Chapter 213 Love Is Plunder, Is Possession
Seeing Sharon's face change, Seb asked, "What's up? Remember something?"
"Mr. Smith, I need to check on a few things. I have to go."
As Sharon was about to leave, Seb's eyes darkened. He stood up, grabbed her wrist, and said softly, "Sharon, you can lean on me. I broke up with Grace. Please, give me a chance to protect you."
He sounded sincere, but Sharon shook off his hand like it burned her.
"Mr. Smith, once we broke up, that was it. Whether you're with Grace or not, I'm not looking back."
With that, Sharon walked out.
Watching her leave, Seb's hand clenched, his face showing defeat.
He knew Sharon was deeply disappointed and wouldn't forgive him easily.
After leaving Seb's office, Sharon went straight to find Ashley.
The lab had been crazy busy, and she barely had time for lunch. Almost every day, she stayed in the lab while Ashley brought her food from the cafeteria.
If she remembered right, her drowsiness started when Ashley began bringing her food.
If it weren't for the data leak, she might not have noticed.
When Sharon questioned her, Ashley looked shocked and hurt. "Sharon, since the data leak, I've trusted you and never doubted you. Now you think I leaked the data and framed you?"
Sharon pursed her lips and said slowly, "Ashley, I just want you to think if anything weird happened when you brought me food. I'm not blaming you."
Ashley gave a bitter smile. "I just got the food after lunch and brought it to you. I picked a random window every day, packed the food, and brought it straight back. If you don't believe me, check the surveillance. I swear there's nothing wrong with the food I brought."
Sharon frowned, questioning herself, 'Am I overthinking this?'
Since Ashley suggested checking the surveillance, she probably wasn't lying.
But Sharon had been unusually drowsy during that time. Thinking back, her sleep was almost too good.
Seeing Sharon silent, Ashley continued, "Sharon, I get how you feel. If I were wronged, I'd feel awful too. But I didn't mess with your food."
"Okay, I get it. Don't overthink it. I just want to rule out all possibilities. I'm not doubting you."
"Alright."
After parting ways with Sharon, Ashley took a cab home.
On the way, she thought about the times she brought food to Sharon and confirmed there was no issue.
Just as Ashley sighed in relief, a sudden memory hit her, and her face went pale.
"Driver, turn around and take me to Royal View Garden."
On the way to Royal View Garden, Ashley trembled as she called Leo to arrange a meeting.
When Leo arrived at the café near the community entrance, Ashley was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside, lost in thought.
It wasn't until Leo sat down across from her that she snapped back to reality.
Seeing her pale face, Leo's eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Why do you look so pale?"
Ashley took a deep breath and looked at him, saying slowly, "Leo, you've been ordering coffee for Sharon and me every day and asked me not to tell her it was from you. The real reason isn't that you're afraid she won't drink it if she knows, right?"
She kept her eyes fixed on Leo's.
Seeing his pupils contract, Ashley's suspicions turned into certainty.
"Why are you doing this to Sharon? Isn't she your sister?"
After the initial shock, Leo's gaze quickly returned to its usual gentleness. "Ashley, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"No one understands better than you. Did you put sleeping pills in the coffee you ordered for us?"
Ashley's tone was firm, and she looked at Leo angrily.
Leo had been pretending so well, saying he thought they were working too hard in the lab and ordered coffee to help them refresh, asking her not to tell Sharon.
She had been blinded by love, thinking Leo genuinely meant to improve his relationship with Sharon.
Now, she realized she was a fool!
The coffee that caused Sharon to be accused of leaking data was handed to her by Ashley herself.
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, and her eyes reddened.
She was an accomplice.
Leo's expression remained gentle, his eyes filled with helplessness. "Ashley, what are you talking about? I don't understand. I know you want to help Sharon, and so do I, but you can't just pin this on me out of nowhere."
"If it wasn't you, then who else could it be? Leo, what are you trying to do?"
Looking at Leo's handsome face, Ashley found it repulsive for the first time.
Ashley thought regretfully, 'How could I have fallen for someone as terrifying as Leo?'
Leo leaned closer, his voice just loud enough for the two of them to hear. "I know you're recording this, Ashley, so don't expect to get anything out of me."
Ashley's eyes widened suddenly and thought, 'It is him!'
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
Ashley's voice rose sharply as she glared at Leo and raised her hand to slap him.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the café, instantly drawing the attention of those around them.
A waiter quickly approached. "Sir, are you alright?"
A handprint appeared on Leo's face, and his cheek was slightly swollen.
He forced a smile at the waiter and shook his head. "I'm fine. You can go back to work."
Ashley's eyes were red, and her anger was almost uncontrollable. She just wanted to tear off his gentle mask and show everyone his true face.
The waiter looked at Ashley. "Miss, if you have something to say, please say it calmly."
Ashley ignored him and coldly looked at Leo. "I won't let this go!"
With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out.
"Sir."
"It's alright. Thank you."
Leo turned and left. After exiting the café, he looked in the direction Ashley had gone.
A smile slowly formed on Leo's lips, his voice barely audible. "Why? Of course, to bring Sharon down, make her lose everything, so she has no choice but to rely on me. Only then will she stay by my side."
From a young age, Leo knew that love was about possession and control.
If the person he loved didn't like him, he would break her down and crush her pride, so she would have nowhere to escape and would stay by his side.
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