The Ex Who Became His Obsession - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"Charlie, you really don't have to go out of your way. I live pretty close by now," said Alyssia.
It wasn't until most people had left that Alyssia finally approached Charlie's car.
"I just got off work, too," Charlie said, not adding anything further. "It's okay. Come on up."
Brianna suddenly stepped out from the shadows, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Still looking after your schoolmates as always, Charlie?" she said, her tone laced with irony. "Alyssia, long time no see."
Brianna looked at Alyssia with a smile that didn't reach her eyes; instead, her gaze was sharp and piercing.
"Hi, Brianna," Alyssia replied politely.
Alyssia knew Brianna, who was beside Charlie, since she first entered Ravendale University.
Rumor had it that Brianna was Charlie's childhood sweetheart, and her father was one of Vanguard Media's founding members. Even if they weren't romantically involved, there was always something flirtatious between them.
But Charlie had told Alyssia they were merely acquaintances.
Alyssia knew that Brianna disliked her intensely.
One time at the library, Alyssia ran into Brianna, who blocked her way and looked her up and down with a sneer. "You sure are ambitious. I heard you're an orphan. How dare you constantly cling to Charlie?"
Brianna's assertive tone almost made Alyssia second-guess herself.
For a while, Alyssia genuinely questioned herself. 'Why does Leonard, and everyone else, seem to think there was something between Charlie and me? Have I really failed to maintain proper boundaries, making everyone get the wrong idea?'
Because of this, Alyssia had even gone out of her way to talk to Charlie, telling him, "Unless it's absolutely necessary, let's not see each other."
She didn't want to upset Lenny, nor did she want to provoke attacks from the other women in Charlie's life.
Charlie only nodded, a shadow falling over his eyes, remaining silent.
But now Alyssia realized that her actions at the time had not only hurt her relationship with Charlie but also caused her to suffer needlessly, almost as if she had unintentionally confirmed the ugly rumors spread by others.
"Lucky you, Alyssia. I've heard all about your entertainment scoop," Brianna said with feigned amusement. "Back when you graduated, Charlie was there to help you with your interview topics, and now that you're working, he's still digging up dirt on people for you."
Charlie's face darkened before Alyssia could speak. "Brianna, enough of that. Alyssia completed her graduation project independently. As for Archer's scandal, I wasn't involved at all," he said.
A flash of humiliated anger crossed Brianna's face as she wondered, 'How could Charlie still claim he hadn't helped her?
'Alyssia won the Grand Prize for her graduation project that year. With her abilities? No way she could've pulled that off herself.'
Archer's scandal suddenly broke out today, shattering his public image. Brianna could have accepted that if Charlie had just admitted he did it to humiliate Bright Orange Media. But he stubbornly denied it, just like always.
Brianna scoffed inwardly, 'He must deliberately deny it on purpose.'
But after a few seconds, Brianna managed to compose herself. She had no standing to criticize Alyssia or question Charlie now.
At work, Brianna wasn't Alyssia's boss; in love, she wasn't Charlie's girlfriend after all.
But before Brianna could figure out how to defend her dignity, Alyssia suddenly pulled open Charlie's car door and slid right in, leaving Brianna standing there, face gloomy.
"Charlie, can you give me a ride home, too?" Brianna said as she reached for the back door, only to find that Charlie had swiftly locked it.
Brianna was nearly beside herself with rage. "Charlie, why?" she shrieked.
"We're not going the same way. Besides, didn't you drive here yourself?" Charlie glanced at her through the car window. With that, he rolled up the window.
Alyssia seized the moment to wave at Brianna. "See you around, Brianna."
"Charlie, you have gone so far," Brianna shrieked, her composure shattered completely. In the rearview mirror, she was seen cursing wildly as she hurled her handbag out.
The car pulled away some distance. After a moment of silence, Charlie suddenly burst into laughter.
"Getting bolder, aren't you?" Charlie shot Alyssia an amused glance.
Back in college, whenever Brianna confronted her and made threats, Alyssia would meekly come to Charlie, pleading that they keep their distance from then on.
"I've got a clear conscience, so what's there to fear?" Alyssia said nonchalantly. "Besides, what I choose to do is none of anyone else's business."
Alyssia finally saw the light, wondering, 'When one is deemed in the wrong, even breathing feels like a crime. All that caution ever is useless. No one would go easy on me or think highly of me because of that.
'Might as well just focus on being myself and live life on my terms. At least that way, I might feel a bit happier. Look out for yourself, or you're doomed.'
"By the way, thanks for your help with the Archer situation, Charlie," Alyssia brought it up. "But actually, I had some dirt on him. I was planning to wait until Bright Orange Media's magazine was fully ready, then drop the bomb at the last minute."
"I truly didn't interfere in the Archer situation," Charlie said solemnly. "Alyssia, I know you always know your own mind. If I just stepped in, I might end up messing up your plans."
Alyssia froze for a second, momentarily taken aback. 'Right, that's just not Charlie's style,' she wondered.
Even when Charlie helped, it was only by offering some behind-the-scenes support. He would never personally take the reins for her. He preferred to encourage Alyssia quietly from the sidelines, watching her grow, rather than doing everything for her.
'Then who is behind all this?' she wondered.
The car pulled up outside the gates of her new apartment complex.
"Charlie, you should head home and get some rest," Alyssia said as she got out of the car.
But Charlie didn't move, his gaze darkening as it fixed on something behind her.
Alyssia sensed something amiss and turned, only to find Leonard leaning against his car, his deep gaze fixed intently on her. Meanwhile, Milena stood beside him, draped in a flamboyant silk shawl.
Alyssia averted her gaze, deliberately ignoring them as she quickened her pace toward the apartment complex.
"Alyssia, wait." Milena caught up. "Alyssia, I came to apologize. I've been waiting here for you for hours."
Alyssia stopped, casting a cold, dismissive glance at her. "Did I ever ask you to wait for me?"
Milena froze for a moment. Leonard was already striding over.
"Leon," Milena turned to him, tears streaming down her face as she tugged pitifully at his sleeve. "Alyssia won't forgive me. What should I do?"
Milena's over-the-top act of fake innocence was so convincing that even Charlie had to get out of the car.
"Alyssia, Milena came here to apologize to you," Leonard said, his gaze fixed on Alyssia.
'What blatant favoritism, and he said it with such self-righteous conviction,' Alyssia wondered.
Alyssia smirked, "So what? Just because she's apologizing, I'm supposed to accept it? Did I ever ask for her apology?"
Leonard didn't answer, but his gaze grew even colder. 'When did she turn so combative and shrewish? She's nothing like her former self,' he thought. 'Could this be her true colors all along?'
Milena sobbed dramatically, "Alyssia, I swear, I had no idea Archer signed with our company. You know, I don't really have a head for business. There's no way I could possibly be involved in running the company.
"But after I got to the bottom of it, I told Leon immediately. Our company would never work with scum like Archer again. Please, you have to believe me."
"That's your company's business. What does that have to do with Alyssia?" Charlie frowned at Milena. "Can you stop interfering in her life?"
'Alyssia has finally clawed her way out of the mire, but Leonard is hell-bent on dragging her straight back into hell,' Charlie wondered, furious.