Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 480



"Corley, what's your game here?" Murray walked over to the table.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why did you pull the plug on the development project?"

Corley took a sip of his tea, nonchalantly. "If I don't want to collaborate, I stop. What's the issue?"

"Just quit, just like that?! Do you realize how much cash we're bleeding every single day?"

Corley replied, "Roughly."

"And you're still doing this?!"

After finishing his cup, Corley started making a second brew, his movements smooth and practiced.

Murray grabbed the teapot from him, "You've been dodging me for three days, and now you're silent. Planning to keep dragging this out?"

It was then Corley looked up. "Who says I've been dodging?"

"Your secretary said you were on a business trip. Isn't that just an excuse to avoid me?"

"Hah, avoid you? You're giving yourself too much credit. I was in Pinehollow for a research trip I planned half a month ago. Do I really need to avoid you?"

"...Pinehollow?" Murray sensed something.

Corley gave a half-smile.

Suddenly, Cliff leaned in, "Corley, you went to Pinehollow? Man, Pinehollow is a great spot, the food and drinks are exactly to my taste... Oh, isn't Roseanne's family from Pinehollow... Why did you bump into me-uh!"

York was frantically signaling him, but to no avail, he had to bump into him.

Realizing his mistake, Cliff shut up.

Murray, watching Corley's calm demeanor, emphasized each word: "You went to Pinehollow to see her?"

Corley's tone was light. "I said, it was for research."Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

"But—" he changed the subject, "I did indeed run into Anne."

"You call her what?"

"Anne."

Murray was furious. "Say that again, I dare you?!"

Corley provoked. "Anne~ Anne~"

Murray grabbed his collar: "Corley, did I not warn you last time?"

Corley shrugged off his hand and calmly smoothed his collar: "Warn me? And you are...? An ex-boyfriend? That's rich."

Murray took a deep breath before

saying, "This is why you're breaking off the partnership? Corley, I thought, regardless of what happens between us because of Roseanne, business is business, personal is personal. You wouldn't let personal feelings affect work. But now, it seems I've overestimated you."

"Does Roseanne have any clue you're this petty and immature? Ha, she can't stand guys who can't separate personal stuff from work." Thud!

Corley set down his teacup forcefully, the sound echoing off the table.

"Save it, your provocations don't work on me."

"Murray, I'm curious, are you here to talk about Roseanne, or the project? Or... do you want to use Roseanne as a way to talk about the project?"

"Let's get one thing straight; I'm

cutting ties on not just this project,

l

but all our shared ventures from here on out. From now on, you handle your thing, I'll do mine. We need to draw a firm line, no messing with each other's business.

Murray's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?!"

"Exactly what I said, is it that hard to understand?"

"Why? Just because I'm Roseanne's ex? Corley, have you lost your mind?! Throwing away money just to spite me?"

The two of them were involved in over twenty projects together, some led by Corley, some by Murray, and others by third parties where both had investments.

Splitting up would mean most of these ongoing projects would likely fail.

The initial investments weren't small; breaking up halfway would mean a significant loss.

"Is this really necessary?" Murray

challenged, "You want to chase after Roseanne, go ahead! I wasn't the one who mentioned breaking up, but now you're taking things too far?!"

IMS