I Let Him Choose His Ex This Time Chapter 04

I Let Him Choose His Ex This Time Chapter 04

Cressida’s POV 

“Cressida, how on earth did you escape Orion? How would a lunatic like him just let you walk away?” 

Evangeline stepped out from behind Lysander, her voice laced with perfectly calculated concern. 

was supposed to die,” I smirked. “What, disappointed that I didn’t?” 

She knew exactly what I meant. Everyone did. 

Raphael Corleone–Lysander’s grandfather and the true shot–caller of the Corleone family–had been trying to secure a partnership with the Volkov family. 

“Cressida, don’t tell me you colluded with Orion just to get back at Lysander! You know Orion hates the Corleone family. If you’re tangled up with him, aren’t you ruining all of Mr. Raphael’s hard work?! Mr. Raphael treats you so well, is this how you repay him?! 

I had kindly let Lysander take her first, and now she was repaying me by slinging mud, accusing me of treason. 

I stared at her flawless, innocent face, almost laughing out loud. 

“Evangeline, you really have a way with words.” My voice was flat, evaluating her like a meaningless pest. “When you were pinned to the ground crying your eyes out–who was it that told Orion to let you go?” 

“I was just-” 

“I traded 

my life for yours,” I cut her off, glaring at her. “If I hadn’t spoken up, you would have been gift- wrapped for that sick bastard Matthias’s bed by now.” 

The silence was deafening. 

“Cressida! Are you out of your mind?! Eva is just stating facts!” 

Lysander pointed at me, a look of disappointment in his eyes. “She just went through the most terrifying 

ordeal of her life. As a victim, she just wants the truth. Why are you attacking her?!” 

I stared at him calmly. 

“She’s a victim. What about me, Lysander? **Am I not? 

His expression changed instantly–not to remorse, but utter fury. 

“Enough!” he yelled. “If you really betrayed me and the Corleone family, go explain it to my grandfather! 

Let him cancel this engagement! Because a fickle, ungrateful woman like you doesn’t deserve to step into the Corleone family anyway!” 

The moment his words landed, a dangerous, icy scoff echoed from behind me. 

“No need to explain.” 

Gavin stepped forward, his towering frame shielding me entirely, cutting Lysander off. He didn’t even look at Lysander. He just slowly unbuttoned his cuffs, his grayish–blue eyes brimming with terrifying murderous intent. 

“Insulting your rightful fiancée for the sake of a mistress.” 

He finally looked at Lysander, eyeing him like a dead dog. “A blind, empty–headed fool like you… the Volkov family sees no need to proceed with any partnership.” 

Lysander’s arrogance vanished, frozen in place. He stared in shock, his face draining of color. He shoved Evangeline aside and glared at me. “Cressida! Tell me, what’s your relationship with him? What right does He have to fight your battles?!” 

Before I could speak, Gavin slowly turned his head. 

He looked down, his eyes meeting mine. 

His eyes had always been cold, like a frozen lake in midwinter. But beneath the ice, there was a trace of almost imperceptible gentleness–hidden, yet real, and entirely for me. 

What do you think, Cressida?” 

I froze for a moment. 

Maybe it was those eyes, or maybe it was those few days in the cabin–the carefully cleaned wounds, the warm cups of water, the rough but warm blankets. 

Driven by an impulse I couldn’t even name, I slowly reached out and grabbed his hand. 

His palm was broad and warm. The moment he enveloped my hand, his grip tightened slightly. 

looked up at him. 

Gavin,” my voice was steady, but carried a silent plea only he could hear. “I don’t want to go back right now. Can you… take me in for a few days?” 

Lysander’s face went from pale to sickly green, his jaw muscles twitching violently. He abruptly spoke, his voice dark and enunciated, like laying a trap: 

informed Mr. Laurent and Madam Rosalie about this incident. They are waiting for news at home right now. If they find out the sole heiress of the Beaumont family ruined a business alliance for a man she just met… do you think they’ll be even more frantic than when they heard you were kidnapped?” 

My fingers subconsciously twitched in Gavin’s hand, a wave of nausea turning my stomach. 

More frantic than hearing I was kidnapped? 

I had been missing for days, my fate unknown, and my shrewd, cold father Laurent probably hadn’t even blinked. But if he found out that not only was I completely fine, but I was about to personally destroy the financial alliance between the Beaumonts and Corleones- 

Yes, he would absolutely lose his mind.