Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 460

By the time Emilia and Theodore arrived with Bella, night had completely fallen.

Bella was clutching the ginger cat in her arms, playing a silly game where she bumped her forehead against the cat’s. Her big, round eyes sparkled with affection.

Theodore carried Bella as he walked in with Emilia by his side.

Everyone inside paused and stared for a moment when they saw the three of them enter like that. It was hard not to—the scene looked just like a picture-perfect family of three, with a pet in tow.

Felix’s gaze darkened briefly before he quickly composed himself.

Christian, ever the joker, broke the tension with a loud tease. “What’s this, Bella? Don’t you like me anymore? You used to come running when you saw me, but now you just ignore poor Mr. Donovan!”

Theodore grinned as he set Bella down and patted her on the head. Bella marched straight over to Christian, ginger cat still in her arms.

“Mr. Donovan, look! This is Ginger!” She pushed the cat right up to his face.

Before Christian could answer, Ginger planted a paw squarely on his cheek, as if to say, “No, thank you.”

The whole room burst out laughing.

Whatever awkwardness there’d been a moment ago melted away, replaced by warm, easy chatter.

Dinner went on as it always had, familiar and comforting.

Christian was the first to raise a glass, leading a toast to celebrate yet another of Emilia’s resounding victories.

“People online have started to change their tune,” he announced. “Now everyone’s demanding Vivienne explain herself, but she still hasn’t said a word.”

“Feels like her whole image is about to collapse,” someone added.

“What she did was disgusting!” Joyce burst out angrily.

They all voiced their outrage at Vivienne’s stunt—the live broadcast from Hillside Manor.

Christian gave a crooked smile. “Come on. What, are you afraid I’m going to bite?”

She managed a small smile. For all his reputation as a hothead, Christian wasn’t scary at all—if anything, he was one of the most genuine people she knew.

She took a breath, let go of her anxiety, and met Christian’s eyes. “Yes. I like him.”

Christian’s smile faltered for the briefest second, but he quickly covered it up, looking down so she wouldn’t catch the emotion in his eyes. “Really?” he managed, keeping his tone light.

“Really.” Emilia didn’t look away, her gaze steady. “Christian, you know—the person I used to be, the old Emilia, she died the night I was pushed down those stairs.”

“I’m not that person anymore. I’m someone new.”

She didn’t try to soften her words. Some things needed to be said, clearly and honestly—no half-truths, no false hope.

“I let go of Tyler a long time ago. Falling in love with Theodore happened later, and it had nothing to do with the past.”