As they walked through the palace gardens, the weight of the recent confrontation still heavy upon them, Wu Xiufan broke the silence. "What do you mean, 'break us apart'?" His voice held a hint of confusion. "We are not in a relationship."
Alex halted abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest. The words, spoken with such casual indifference, cut deep. He had allowed himself to hope, to believe that there was something more between them than a professional relationship. But Wu Xiufan's words shattered that illusion.
He looked at Wu Xiufan, his eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and anger. "Of course," he replied, his voice cold. "We are merely employer and employee."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words. The bond between them, forged in the crucible of adversity, seemed to be fracturing. The trust, the camaraderie, the shared sense of purpose - all of it was hanging by a thread.
