Chapter 199
199 Promise
199 Promise
Tears streamed down Linda’s checks.
“It’s my fault,” she sobbed. “I didn’t want to lose the care of my brothers. I got greedy, I just couldn’t let them go.”
Seeing her so heartbroken, Boston’s expression softened. He completely forgot about trying to talk to Ryan.
“Alright, Linda, this isn’t your fault.”
Even though Alice had avoided giving him any heads–up, Boston had already resigned himself to it.
He never really considered Alice his sister in the first place.
Then he turned to Darlene. “You owe Linda an apology.”
Darlene looked at him like he was out of his mind.
“What did you just say?”
Boston frowned. “You were too harsh. Linda might not stoop to your level, but you still need to own up when you’re in the wrong.”
Darlene stared at him in disbelief.
“I said what I did for you!”
His tone didn’t change at all.
“And that’s the only reason I’m even being this polite about it.”
Darlene was stunned. She stood frozen, speechless.
After a long silence, she finally let out a bitter laugh.
“No wonder Alice didn’t want to recommend you to Ryan.”
Boston tried to act like he didn’t care.
But deep down, everyone knew it had struck a nerve. That comment crossed the line.
“Enough, Darlene!”
His voice rose sharply, drawing attention from people nearby.
Darlene’s face flushed with embarrassment.
She spat out, “You’re sick,” then spun on her heel and stormed off.
Even staying one more second felt unbearable.
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199 Promise
Alice, meanwhile, had no interest in their drama.
Her phone had been buzzing nonstop, and now she finally checked it.
All the missed calls and texts were from her assistant, Janice.
“Ms. Spencer, we’re getting overwhelmed!”
“They’ve already started attacking our firewall.”
“It’s barely holding up.”
“Please come ASAP.”
“We can’t hold the fort much longer.”
“You’re our last hope!”
Alice had already wasted too much time. She glanced at the clock.
She was running late.
“Mrs. Nolan, is there something urgent going on?”
Daniel noticed that Alice didn’t look quite right, and she had glanced at Eric, so he asked cautiously.
Alice nodded immediately and got straight to the point without hesitation.
“Did
you
drive here? I need a ride to the tech conference. Now.”
Daniel hesitated, startled by her request.
The tech conference was a huge event for Nolan Group, being broadcast live internationally.
Top developers from all over the world were competing. Nolan Group was already losing badly. He’d checked the feed before arriving here–it looked like a disaster.
“Mrs. Nolan, I don’t think you should go,” he said carefully.
If she showed up now, it’d only make the company look worse. Ruby would use it against her in a heartbeat.
But if Alice didn’t show up, no one could say anything.
As deputy director, she wasn’t required to attend every forum.
So there was no real need to go throw herself into the fire.
Alice didn’t even pause as she gathered her things,
“I gave them my word. Not showing up would make me a liar.”
Daniel frowned. “You don’t need to be so rigid about this.”
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08:59 Sat , 2 Aug
199 Promise
Alice zipped her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
“I hate people who make promises and don’t keep them.”
Eric stared at her. A dark look flickered across his face.
His mind suddenly flashed back to something that had happened years ago, overseas.
A woman had saved him from a deadly situation.
He had promised to come back for her.
She hadn’t asked for anything. Just told him to leave, no need for sweet talk.
At the time, he’d truly meant to keep that promise.
But things got complicated when he returned home.
Then came the accident, and the coma that lasted three years.
If that woman were still alive , would she still be waiting?
Did she take my promise seriously ?
“Mr. Eric, time to go,” Daniel said, snapping him out of it.
Alice had already rushed off. Daniel turned to follow.
But when he took a step, he realized Eric hadn’t moved.
Eric shook off the thoughts clouding his mind and walked forward, his face calm and unreadable.
“Let’s go.”
He caught up to Alice, his steps firm and steady.
Behind them, Boston watched them leave, his fists slowly clenching.
Linda stood beside him, growing increasingly uneasy.
Something was slipping away. She could feel it.
She didn’t want to just stand there and watch it happen. She had to ask.
“Boston, are you.
“Linda.”
…
”
Her voice cut off as he turned to look at her.
The warmth that used to be in his eyes was gone.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind right now. I’m leaving. You can call a cab.”
08:59 Sat 2 Aug
199 Promise
Linda stared at him in disbelief.
That had never happened before .
How … How could it come to this?
Meanwhile, across town, Yvette was livid.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen! You said everything was foolproof!”