Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 540

**Created 540**

Anneliese stared intently at Jonathan, her heart heavy with the weight of his consistent refusals to accompany her to visit her grandmother. Each time he declined felt like a sharp, piercing arrow aimed at her heart, leaving her in a whirlpool of frustration and yearning. She felt her lips part as if the words she needed to say were caught in her throat, battling to escape.

“I’m not trying to push you away,” she finally managed, her voice trembling slightly. “The thought of you leaving fills me with dread. The idea of being apart for so many days terrifies me. I worry that I won’t be able to resist the urge to want you by my side. Why don’t you come with me? You could wish my grandma a happy New Year before you leave.”

With every syllable, Anneliese reached for Jonathan’s hand, her pulse quickening with hope as she tried to guide him toward the elevator. But it was as if he were rooted to the spot, an immovable force against her fervent wishes.

Turning to face him once more, she felt her heart plummet as she noticed the distance in his gaze, a chasm that seemed to grow wider with every passing second.

Then, unexpectedly, Jonathan enveloped her in his arms, pulling her close. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, and he lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on the crown of her hair, a gesture that momentarily melted her worries away.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I just can’t go up right now,” he murmured, his voice thick with regret, as if the weight of his own emotions was too heavy to bear.

Anneliese lifted her gaze, searching his eyes for some semblance of clarity. “Why not?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper, a hint of desperation seeping through her words.

His hand found its way to the nape of her neck, guiding her face back against him, holding her as if she were the only tether anchoring him to reality itself.

Anneliese bit her lip, feeling the light in her eyes dim as uncertainty clouded her heart.

He couldn’t bear to meet her gaze, the burden of his own feelings pressing down on him like an anchor.

Jonathan rested his chin on her forehead, his voice soft and soothing. “Today was just too rushed. I didn’t have a moment to prepare a gift for your grandma. I promise I’ll come with you next time when I’m fully ready.”

Though his words were reasonable, they felt like a flimsy curtain drawn over the truth. Anneliese closed her eyes, attempting to mask the sting that threatened to spill over into tears.

She realized that even someone as genuine as Jonathan could craft a lie that felt awkward and transparent, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

A heavy weight settled in her chest, as if something profound yet silent had shifted within her.

With a sudden surge of determination, she gently pushed him away. “Alright then. I’m going up without you.”

Jonathan’s grip tightened, firm yet gentle. “Just let me hold you a little longer,” he pleaded, vulnerability lacing his voice, tugging at her heartstrings.

His clean, comforting scent enveloped her, and the warmth of his arms felt familiar, yet there was an undeniable shift in the air, a tension that hadn’t been there before.

“So, after the holiday, when are you coming back?” she asked, her voice steady even as a storm raged inside her.

Jonathan caught the flicker of concern in her question, and a small smile broke through the tension, a brief moment of light in their heavy atmosphere. The nervousness he had felt earlier began to fade.

He released her, leaning down slightly to meet her gaze directly. “I’ll be back by the third at the latest. Will you wait for me?”

“Okay,” she replied, her heart fluttering at the thought of their future conversation, a flicker of hope igniting within her.

When the moment arrived, she planned to lay everything bare, to sift through the confusion that loomed over them like a dark cloud.

Jonathan reached out, brushing his fingers through her hair in a tender gesture before turning away.

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