One night stand with my president(chapter 359)

 Chapter 359: Apologize to My Boyfriend 

Joyce wasn't exactly stunning, but she was definitely charming in a delicate, approachable way.

Pedro felt a familiar itch in his chest. He couldn't resist asking Gracie, "Gracie, who is this beautiful young lady?"

"She's a good friend of Adeline's," Gracie replied with a smile. "You can call her Miss Monroe."

Pedro immediately stood up and walked over to greet Joyce.

Joyce offered a polite, distant smile, but nothing more.

Once they began their lunch, Joyce didn't spare Pedro another glance.

And that left Pedro feeling thoroughly deflated.

For as long as he could remember, he had always seen himself as a man full of charm and appeal.

But now, Adeline didn't like him, and Joyce didn't show any interest either.

Still, what bothered him even more was

Harrison's absence.

Harrison thought, "Where is he? Has he already left? That will be just perfect."

After lunch, Isaac and Gracie went out for some business, and Alberto retreated to his room to rest.

Adeline and Joyce sat in the living room chatting, when Pedro, refusing to leave, shamelessly wandered over to them.

"Adeline, Joyce, what are you two talking about?" he asked, practically leaning over them.

"We're talking about Adeline's boyfriend," Joyce answered with a teasing smile. "He's upstairs taking a nap right now."

It was like a slap in the face to Pedro.

So, Harrison hadn't left after all.

He sucked in a breath, trying to gather himself.

"Speaking of which, there's something I need to ask you," Adeline said, breaking the silence.

"What is it?" Pedro quickly responded. "I'll tell you anything."

Adeline  smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"Last night, when my boyfriend and I were taking a walk, a few men suddenly showed up, looking to cause trouble. They were sent by you, weren't they?"

Pedro's heart skipped a beat. He stammered, "What ? I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't send anyone. Adeline, I don't understand what you mean."

"Oh, you don't understand?" Adeline's voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Let me make it clearer for you. There were security cameras where we were last night. The cameras captured everything. I had someone look into it, and guess what? The men you sent were related to you."

Pedro froze, his face turning pale.

He thought, "There are cameras in that desolate place? How could I have known?"

"Adeline, I... this has to be a misunderstanding. Even if I knew those men, I would never..." Pedro stammered, his words tangling awkwardly as he struggled to form a complete sentence. It was painful to watch, and yet, to Adeline, it spoke volumes.

She had him figured out.

Truth be told, she had been bluffing.

In a place as remote as that, the idea of surveillance cameras was laughable.

It was a calculated risk, a shot in the dark.

But it worked.

Pedro's guilty conscience did all the heavy lifting.

Her lips curved into a smile-chillingly devoid of warmth.

"Pedro," she began, her tone razor-sharp, "the Mendoza family and the Livingston family have always been close, and I'd like to be friends with you, too. But don't you think trying to hurt my boyfriend is a bit excessive?"

Sweat beaded on Pedro's forehead.

When he'd ordered his men to deal with Harrison, he'd been too consumed by his anger to think about the consequences. He certainly hadn't imagined surveillance cameras in such a place.

"I-Adeline, let me explain-"

"There's no need," she cut him off smoothly.

"Pedro, for the sake of the bond between the

Mendoza and Livingston families, I won't make a big deal out of this. But as for last night's incident, you'll need to apologize to my boyfriend in person."

The mention of apologizing to Harrison made

Pedro bristle.

"Fine, Adeline, I admit it," he blurted. "Those men were my doing. You know how much I like you, and he stole you away from me. Of course I'm upset!"

"Hold on a second," Joyce interjected, unable to hold her tongue. "Adeline and Mr. Thomson have known each other for over five years. You've known her for, what, a few days? How exactly did he 'steal' her from you?"

Though her Yewhaina language wasn't as polished as Adeline's, Joyce's words were clear enough for Pedro to understand.

"But Adeline and I have a betrothal!" Pedro exclaimed.

"That supposed 'engagement'?" Joyce raised an eyebrow. "Even Mrs. Mendoza said it was a joke. And this is the modern age. We believe in free love. That 'arranged marriage' was never valid since it didn't have the consent of either party, right?"

Pedro was left speechless.

In truth, he had already confronted his mother about it.

She'd confirmed that the so-called betrothal was nothing more than a passing joke between families.

No ceremonies, no formal agreements-how could it possibly hold any weight?

"Okay, I've said my piece," Joyce said with a smirk. "Go ahead and keep making excuses."

Pedro swallowed his frustration, rearranging his thoughts. "Fine, I was upset, so I sent someone to give him a little lesson. I didn't mean any real harm. He's fine, isn't he?"

Adeline's tone turned icy. "The only reason he's fine is because he's capable. Your men showed up with clubs thick enough to break bones, and you expect me to believe you didn't mean any harm?"

"But he is fine," Pedro muttered defensively.

"And yet you very much intended for him not to be." Adeline shot back. "Let me make myself clear: apologize to my boyfriend, or I'll be having a serious conversation with my parents about this. Then we'll decide what to do next."

A shiver ran through Pedro.

Adeline wasn't bluffing this time.

Sure, the Livingston family had once been indebted to the Mendoza family for their help, but those debts had long been repaid. 

Their continued support was purely out of goodwill.

But Adeline was the beloved child the Mendoza family had fought so hard to find again. If she pushed, the Mendoza family might very well sever ties with the Livingston family.

And if that happened, Pedro would be responsible for the downfall of the Livingston family.

"Fine," Pedro relented, his voice trembling. 

"I'll do as you say. I care about you, Adeline. I'll listen to you."

Adeline's expression remained unimpressed.

He was just scared, and he dressed it up in flowery words.

"Good. Then wait," she said curtly. "My boyfriend is still sleeping. Once he wakes up, you can apologize to him."

With that, Adeline turned away, resuming her conversation with Joyce, ignoring Pedro entirely.

Pedro was left to stew in silence, perched on the edge of his seat like a man awaiting judgment.

He wanted to join their conversation but was hopelessly lost when they switched languages.

Interjecting was out of the question.

He considered leaving but didn't dare. So he waited.

Adeline and Joyce eventually moved on to binge-watching a show, treating Pedro like air.

Three grueling hours later, Harrison finally came  downstairs.

By this point, Pedro looked at him as though he was an angel.

Harrison stopped at the base of the stairs, catching Pedro's fervent gaze.

Harrison raised an eyebrow in confusion.