Chapter 73

Royce's face had changed so much from what I remembered.

The once youthful and innocent face had matured, with deep-set eyes and an aura of a grown man.

As I looked at Royce, he was also sizing me up.

"You've lost weight."

That simple comment made my heart ache a little.

I forced a smile. "You look a lot more solid."

Royce smiled, not confirming or denying. "Come in. We have things to discuss, don't we?"

I nodded and entered his room.

The room was filled with Royce's scent, and I could smell the fresh scent of his body wash.

Since I needed his help, I couldn't just dive into the main topic. I had to make some small talk. "Travis mentioned you just got back from abroad?"

Royce nodded. "Landed this morning."

"That must have been exhausting."

Is there anything more awkward than asking your first love for help?

I fidgeted with my fingers, unsure of what to say next.

"Should I call Travis to explain everything to you?"

Royce crossed his legs and tilted his head slightly. "Why call him? Didn't he tell you to talk to me?"

I braced myself against Royce's intense gaze and spoke with difficulty. "You should know my situation by now."

Royce was succinct. "More or less."

I cleared my throat. "I want to ask for your help. All my shares are with my husband, Brandon. He tricked me out of them. Travis said you could help me..."

I couldn't continue and waited quietly for Royce's response.

He looked at me for a long time before nodding. "I can buy your shares and sell them back to you at the original price."

I looked up sharply. "Really?"

Royce nodded. "Yes."

But helping me like this wouldn't benefit him at all. The recent betrayals made me suspicious.

Did Royce have another motive?

"You..."

I decided to lay everything out in the open to avoid any surprises later.

"You must want something in return, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't make such a loss. Name your price, so I can be prepared."

Royce chuckled, picked up a cigarette from the coffee table, and then put it down again.

It seemed like a subconscious action, and he suddenly realized I was there.

"I do want something..."

I gritted my teeth. I knew it. A businessman wouldn't make a loss.

"I'm willing to give you all my savings as long as I can get the company back. It's very important to me!"

"I'll give you whatever you ask for."

Royce laughed softly and stood up, looking out the hotel window.

"Don't worry, you can definitely afford it, and it's very easy."

I felt relieved. Although I didn't know what he wanted, at least he wouldn't deceive me.

With the main issue settled, I looked at the cigarette in Royce's hand. "Maybe I should go, so you can smoke?"

Royce didn't respond, and I didn't want to leave without his reply, so I waited silently.

Suddenly, he asked, "Have you been doing poorly these years?"

"Well, my husband's entire family wants to kill me. It's no big deal."

I tried to lighten the mood with a bit of humor.

But Royce didn't laugh, and my smile froze awkwardly on my face.

"Um, I should go. Kathy is waiting for me downstairs. We'll talk again soon."

I grabbed my bag and hurried to the hotel door.

As I turned to close the door, Royce had already lit his cigarette.

His dark lashes fluttered in the light, and his fingers, as delicate as jade, held the cigarette, glowing with a faint red light.

Our eyes met, and he silently blew out a smoke ring.

I quickly closed the door, my heart racing uncontrollably.

Given my current health, a fast heartbeat wasn't good.

I leaned against the elevator wall as I went down.

Kathy had been waiting downstairs for a while, worried because I took so long.

Seeing my pale face, she rushed to support me.

"What happened? How did meeting your first love end up like this?"

I was stunned and didn't have time to explain. "Get me a nitroglycerin pill."

Kathy rummaged through my bag and gave me a pill.

It took a while for me to catch my breath.

Then I remembered what Kathy had said. "You knew it was Royce all along?"

Kathy nodded. "Of course. I was the one who recommended him to Travis."

Seeing my state, she muttered, "If I had known, I wouldn't have suggested him. Why are you so upset?"

I shook my head. "I'm not upset."

"Then what's wrong?"

I was silent for a moment before admitting, "I was a bit nervous, so..."

Before I could finish, Kathy burst out laughing.

"Why are you nervous? Wasn't he the one who left without a word? Now he's back to help you, settling an old score."

I pressed my lips together, not saying anything.

Actually, I felt calm when I saw Royce. The past was long behind me, and I had a family now. I believed he did too.

But when I saw Royce alone by the window, smoking, my heart raced uncontrollably.

It felt like I was back in high school, falling for Royce all over again.

But I didn't dare tell Kathy that. She would definitely laugh at me.

After I calmed down, Kathy and I left the hotel.

On the way back, Kathy suddenly said, "By the way, I heard Kurt has had dinner with Elora twice already."

I was surprised. "So soon?"

How long had it been? They'd already had dinner twice?

Kathy didn't seem surprised, as if it was normal.

"You've been at home too long. This is normal nowadays."

"Kurt's age, he probably hasn't had sex with his wife in a long time. He's afraid of getting diseases if he finds someone else, so he's been holding back. Elora is in her prime, a voluptuous and beautiful woman. Who wouldn't like that? One gives money, the other gives her body. It's a perfect match."

Her calm tone shocked me, making me wonder if I'd been out of touch with society for too long.

"What's Kurt's wife's name again?"

Kathy thought for a moment while driving. "I think her last name is Grace."

"I remember now. Beatrice Grace."

I nodded. "It's time to start our plan."