The Ex Who Became His Obsession Novel Ch 52

The Ex Who Became His Obsession Novel Ch 52

‘I don’t want to know,’ Alyssia thought.

But Joseph was already yelling, “Ms. Clairmont, you caused such a mess really think you could take on the big players alone?”

interviewing

that

A-list star. If Mr. Rivera hadn’t cleaned up after you, do you

Alyssia’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?” she demanded.

Joseph blurted it all out in one go. “All those online exposés about Archer were backers still wanted to protect him.

Rivera’s doing. He had his people dig up the dirt and leak it. His

“But Mr. Rivera made it clear they had to drop him. And those endorsement deals? Archer could’ve kept some, but Mr. Rivera, just to avenge you, made sure he lost every single one.

“For a few of the major ones, Mr. Rivera even called personally to make it happen.

“Lastly, as for Ms. Johnson, even though Mr. Rivera couldn’t find any proof she was involved, he still forced her to come and apologize to you.”

Leonard had done so much for Alyssia, yet she just took all his kindness for granted.

Instead, she was constantly acting lovey-dovey

Charlie, always seen together.

Joseph felt a chill in his heart for Leonard.

“Ms. Clairmont, please know what’s good for you,” Joseph said indignantly. “Mr. Rivera’s kindness isn’t limitless. One day, when the debt between your families truly cancels each other out-”

“That’s enough,” Alyssia cut Joseph off sharply.

That so-called Clairmont family debt was the last thing she ever wanted to talk about. Yet no one cared about her deepest pain.

All these years, no matter how much the Rivera family protected and doted on her, those words, cashing in on their kindness, would always, intentionally or not, find their way to her ears.

Alyssia just couldn’t understand.

‘Why does everyone around Leonard think I’ve gotten the best deal? Why do they all say I’m so blessed, so fortunate?’ she thought bitterly.

She thought, ‘As if merely losing my parents was all it took to earn the Rivera family’s unconditional devotion, as if my tragedy could be traded for the

title of Mrs. Rivera.’

‘Yet the Clairmont family suffered devastating losses back then, almost completely wiped out!’

Once people were gone, they just ceased to matter. No matter how sterling their reputation or how moving their story, it all became nothing more than a passing sigh in someone else’s idle gossip.

As the years slipped by, even the most touching tales lost their

poignancy.

Her deceased parents were now just symbols, neither here nor th

in

anyone else’s life.

Worse still, they had become ammunition for others to mock

bossia.

Milena was like this, so was Brianna, and so were many of the Rivera family’s servants, even Leonard’s secretaries and assistants.

“She’s just riding on the Clairmont family’s past favors.”

“Just an orphan girl.”

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Chapter 52

“What could she possibly bring to the Rivera family? What could she ever offer Mr. Rivera?”

“Her demands are simply too much.”

“They’ve already been more than generous, Ms. Clairmont’s gotten her money’s worth. One shouldn’t be so greedy”

At long last, she had left the Rivera family and Leonard behind.

Even Joseph, someone Alyssia had known for over a decade, still threw those words in her face.

He was always so honest and well-meaning, never one to harbor ill intentions, yet even he acted this way, let alone others.

“I have all the dirt on Archer-even more, and more comprehensive, than Leonard ever had,” Alyssia said coldly.

She had no intention of talking to Joseph any further, but he kept pestering her and wouldn’t let her close the door. All she wanted now was to get rid of

him.

“Your so-called dirt?” Even Joseph, having picked up Leonard’s sarcastic manner, chimed in, “Ms. Clairmont, let’s be honest. Even if you have all that dirt

on Archer, what could you possibly do to him?

“Do you even know how much his team paid his sex-girlfriends to turn against you? If it weren’t for Mr. Rivera-”

“If it weren’t for Mr. Rivera, I would’ve taken care of Archer ages ago. None of this mess would’ve happened,” Alyssia said coldly.

It was not that she refused to acknowledge what Leonard had done for her, the truth was, had had only made things more complicated for her.

If Leonard hadn’t meddled, this whole thing would’ve just been a showdown between me and Archer, with Milena pulling the strings behind him.

Alyssia would’ve dropped the evidence bit by bit, driving Archer to ruin. Maybe she could’ve even flushed Milena out from the shadows.

Looking at it this way, it was hard to tell if Leonard was really helping Alyssia or just shielding Milena.

“Ms. Clairmont?” Joseph was furious, though Alyssia genuinely had no idea what he was so upset about.

Maybe it was because she had dismissed Leonard and refused his kindness. Joseph was like a rabid fanboy whose idol had just been insulted, completely beside himself with rage.

“If it weren’t for Mr. Rivera, you’d have been doxed to hell and back/every last detail of your life splashed across the internet,” he said.

Joseph jabbed a finger toward the street. “Do you even realize that, after you got cyberbullied, Mr. Rivera had people guarding your building day and night, cleaning up every mess for you? With just you alone, what-”

“Then do me a favor and tell him. None of this is necessary,” she said. Alyssia wasn’t about to waste her breath arguing with a fanatic.

