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Carlisle stood his ground, his heart pounding as John walked away to settle the bill. The café had fallen silent after the outburst, with every eye seemingly on him, yet he didn’t flinch. The tension in the room was palpable, but he knew he couldn’t back down. This was no ordinary meeting—this was the kind of confrontation that could change everything. And it had to be done, no matter how uncomfortable.
Lethan, on the other hand, didn’t spare a single glance in his direction as he marched toward the exit. His face was a mask of cold fury, a storm of emotions clearly swirling beneath the surface. Carlisle caught a glimpse of the anger in his eyes, the betrayal. Lethan had been caught off guard, but now, Carlisle wasn’t sure whether that would work in his favor or against him. He’d planted a seed of doubt in a man who clearly valued loyalty above all else, and that could either lead to an alliance or a swift downfall.
The quiet hum of the café felt deafening as Carlisle lingered in the stillness. His shirt was damp with spilled coffee, but the mess seemed trivial compared to the weight of the words exchanged. “Your wife and driver are having an affair…” The message had hit hard, and Carlisle had known it would. But to see Lethan’s reaction in person, to witness the surge of anger and disbelief, left him with a strange mix of satisfaction and unease.
John’s return broke the silence. His movements were stiff, his expression one of barely contained frustration. The man’s earlier bluster had faded, replaced by a palpable tension that made it clear that Lethan wasn’t the only one caught off guard. As John walked toward him, his gaze locked onto Carlisle with a mix of disdain and suspicion. His fists were still clenched, as if itching for another confrontation.
But Carlisle stood tall, his eyes unwavering, even though a small voice in his mind warned him that he might have gone too far. The consequences of angering someone like Lethan were unknown, and yet, a sense of calmness washed over him. He had made his move. Now, all he had to do was wait and see how Lethan would react.
John muttered something under his breath and then turned to leave, following Lethan, who was already heading toward the door. The two of them disappeared into the night, leaving the café’s door to swing shut behind them. Carlisle’s pulse still raced, but he could feel a strange exhilaration surging through him. He had played the game. The outcome was uncertain, but at least now, he had a seat at the table.
As he stood there for a few moments, watching the door close, Carlisle’s thoughts raced. The text he had sent to Lethan might have seemed like a desperate gamble, but the truth was, it was a calculated risk. He needed leverage—needed to be seen as someone not to be ignored. A businessman with nothing to lose, someone with the confidence to walk into a room full of power and demand attention.
The door swung open again, and Carlisle stepped out into the cool evening air. The café felt like a world away now. With each step he took toward the university, the weight of the encounter began to settle in. Was this truly the beginning of something bigger? Or was he just a pawn in a much larger game?
Carlisle couldn’t be sure. But one thing was for certain: He wouldn’t back down now. No matter how it played out, he was in this game for the long haul.
