Chapter 598

Jade reached out to gently touch Robert’s arm, her fingertips just inches away from grazing his sleeve. But before she could make contact, the man shifted. A swift, fluid movement—barely perceptible, yet deliberate. He evaded her hand without a word, his cool detachment slicing through the moment like a blade. She froze mid-reach, her fingers suspended awkwardly in the air. Shock and embarrassment collided on her face. For a second, she looked as if the ground beneath her had given way. And then— "We are not close." Robert’s words fell like ice shards, sharp and emotionless. Just four syllables—but they landed with the impact of a slap. “Not close?” Jade’s voice faltered, barely above a whisper. The phrase echoed in her chest, crushing the last remnants of her pride. Her mouth parted, but nothing came out. Her cheeks flushed red—burning with both humiliation and disbelief. Robert... how could you? How dare he claim they weren’t close—as if the time, the effort, the anticipation she had