Faded love 10

Chapter 10 

AB7 

87 

That name- 

I had avoided it for three years. 

News, investments, architecture, advertising- 

I walked around every trace of it. 

But fate, somehow, found a way back. 

“Thalia?” 

I came back to myself and smiled faintly. 

“Yes. 

Take it.” 

My colleague blinked, surprised. “You’re sure?” 

“You have to face it, eventually,” 

I said quietly. 

Z Group Headquarters. 

The glass façade reflected a cold, colorless sky. 

Inside the boardroom, the air was heavy, tense. 

Rory sat at the head of the table, 

immaculate suit, expression unreadable. 

His face was even paler than three years ago, 

but his eyes-darker, deeper, dangerous. 

When the vice president finished his report, 

he asked cautiously, 

“President Zhou, I heard you plan to personally review the exhibition proposal?” 

Rory nodded. “Mm.” 

“It’s from a design firm called Languang.” 

“Who’s in charge?” 

“A young designer-new hire, I think. 

Her name’s Thalia.” 

The pen in his hand stopped. 

He lowered his head, eyes falling to the document. 

A slight tremor ran through his fingers. 

Faded love, I don’t want it anymore 

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10,4% 

11:28 Sat, Oct 18 

“Thalia?” 

… 

He repeated the name slowly. 

“Yes.” 

“Her file.” 

They passed him the folder. 

The photo inside showed a woman with soft eyes and a calm profile. 

Different from Wendy- 

yet almost identical. 

He stared at that photo for a long time. 

And with every passing second, 

his heartbeat went further off rhythm. 

Three days later. 

Wendy stepped through the glass doors of Z Group Headquarters. 

Her reflection flickered across the polished surface. 

Something in her chest tightened. 

I had thought I’d moved on completely. 

But standing in front of this building again, 

the same suffocating weight pressed down, unchanged. 

The receptionist guided me toward the conference room. 

“Thalia, President Zhou will be hearing the proposal himself.” 

My steps faltered slightly. 

“Personally?” 

“Yes.” 

My heartbeat stumbled once. 

I forced my voice to stay even. “Alright.” 

Inside the meeting room, 

Rory stood by the window, back to everyone. 

Gray suit. Straight posture. 

The sea breeze slipped through the open crack, 

bringing the faint scent of salt. 

“President Zhou,” the assistant said, 

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87 

11:28 Sat, Oct 18 

“Thalia from Languang is here.” 

He didn’t turn around. 

“Let her in,” he said quietly. 

The moment I stepped inside, 

time stopped. 

The air froze solid. 

I could hear my own heartbeat- 

each thud too heavy, too loud. 

I placed the folder on the table, 

my tone perfectly calm. 

“Good afternoon, President Zhou. I’m Thalia, from Languang Design.” 

He turned. 

And in that instant, 

three years of frost, reason, and madness- 

all shattered. 

He stared at me for five long seconds. 

His throat worked once before he spoke, voice low, unsteady. 

“What did you say your name was?” 

“Thalia.” 

I smiled faintly. 

“Have we… met before?” 

My fingertips tightened. 

But the smile didn’t waver. 

“You’re mistaken, President Zhou.” 

He said nothing more. 

Just kept looking at me. 

That gaze- 

like the first light breaking over a field of ruins, 

bleak, burning, 

almost unbearable to meet. 

The meeting continued as scheduled. 

Chapter 10 

27 

• ))) 

87 

3/4 

11.0% 

11:31 Sat, Oct 18 

My presentation was smooth, composed, 

as if I had never known him. 

But with every word I spoke, 

: 

his fingers clenched tighter against the table. 

When I finally closed the folder, 

he asked softly, 

“Thalia… are you married?” 

The room went utterly silent. 

I looked up, met his eyes. 

“No.” 

“A lover, then?” 

“No.” 

He gave a faint smile. 

Thinner than before. 

Colder. 

“What a coincidence.” 

My heart twisted sharply. 

I returned a polite smile, 

and turned to leave. 

But just as the door clicked shut behind me, 

I heard his voice- 

rough, breaking- 

“Wendy.” 

I froze. 

My heartbeat fell wildly out of rhythm.