She stayed perfectly calm. “This is Elmbrook, the nation’s top economic powerhouse and a society governed by law. The safety of ordinary people is none of your business. Why don’t you go back and look after Mr. Rivera, won’t you?”

Joseph froze. There was something eerily familiar about the way Alyssia spoke.

He was lost in that split second of distraction, when/Alyssia had already slammed the door in his face.

Joseph suddenly realized, ‘Wait? Isn’t this exactly how Mrs. Rivera tricks people? Alyssia is actually copying Mrs. Rivera’s tone just to mess with me,’ he thought.

Joseph, now even more furious, banged on the door, the sound echoing through the hall. “Ms. Clairmont, have you no conscience? There are many people offering a fortune for your photos.

“Don’t you realize it’s Mr. Rivera who’s been keeping all of that under wraps for you?”

Chapter 52

Alyssia had already called property management.

She said, “There’s a non-resident making a racket outside my door. Whether you call the police or kick him out, that’s your call. Just handle it.”

She shelled out big bucks for a house here, so she was entitled to those perks.

At the CEO’s Office, Clairivera Group Headquarters, Leonard pinched the bridge of his nose, easing some of his exhaustion.

“Mr. Rivera, your dad just called and asked you to call it a day as well,” Rocco said as he stepped in.

Both Leonard and Theodore were total workaholics. But Leonard clearly outdid his dad.

But Theodore barely made it to nine before Beatrice called, gave him an earful, and ordered him home.

Leonard didn’t return to the Clairivera Group until nearly 10 PM, yet showed every sign of pulling another all-nighter.

“Okay,” Leonard responded absentmindedly. “Get that assessment from the meeting sorted out for my review.”

He had just wrapped up a conference call.

The meeting was originally scheduled for the afternoon. But his visit to William took far longer than he’d anticipated.

Rocco nodded in acknowledgment. He didn’t try to dissuade Leonard.

Never leaving for tomorrow was Leonard’s creed. After all, the longer the night, the more trouble arose.

Rocco sighed inwardly, ‘Ever since Alyssia moved out of Rosewood Manor, Mr. Rivera has practically been living at the office.”

“Oh, by the way, Ms. Johnson just stopped by and left some late-night snacks outside,” Rocco mentioned, as if in passing.

Leonard waved it off indifferently. “Okay. You’ve all been working late. Just put it out for everyone.”

“What about Ms. Johnson?” Rocco asked tentatively.

“She’s still here?” Leonard snapped, his brow furrowed into a dark, furious scowl.

Rocco could see the barely contained fury and impatience in Leonard’s eyes.

In fact, ever since Leonard had returned late today, his face had been cold.

Rocco knew to steer clear, so he walked on eggshells around the office, careful not to draw attention.

Sure enough, during the conference call just now, a senior executive slipped up and said the wrong number, instantly setting off Leonard’s temper.

When Leonard started tearing into them, complete silence fell. Everyone was frozen in fear. Even Rocco broke out in a cold sweat.

“Ms. Johnson has just left,” Rocco said.

But Leonard’s face darkened. “Less talk, more work.”

Rocco stepped out of the office and into the outer reception area. Seeing Milena waiting on the sofa, he shook his head apologetically.

“Ms. Johnson, I’m sorry, but Mr. Rivera is swamped right now and doesn’t have time for visitors,” said Rocco.

Milena wore a pleading expression. “Rocco, please, I-I’m just worried about his health.”

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Chapter 52

But Rocco remained unmoved. “I’m sorry, Ms. Johnson. Maybe another time.”

Milena stared at Rocco in silence, lears welling up in her eyes.

Leonard clicked through his to-do list on the computer, checking off each item one by one. When he reached the last task, his finger hovered in midair, suddenly unsure.

‘Once I finish this, there’ll be nothing left for me to do tonight,’ he thought. ‘If Rocco doesn’t send over the assessment data soon, what am I supposed to do here for the rest of the night?

‘Should I go back to Rosewood Manor? Just looking at that empty place makes me sick now. Go back to the Rivera Estate? It’s so late. Everyone must be asleep. If I wake my grandparents, they’ll ask why I’m back and why I’m alone.’

Frustration coited tight in Leonard’s chest.

The night pressed in, seconds dripping away. In the cavernous office, the only sound was the echo of his heartbeat, but sleep was the last thing on his

mind.

Suddenly, Leonard’s phone lit up in the darkness. The moment he saw that familiar number, his pupils dilated sharply.

He reached out, his hand hovering just above the screen, then stopped abruptly.

Am I hallucinating?’ Leonard wondered in disbelief. The moment he saw that familiar number, his pupils dilated sharply.

‘Alyssia already blocked my number, so why would she be calling me in the middle of the night?’ he wondered.