why did it never occur to him that someone else might have investigated Vincent's preferences?
I refused to explain.
Vincent scoffed.
"You can dress like you're 18. That doesn't make you 18 again. Cheryl, don't try to make me think of the past."
I stared at him in shock, hardly believing what I had heard.
"How about this?" Vincent shot me another cold glance. "Name your price for the 10 years."
I went still.
I had spent 10 years beside him. I had taken bullets for him and blades for him.
Nothing had ever hurt as much as that sentence.
My nails dug into my palms, and even my voice shook.
"Vincent, what did you just say?"
"I had 10 years of your company," he said. "Name your price."
He shoved his hands into his pockets. His eyes betrayed a flash of emotion, but he clenched his jaw and forced the words out anyway.
My knees nearly gave way.
Lily tugged softly at his sleeve.
"Vincent, don't be so harsh. Cheryl didn't do anything wrong."
Vincent lowered his head and brushed his nose against hers. "Be good."
He hled her in his arms. "I'm not letting anyone bully you."
He used to protect me exactly like that.
I suppressed my surging emotions and forced myself not to look again.
Then my gaze dropped to the silver cross bracelet around my wrist.
It had fit tightly when Vincent first gave it to me.
Somehow, the more deeply I loved him, the looser the bracelet seemed to sit on my wrist.
Aksara