Riley Hawthorne looked at Zachary Sutton’s reaction, feeling a bit disappointed. "Zachary, don’t you have any other feelings for me?" Zachary Sutton was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Riley, you’re a good girl. I’ve always treated you like a sister and hope you won’t have any unrealistic fantasies about me." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel•fire.net Zachary Sutton knew these words were hurtful, but during this time, he couldn’t ignore Riley Hawthorne’s subtle care for him. This care, at first, he didn’t mind it, thinking she simply saw him as an older brother. But now, he felt that her concern had suddenly changed in nature. So, to prevent hurting Riley Hawthorne, Zachary Sutton decided to kill off her infatuation with him before she fell too deeply. "Zachary, how can you say that?" Riley Hawthorne’s eyes instantly reddened at Zachary Sutton’s words. "My feelings for you aren’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. I’ve liked you since we were young. I really like you." Riley Hawthorne finally spoke out the words hidden in her heart; these words of affection she long wanted to tell him. So, she returned to the country, even applied for a job at his company, just wanting to be a bit closer to him, hoping to slowly nurture their feelings? Zachary Sutton looked at Riley Hawthorne’s sorrowful expression, feeling a bit guilty, but he knew prolonged pain was better avoided. "Riley, you can’t force feelings. I don’t like you. From childhood, I’ve only seen you as a sister. I hope you can find someone who truly loves you, and that person isn’t me." "Why?" Riley Hawthorne bit her lip, trying hard not to let her tears fall. "I don’t believe it, Zachary. I don’t want to be your sister. You must have a reason for saying this. Is it because of Ellie? Do you like her?" Zachary Sutton shook his head helplessly. "No, Ellie and I just have a working relationship. I don’t like you because I feel we’re not suitable." "Why aren’t we suitable?" Riley Hawthorne wiped her tears, couldn’t help but ask, "Is it because I’m not worthy of you?" She was the apple of the Hawthorne Family’s eye, Caden Hawthorne’s biological sister, the eldest daughter of the Hawthorne Family. Her family background was excellent, clearly matching with Zachary Sutton’s, yet he said they weren’t suitable. Did he think he wasn’t worthy of her? Zachary Sutton quickly explained, "It’s not because of that, Riley. Your family background is great. I just think you deserve better, and I’m not worthy of you. Besides, you’re my sister, how could I, as an older brother, possibly like a sister?" Riley Hawthorne shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don’t want to be your sister, and I don’t think you’re unworthy of me. Zachary, feelings aren’t measured by external conditions. I like you simply because you’re you." Zachary Sutton sighed and said, "Riley, you’re still young, you don’t understand the complications of feelings. Maybe now you think you like me, but in the future you’ll meet someone better, and you’ll realize we’re impossible." Riley Hawthorne stubbornly said, "I won’t meet someone better, Zachary. I only like you. Why can’t you just give me a chance?" Zachary Sutton looked at Riley Hawthorne’s determined eyes, couldn’t help but frown, feeling somewhat shaken, but he still steeled his heart. Zachary Sutton sighed and said, "Riley, don’t be so foolish. You have many choices in life, don’t waste your time on me. I’m not worth it." Riley Hawthorne looked at Zachary Sutton’s decisive look, felt a surge of pain in her heart, took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and calmed her emotions. "Okay, Zachary, I understand. I won’t be foolish in the future. I’ll focus on my work and not cause you trouble." After speaking, Riley Hawthorne turned and ran out of the office. Zachary Sutton watched her leave, filled with guilt and helplessness. He knew he had hurt Riley Hawthorne, but he had no other choice. He could only hope Riley Hawthorne could move on from this relationship soon and find her own happiness, a happiness he couldn’t provide. Why should he add to her sadness for nothing? After all, he was an old hand in the realm of love, famously a playboy in The Aethelgard Circle, and a simple girl like Riley Hawthorne shouldn’t be with someone like him. Therefore, Zachary Sutton couldn’t delay Riley Hawthorne and knew he wasn’t worthy of her. "Riley, you’re back! Was work smooth today?" Vivian Lynch, pregnant with a big belly, saw Riley Hawthorne return and smiled warmly as she asked. "It was okay." Riley Hawthorne was obviously in a bad mood, just answered perfunctorily, and walked tiredly into the villa. Vivian Lynch looked puzzled, "What’s wrong with her? Could it be something at work that’s making her unhappy?" Vivian Lynch watched Riley Hawthorne’s back, feeling a bit worried. She thought for a while, deciding to find a chance to talk to Riley Hawthorne later to see what might be troubling her. After a while, Vivian Lynch came to Riley Hawthorne’s room door and gently knocked. "Riley, are you in? May I come in?" Riley Hawthorne heard Vivian Lynch’s voice, wiped her tears, and said, "Vivian, you can come in." Vivian Lynch pushed the door open, walked into the room, and saw Riley Hawthorne’s red eyes, clearly having cried. "Riley, what’s wrong? Did something upset you? Can you tell your sister-in-law?" Riley Hawthorne looked at Vivian Lynch’s caring eyes, feeling warmth in her heart, couldn’t help but lean on Vivian Lynch’s shoulder and cry. "Sister-in-law, I’m so sad." "What’s wrong? Who bullied you?" Vivian Lynch hugged her, comforting her. "It’s Zachary Sutton, I confessed to him, but he rejected me." Riley Hawthorne cried as she spoke. "What?" Hearing this, Vivian Lynch was surprised, "You confessed to Zachary Sutton?" Riley Hawthorne nodded, "Sister-in-law, I’m so sad. Zachary doesn’t like me, he only sees me as a sister." Vivian Lynch gently patted Riley Hawthorne’s back, comforting her, "Don’t be sad, Riley. You can’t force matters of the heart. Maybe he’s not the right one for you." Riley Hawthorne lifted her head, looked at Vivian Lynch, and said, "But I really like him, I don’t want to give up. Vivian, what should I do?" Vivian Lynch sighed, thinking for a moment, said, "Riley, you need to calm down first. Try to keep some distance from him, let your emotions settle a bit. Maybe after some time, you’ll find that your feelings for him aren’t that deep." Riley Hawthorne shook her head and said, "I can’t do it. The thought of not being with him in the future makes me so sad." Vivian Lynch sighed and said, "Riley, you’re still young; it’s the age of impulsiveness. You need to think more about yourself. You’re the eldest daughter of the Hawthorne Family, and you have many choices."