Chapter 102 - Eros et Psyche 5: Something Personal (2/2)

He really looked furious that even Ria felt like hiding under the table in fear. Just what happened between these two? Based on the rumors she heard, Mrs. Chen was on very good terms with her son and that they were very close.

So what was this animosity?

”You don't have to be rude. That's not how you treat your mother in front of your wife,” the woman said which made Ria gasp in shock.

Wife?

”I'm sorry,” she replied hastily. ”I'm not his wife. I'm his employee,” she added in panic and the woman turned to look at her face with her brow raised.

”Oh…my mistake then. Sorry,” she said lazily as she nodded to their direction and turned to leave. ”Be sure to come home and visit sometimes,” she added with a purr as she left.

Completely shaken, Ria sat dumbfounded in her seat. It was a good thing that they had already eaten else the food would go to waste. Her appetite had completely left her. In her stomach was a cold dread, churning. She felt sick but fought the urge to vomit.

Wife? She'd never in a million years guess that Michael Chen was a married man. Due to her huge crush when she saw him at the competition a year ago, she investigated everything possible about him and knew that he was still single. But���

But his mother knew he had a wife but didn't know who the wife was. So Michael Chen probably had a secret wedding since he obviously didn't get along well with his mother.

”I'm sorry for that,” Michael told her, and Ria nodded as she swallowed.

She didn't know why but she started to shake.

”Ria…” Michael whispered as he tried to take her hand once more, but she retreated, putting her hands out of his reach and he frowned as he searched her face.

Ria smiled but her lips were trembling.

”I…I…” she stammered as she hesitated, but then went ahead and asked what she wanted. ”Y-you have a wife?” she asked casually as if it was nothing, but deep inside she was scared and hoping that it wasn't the case.

Michael's eyes widened in surprise, and then his face went blank, devoid of any emotion and Ria knew that in a few seconds her heart would break into pieces.

”Yes…”

Ah���

Ria was already expecting this answer, but she was still shocked. Pain stabbed at her heart. She thought they had something between them the way he treated her and spoke to her earlier. But as it turned out she was wrong. It was just her being presumptuous.

Michael Chen must just be trying to be nice to her since she had roped in a huge client. He couldn't be flirting with her, right? She didn't want to believe he could be a vile man who'd cheat on his wife. She refused to even think about the situation like that.

Her heart and her mind that had been floating in a dreamlike state since they arrived at the restaurant finally got splashed with the cold reality. It was a good thing she realized this in time. As much as she liked someone, she would never try to take a man from his wife. She's a woman too. If something like that happened, she would be more than devastated.

She placed a polite smile on her face as she retreated emotionally and physically far away from her boss. He was her lover in her dream, but it didn't mean it could be a reality.

Ria tried her best to deviate the topic from personal things. Even if obviously the man still wanted to explain, she refused to make him. It was none of her business. She made it clear that night, regardless of the pain in her heart, that there could never be anything between them more than a professional connection.

She was totally relieved that after a few attempts, he seemed to decide to humor her and stayed on a neutral topic. The evening ended with that and she refused for him to take her to the mansion citing wanting to drop by to a store on the way to buy personal items.

She quickly hailed a cab while the man didn't leave immediately and she saw him watch her taxi drove away. He looked at her direction with what seemed to be a very sad gaze, and she didn't know why, but the pain in heart only increased. Tears blurred her vision until they gradually trailed down her cheeks.

It was then and there she decided to forget her feelings for him from now on.

Goodbye.