Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me

Chapter 672 Partnership Rejected

"You truly possess keen insight, Miss Lynwood. You only need a small prompt before you get it," Slevin said.

"If that is the case, then you don't have to worry," Elspeth calmly replied. "I would never work with the Damazios. Azure will always maintain a position of neutrality, and we will never engage in this kind of conflict."

However, he shook his head. "No, you will jump in solely because of your lovestruck best friend. If she insists on getting together with Hank, you'll inevitably be biased toward him."

That rendered her speechless. She had not expected the extent to which word of Yelena's lovestruck tendencies had spread.

"More importantly, I know that Azure Corporation is not the only party you have influence over. You also have the Winthrops, the Jonesons, and even the Weisses. You are the most powerful player here, so the greatest insurance I can have is to get you on my side."

Elspeth was taken aback to hear Slevin accurately spell out the situation with such precision.

"I can promise you that I will never partner up with the Damazios in any way at all, even if it's just a private partnership," she declared.

"That promise alone is not sufficient. I insist you become my partner," Slevin emphasized, his unwavering determination. "I don't mean to sound unpleasant, but I must remind you that if you refuse to cooperate, I may have no choice but to consider you my primary target."

Despite his nonchalant tone, Elspeth couldn't shake the feeling that he could strike any moment, intensifying her sense of impending danger.

Then, his gaze traveled downward until it settled on the slight bump on her belly. "Considering your recent pregnancy, I understand if you feel unwell. I'll refrain from saying anything further that may cause you discomfort," he said, showing a rare moment of empathy.

Elspeth instinctively wrapped an arm around her stomach and stepped back, a wary expression on her face. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. She knew his comment was not born out of genuine concern for her pregnancy. Instead, it carried a chilling undertone, hinting at unspeakable harm he might inflict upon her child.

Slevin shrugged in response. "Nothing. Please stop projecting your mindset onto me."

"I'm warning you, Slevin. I will never work with you. Please do not threaten me again."

There was no way she could bring herself to collaborate with him in their mission to take down the Damazios, and furthermore, she lacked any compelling reason to do so. Her initial hesitation had not stemmed from contemplating the feasibility of their partnership but rather from her desire to dissuade him from pursuing such ideas altogether. Yet, it had become increasingly apparent that convincing him to abandon his plans was an insurmountable task.

On the contrary, the smile on Slevin's face only grew brighter instead of fading away. "Am I to take that as a rejection, then?"

"Of course." © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"What a pity," he lamented, shaking his head with a tinge of sadness. "Nevertheless, I have no desire to become your enemy. I implore you, please reconsider your decision."

"There is no need."

"Very well," Slevin replied coldly. "In that case, I shall no longer extend any consideration toward you, Miss Elspeth." His smile widened as he continued, "Oh, and the same goes for your friend, Yelena." With that, he turned and walked away.

After the encounter, Elspeth delved into an investigation of the three men who had initiated the entire conflict. Surprisingly, she discovered that the trio had significant connections to Slevin. If her intuition was correct, Slevin had orchestrated the whole scenario, employing the three men to play antagonistic roles while positioning himself as the hero. It became evident that this elaborate scheme was concocted solely to impress her, hoping she would acquiesce to a partnership between them.

As she quickly unraveled the truth behind the orchestrated events, it became apparent that Slevin had not intended to conceal his involvement. The fact that his plan had failed only heightened her concerns about his cunning nature. If someone like him harbored genuine intentions to target her, she realized that he would become a persistent and troublesome presence even if he couldn't swiftly overpower her. Adding to her unease was that she was now pregnant, and the thought of him potentially directing harm toward her and her unborn child left her feeling utterly vulnerable and unable to adequately protect her baby.

Meanwhile, Callum noticed Elspeth's bad mood and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Her reply sounded so perfunctory that he could not help but worry, especially since she looked visibly exhausted. "We are married, and we even have a child. I don't want to see you this tired. You need to tell me if there's anything."

His words filled her heart with warmth.

"It's nothing major. Slevin has been persistently seeking a partnership with me, but I have firmly rejected his advances. However, I can't shake off my concerns that he might resort to some drastic measures."

Callum's face went dark upon hearing this. "Slevin Damazio?"

His intrigue grew as he recalled the rumors he had heard about Slevin. According to hearsay, Slevin was regarded as an illegitimate son who had chosen to distance himself from his family, showing no interest in their wealth or recognition. The fact that Slevin had approached Elspeth for a partnership piqued his curiosity even further.

She nodded. "Yes. Slevin must harbor a deep-seated grudge against the Damazios, so he seeks my assistance in eliminating them."

"What a joke indeed. Does that guy genuinely believe you would be swayed into partnering with him based on mere words alone?"

Elspeth's voice conveyed exasperation and helplessness as she spoke, "Of course not. I would never agree to work with him so easily, especially considering a partnership would offer no real benefits. However, what troubles me is his persistent threats toward Yelena and the baby. Given what I know about his personality, I'm genuinely concerned that he might follow through with his words."

"There's no need to worry. You have me." Callum massaged her hand and continued, "If something

does happen, I will never let him go unscathed."

After careful consideration, he made the decision to confront Slevin directly. He believed that Slevin would be reluctant to face him, considering the purpose of their meeting. However, to his surprise, Slevin promptly agreed to meet, and the meeting was scheduled for later that evening.

At 7:15PM, Callum arrived at the designated room they had booked. As he entered, he found Slevin seated, casually sipping his tea. Slevin's lips curved into a warm smile as he noticed his presence.

"This must be our first meeting, Mr. Winthrop. Hello, my name is Slevin Damazio." Slevin stood up and held out a hand.

"Callum Winthrop." Callum did not shake Slevin's hand and instead blandly replied with his name.

Slevin, seemingly unfazed by the lack of a handshake, nonchalantly withdrew his hand. "What do you like to eat, Mr. Winthrop? Here's the menu. Order anything you like. It'll be my treat today."

"Time is precious to both of us, so I won't waste any." Callum looked Slevin in the eyes. "You should know that the purpose of our meeting today is not so I can have dinner with you."

"Of course. Please, tell me your purpose."