BONDS UNBROKEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Chapter Fourteen

It had been a month, and nothing had changed.

Marcellus still treated her with that cold indifference, speaking to her only when necessary, correcting her with clipped words in front of the board, and watching her with unreadable eyes when he thought no one noticed.

Briella had told herself she could endure it. That she would keep being professional, keep wearing her mask. But deep down, every encounter cut deeper than the last.

That morning, she had walked into his office with her mind set on one thing—confront him.

“Chairman Cedric,” she began steadily, though her hands trembled at her sides. “I think we need to speak honestly.”

Marcellus lifted his eyes from the document in front of him. His stare was sharp, his voice sharper. “If you have concerns, send them through an official report. I don’t have time for distractions.”

The words sliced through her composure. Around them, a few staff lingered by the open door, whispering behind their hands. Heat rose to her face, but she forced her voice to remain level.

“I understand. From now on, you’ll know me as nothing else but CEO Briella Tristan,” she said, each syllable pressed with dignity. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

She turned and walked out before the tremor in her chest betrayed her. Marcellus stood immediately, his voice low but urgent. “Briella, wait—”

But she didn’t. She didn’t even slow down.

By the end of the day, her office was cleared. A notice was left with Human Resources. She had taken a leave of absence, one month away from the company.

The news shook Marcellus more than he expected. He had thought she would fight him, argue with him, or even hate him openly. But to disappear? To retreat without giving him the chance to explain?

For the first time in years, the Chairman found himself restless.

That night, in the dim light of an exclusive club, Christopher leaned back on the leather couch as Marcellus finally confessed what had been gnawing at him.

“She left, Chris. A whole month. No warning.”

Christopher raised his brows. “And what did you expect? You’ve done nothing but push her away since you got back.”

Marcellus’s jaw tightened. He took a slow drink before answering. “I didn’t mean to. I… I don’t know how to react around her. It’s been so long, and I’ve hurt her already. Every time I try to speak, the words die in my throat.”

“Then find new words,” Christopher shot back. “Because if you keep this up, you’ll lose her all over again.”

The thought alone made Marcellus’s chest ache. Later, he reached out quietly, messaging Annabel, his tone uncharacteristically unsure.

“Do you know where Briella is?”

Annabel’s reply came after a pause. “She’s safe. That’s all you need to know for now. But Marcellus… if you really came back for her, you’d better prove it. Cold words won’t protect her, and silence won’t win her back.”

For once, the feared Chairman didn’t have an answer. Only the heavy silence of a man who realized too late that he might have driven away the only person he came home for.

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✨ End of Chapter Fourteen ✨