"What did you just say? Duke is getting married tomorrow?" Rachel asked anxiously as she grabbed the shoulder of a female employee. She thought she had a chance to become Duke's wife. After all, the title of the wife of the president of Leng Group was very attractive to her and she made up her mind to win Duke back. But Duke just announced that he was getting married. What should she do?
"Yeah, Mr. Leng is tying the knot tomorrow. You haven't heard? So, you're not the bride, huh?" The lady gave Rachel a pitiful look. Rachel didn't even know Duke was getting married tomorrow, so she could not be the bride.
"Uh, he mentioned something about it before. I guess I forgot." Rachel flashed an embarrassed smile. She couldn't accept the truth that she lost out to Belinda.
Rachel dropped into a nearby chair, lost in thought. A lot of employees stood there, staring at Rachel and gossiping about her. Rachel knew they were mocking her. She feigned inner peace and walked towards the ladies' room.
The moment she entered the ladies' room, tears were streaming down her cheeks. 'Belinda Shangguan, you think you win Duke, huh? You are wrong. As long as I'm alive, you won't be able to live a happy life with Duke. I'll do everything I can to tear you two apart. You just wait and see!' Rachel thought to herself.
Rachel was completely mad at this moment. She slapped the stream of water over and over again as if it were Belinda. She just vented her anger on running water.
'I can't just sit back and watch this happen. I must find Duke now. Why did he suddenly announce their wedding in public? Did Belinda force him to do that? Yes! Belinda must have forced him to declare the wedding in public!' Rachel thought in her mind. Ignoring the water on her dress, she walked out of the ladies' room and proceeded to the president's office.
Rachel burst into Duke's office without knocking and shut the door. She was so fast that the secretary was unable to stop her. Watching Rachel, the secretary was dumbfounded. She didn't dare to walk in, so she had to wait at the door in case the president called for her. She hoped that the president was in a good mood today, otherwise she'd get blamed for not having stopped Rachel.
"Duke, are you going to marry that woman?" Rachel asked, ignoring Duke's cold eyes.
"Rachel Qin, I'm your boss. Show some respect. By the way, my marriage has nothing to do with you. It's my affair, not yours. You have some nerve, questioning my life decisions," Duke stated in a chill voice, casting a cold glance at her. Rachel's accusing tone amused him. Did she consider herself to be his girlfriend?
"Why are you marrying her? You told me you didn't love her!" Rachel couldn't help but tremble in his cold sight. She lowered her voice, but her attitude remained the same.
"I never told you I didn't love her. You must be crazy." Duke's face softened when he recalled the romantic night with Belinda. He finally knew what it was like to fall in love with someone. He had been in high spirits the whole day and couldn't help laughing for no reason. It felt like he was walking on air. 'So this must be what Edward has with Daisy,' he thought. The man was ecstatic. The Leng CEO really believed that he and Belinda would be as happy as Edward and Daisy.
"But you told me you didn't love her that night. Did you forget that?" Rachel asked in a low voice. Duke had admitted he didn't love Belinda that night, but he then added that he felt absolutely able to be himself around Belinda. Maybe he had long since fallen in love with Belinda, but he didn't realize it -- or was just too proud to admit it.
"Okay, okay, I admit it. I said it. But I've had some time to think about it, and sort out how I feel. I've come to realize that I love her now. Got a problem with that?" As the president of Leng Group, Duke could have driven Rachel out. But he decided to make it clear and be nice about it. He didn't want her to hate him, or try to ruin his life. He had enough on his plate.
"No! That's impossible. You must be lying to me!" Rachel yelled, shaking her head as if she could shake off the answer that she hated to hear.
"Well, speaking of that, I need to thank you. If you hadn't had that talk with me, I wouldn't have figured out who I really love. Thank you so much for helping me and Belinda clear up our misunderstandings. Please come to our wedding." Duke knew exactly what he was doing. His words were no accident. He was not a kindhearted person and he wouldn't spare anyone who tried to drive a wedge between Belinda and him.
"What do you mean by that? You decided to marry Belinda because of me?" Rachel was confused. She all of a sudden had a terrible headache, and her thoughts were all mixed up.
"No. The wedding date was set a long time ago. Whether you show up or not, Belinda and I will get married tomorrow," Duke stated calmly, but deep inside, he had a guilty conscience. He knew very well the reason why Belinda postponed the wedding. It was because of Rachel. But Duke wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing that, so he kept it to himself.
"Didn't you ever hesitate for a moment? You didn't stop and think maybe it was a bad idea?" Rachel asked in disbelief. She asked herself whether she was wrong to have come back for Duke.
"Why should I hesitate? For you?" Duke asked in reply. Rachel's eyes glistened with tears, but he had a strong aversion to her at this moment. He realized that he had completely moved on. There were no feelings there at all.
"You jerk! I divorced my husband because of you. I want to be together with you again. Why are you being so mean?" Rachel cried, grabbing Duke's hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she was strangely beautiful in that moment.
"You divorced your husband for me? That's really funny. Did I ever ask you to do that?" Duke shook off her hands without wavering a single second. Rachel was a selfish lady. She did everything for her own benefit, but she tried to appear weak to drum up sympathy and hide her true intentions.
We love each other, Duke. I thought you would wait for me." Rachel now regretted her hasty decision to divorce her husband. She knew Duke was still single, which was why she did it. This faithless woman thought she could get back together with Duke. But she didn't think he'd fallen in love with anyone else. Belinda was in his heart now.
No, you have never loved me. We used to date each other, true, but I never fell for you. Nor you for me. This was why you found it so easy to leave me the first time. The only person I have ever been in love with is Belinda. And that's still true. We clear?" If Duke had never met Belinda, he would treat the thing between Rachel and him as love. He might even make himself believe it. But now he realized what love was and he knew he never loved Rachel.
"No! Now you're just kidding," she laughed, somewhat hysterically. "You love me, not Belinda. You can stop making fun of me now. You nearly broke my heart." Rachel grabbed his hand again, tears trickling down her cheeks. Duke, however, had no feelings at all.
"Bah! You're way too full of yourself. Just take a look in the mirror. You make me sick!" Duke, once again, shook off Rachel's hands. He hated being touched by anyone except for Belinda.
You'll be sorry for treating me so badly. If I don't deserve your love, then who does? Belinda Shangguan? She can't hold a candle to me! Appearance, education, capability, family background... I'm so much better in every way. Why did you fall in love with such a woman?" Belinda lived a simple life. She drove an ordinary car and wore plain clothes. As a result, Rachel thought Belinda was from a poor family.
"So what? Regardless of what you think, she's the perfect woman for me. I love her, and I will take care of her. That little fit you threw just now? That's why we can't be together." What Rachel said annoyed him. Duke didn't know why she was so sure of herself, but he wasn't going to let her trash Belinda. He shook his head and was about to drive her out. After all, she was unable to accept his explanation, and anything further was a waste of breath.