I Could Hear His Heart Begging While He Cheated On Me Chapter 05

I Could Hear His Heart Begging While He Cheated On Me Chapter 05

I took my bag back from him and braced one hand against the wall as I walked away.

By the time the cab reached Ashford Tower, cold sweat covered my back.

The receptionist hesitated when she saw me, but she still unlocked the elevator for me.

Three executives were waiting in Conference Room B.

Julian Shaw sat in the center.

When he saw me, his expression didn’t shift at all.

“Lena, you may begin.”

A dull ache spread through my chest. I waited two seconds before opening my laptop.

“These are the projects I’ve worked on over the years…”

The conference room fell silent as I went through the presentation slide by slide.

My voice was hoarse at first.

But once I found my rhythm, even the pain seemed to ease.

After I finished my proposal, the interviewer on the far left asked several follow-up questions.

Julian suddenly raised a hand.

—

His assistant entered moments later and brought me a chair.

I gripped the backrest, sat down, and took a few seconds to recover before continuing my answers.

When I finished, Julian closed the file in front of him.

“Lena, I’m not giving you this opportunity because I pity you.”

“I’m giving it to you because your proposal deserves it.”

He pushed a document across the table.

“We’ll hold the position for you. Come back and complete your onboarding after you’re discharged.”

“I had planned to let you interview remotely today.”

His gaze flicked toward my injuries as if by accident.

“Your health matters far more than an interview.”

I accepted the document and smiled gratefully.

“Thank you, Mr. Shaw.”

Julian looked at me.

“Don’t thank me. Once you’re here, prove yourself with results.”

The moment I stepped out of the conference room, Nathaniel hurried over to support me.

“Lena, did Julian Shaw give you a hard time?”

“How did the interview go? Did you get the position?”

—

I shook off his hand and kept walking on my own.

His concern had come far too late.

His breath caught.

“I’m sorry, Lena. I know I’m too late.”

“But I want to make it up to you, little by little.”

“I want to share your happiness with you.”

I let out a cold laugh and walked around him toward the elevator.

I didn’t say a word.

But he heard my thoughts clearly.

He stood frozen behind me.

“You said I don’t deserve to share your happiness.”

“The only good news I could ever give you is having someone tell you I’m dead?”

The elevator doors opened, and Penny was standing inside.

“Nate, how can you say that about yourself?”

Her eyes were red as she stepped out and reached for him.

“Lena’s still angry. Don’t take it seriously.”

I stopped and turned toward her.

“Penelope Reed.”

—

She blinked in surprise.

I rarely called her by her full name.

In the past, the moment she cried, I softened.

Whenever she said she hadn’t meant to do something, I found an excuse for her.

“How much longer are you going to keep acting?”

Penny’s eyes turned even redder.

“Lena, why are you making me out to be the villain?”

“I was only worried about you. You’re injured, but you still came all this way for an interview. What if something happened?”

I looked at her and suddenly smiled.

“You threw away my belongings, used my diploma as a placemat, and rejected my transfer while I was unconscious.”

“You even told the neighbors Nathaniel was your boyfriend and I was a friend moving in with you.”

“Was all of that because you were worried about me?”

Penny’s body stiffened.

Nathaniel’s head snapped toward her.

“You told them that?”

Penny quickly hid her panic and smiled at him.

—

“I was afraid the neighbors would think Lena was a mistress.”

“I tried to explain, but they misunderstood what I meant.”

I cut her off.

“You’re always so innocent.”

“You had dinner with Nathaniel because you were helping me keep an eye on my boyfriend. You moved into his apartment because you only needed somewhere temporary to stay.”

“Then you destroyed my luggage and diploma and cried that you hadn’t meant to do it.”

I walked toward her one step at a time.

My chest hurt, but I forced myself to finish.

“Penny, I didn’t stay silent because I was stupid. I stayed silent because I truly believed you were my friend.”

“But what about you?”

“You stole what was mine while telling me not to overthink it. In all these years, did you ever feel even a little guilty?”

Penny’s tears finally fell.

“Lena, I’m sorry, but I didn’t steal anything from you.”

“You were the one who couldn’t hold on to it.”

A smile curved across her face even as she cried.

“You chose the wrong man. He could say he loved you in his head,

—

and that still didn’t stop him from cheating.”

“Living with me didn’t stop him from loving you either.”

“He’s a two-faced jerk with no boundaries.”

“And I still chose to be with that jerk.”