Chapter 22 Late Confession

"Letting you leave is Bella's loss." Hanson sighed.

The light in Essie's eyes dimmed. When she graduated from Donghua University, Hanson had just graduated from the famous Istituto Marangoni and returned to China. Later, he became the deputy CEO of Bella. It was for Hanson that she overcame many tests and entered the design department. She thought that she could be with him day and night...that was, until she met Sunny–her rival. Sunny had set her up and forced her to leave Bella Company. In addition, she took advantage of her father's influence and forced any company she had applied to, to reject her. However, Essie wasn't going to give up just like that. She opened a store on Taobao. She started to tailor clothes for her two friends who were private celebrities, which attracted plenty of people from the upper-class.

"There are so many talented people there." She lowered her head.

"Well, you're different." His deep voice was like the night wind blowing through her hair. She blinked in surprise and raised her gaze to face him.

"It's too noisy here. Would you like to take a walk with me?" He motioned to the outside.

She nodded, still in a daze from his words.

It was not late at night, yet the fragrance of newly brewed tea pervaded the air. It still smelled like summer. She inhaled as a smile curved her lips.

The air was cool. She could feel her hair swaying from the breeze as the leaves rustled in response.

When they reached the flower bed at the middle of the square, he stopped. Essie waited, not really knowing what he wanted to say.

"When you told me you like me...was that true?" he suddenly asked. Her heart trembled in her chest as her hands shook. 'Yes.' She wanted to scream on top of her lungs as she waved her hands up in the air, but she held herself. Essie managed to plaster an exaggerated smile on her face. "Of course not. It was April Fool's Day. I was only kidding," she lied. She didn't want to

hurt herself again.

"So...it was just a joke?" The neon lights from the road flashed and glittered across the night, but none of them could lighten up what he was feeling.

"You're getting married." Her words were like knives ramming straight into his heart. That was right. He was getting married, and he had no right to ask her that. Deep inside, Hanson had always liked her, but a part of him was satisfied with their lukewarm relationship, but after seeing her with another man, he couldn't find himself wasting another moment. His hands shook as he reached out for her.

"I like you, Essie." Hanson held her cold hands and stared into her eyes.

Essie quivered under his touch, feeling as if she had just been struck by lightning. She blinked, and a part of her wondered if she had heard it wrong. "I like you," he repeated. Her eyes had gone misty and tears started to streak down her cheeks. She had waited for so long to hear those words from his mouth, and here they were.

Hanson's fingers grazed against her face, brushing away the tears. "I know that you were serious that day. I really, really like you," he whispered. He lowered his head and got close to Essie. She stood still, as if she had just been frozen in time. Her heart was beating faster and faster as if she was running a marathon.

Not far away, a Bentley was parked under the tree. The dark color blended with the night's shadows.

At the other side of the car window, cold eyes stared at the two figures under the starry night. If looks could burn, everything would've already been lit up into flames.

The man in the driver's seat had already noticed Zac's unusual behavior. Zac's usual poker face was nowhere to be seen as conflicting emotions flashed across his face. He couldn't believe the fact that his boss could be so emotional over the woman.

When Zac was about to turn away, a figure rushed towards the flower bed, disturbing the supposedly romantic sight.