Dave talked seriously, thinking Skylar would agree. After all, she had made it clear she wasn’t interested in him and had expressed her desire for freedom, hadn’t she?
“Besides, I don’t want you to leave this empty-handed,” Dave continued. “I’ll make sure you’re financially secure, so you’ll never have to worry about money. And if you ever run into trouble, you can count on me for support.”
His real aim was to gain control of fifty percent of the Evans Group’s shares, securing his position as the top shareholder and the rightful successor to lead the company directly under Lucas.
With that power, he could face off against his uncles, end things with Skylar smoothly, and eventually marry Bianca, giving her the recognition she deserved.
Dave didn’t notice the way Skylar’s eyes slowly lost their brightness.
So, this had been his plan all along. Was that why he had seemed to accept everything easily? Her role and their engagement were nothing more than a stepping stone for him to gain control of the Evans Group’s shares.
The realization hit Skylar like a thousand needles, leaving her speechless with sadness.
Since she was young, Skylar had always admired Dave, drawn to his intelligence and charm. She had worked harder than anyone else, facing countless challenges to prove she was worthy of him.
She wasn’t afraid of hard work or struggles-she was willing to go through anything for Dave.
But what really terrified her was the thought that he might not love her back.
Her biggest fear was that she might never become Dave’s wife.
Otherwise, why would she have kept trying for so many years?
“Skylar?”
Dave’s voice snapped her back to reality. He was looking at her with a deep frown. “Is everything okay? Don’t you want to work with me to end things smoothly?”
Skylar snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she had drifted off. She quickly brushed it off with a smile. “Oh, no. I was just thinking about work. Sorry about that.”
Dave’s expression turned more serious. “You’re an amazing woman. There’s someone out there who will love you deeply and be the right match for you.”
Skylar swallowed the pain rising inside her. Rejecting Dave’s proposal right now could destroy the connection she had carefully tried to create between them.
So, for now, she decided to go along with his plan. She wasn’t sure how he really felt towards Bianca or if he might take drastic measures against Lucas because of Bianca.
Creating tension between them would only put all her efforts to waste.
Believing she could turn the pretend engagement into a real one, Skylar felt confident that, in a short time, she could change the situation. Once everything was set, Dave wouldn’t be able to back out.
With that in mind, she put on a cheerful smile and said, “Okay, Dave, let’s do your plan.”
Dave sighed in relief, grateful that she agreed immediately. “Thank you, Skylar. We’ll need to make it look convincing. You should head back now.”
As Zane pulled up with the car, Skylar hesitated. Just as Dave was about to get in, she called out his name.
Dave paused, waiting for her to speak.
The evening air was cold, especially out on the grassy lawn, and Skylar shivered as the wind swept through.
Her voice came out rough, surprising even herself. “Dave, is there someone you care about?”
He didn’t answer right away, his silence hanging between them.
The cold breeze lingered, and Skylar forced a small, weak smile. “It’s okay; I won’t tell your grandpa. I was just curious if someone as amazing as you have someone special in your life.”
Dave gave a small, mysterious smile. “Skylar, when you meet the person you truly love, you’ll just know. For me, she’s the only one who matters in this life.”
It was clear-Dave was deeply in love with someone else.
Skylar felt her heart sink. She wrapped her arms around herself, struggling to maintain her composure. “I see, Dave. I hope you find happiness.”
Dave nodded politely. “I wish the same for you.”
As Dave’s car disappeared down the driveway of the Evans Villa, Skylar stood there for a long time. Eventually, she sat down on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, lost in her thoughts.
Eventually, Skylar couldn’t hold it in anymore and let herself cry.
Had all her years of effort been for nothing? Dave had never really seen her. She had once convinced herself that he wasn’t interested in romance, but his confession of love for someone else crushed that belief.
Her heart hurt deeply, almost more than she could handle.
But then, her obsession grew stronger.
She couldn’t understand how the other woman had won Dave’s heart so completely. She must have been willing to do anything to get him!
To Skylar, it felt as though Dave had made it clear he would only ever love Bianca, completely unaware that Skylar had already chosen him as her life partner.
She firmly believed that Dave was meant to be hers, and she was ready to do whatever it took to win him over.
Meanwhile, back at his office, Dave didn’t waste any time reaching out to Michael, who was overseas on business.
Michael had been away for weeks, working on expanding the company’s international presence.
When he answered, he greeted Dave with a cheerful tone, “Dave, what’s going on? What’s the occasion for your call?”
As Dave skimmed through his meeting notes, he asked, “How’s the international expansion going? What’s the status?”
Michael, full of excitement, couldn’t hold back. “You owe me for this, Dave. I’ve been working non-stop, day and night. I’m juggling all kinds of strategies here…”
Growing impatient, Dave tapped his desk. “Just give me the results, Michael. What’s the outcome?”
Though a bit irritated, Michael couldn’t help but share the good news.
“We’re making great progress. We’ve secured key alliances with several major economies. The Phoenix Alliance Group is practically dominating the market.”
Michael mischievously chuckled as he remembered something. “And your uncles? We’ve completely outmaneuvered them. They’re trying to start a price war, hoping to steal our clients, but it’s not working.”
Dave listened, a rare smile crossing his face as Michael described their victories.
Curious, Michael added, “Your uncle Rupert has been unusually quiet on the international side. Seems like he’s not focusing on it; weird, isn’t it?”
Dave’s laughter had a cold edge. His uncle Rupert was always plotting something, and it was only a matter of time before his next move surfaced.
Playing with a golden pen, Dave thought for a moment and said, “The fish is on the hook. Get ready to capture it.”