" Back then , I was still trying to protect your fragile pride , so I kept quiet . But now I see - you're completely delusional , Barrington ." 12:42 pm A Barrington's face grew darker by the second . Everything he'd once been so proud of - all his so - called achievements - had been thanks to Xanthe . He looked both humiliated and furious . " If you did all that for me , why didn't you ever tell me ? " Xanthe gave a faint , scornful chuckle . " What for ? To me , all of that was just a few favors with my old folks . I don't need to parade that around for credit . That's not who I am . " That lowered Barrington's eyes as he realized that Vionnet was the complete opposite of Xanthe . Every little thing Vionnet did for him , she made sure he knew - so he'd feel grateful . His lips parted slightly , a touch of red rising in the corners of his eyes . " Xanthe , honey , you did so much for me . You loved me so much . Now that everything's been cleared up , can't we start over ? " He reached out , trying to pull her into an embrace . " I swear , from now on , I'll only ever treat you right . " But before he could touch her , Xanthe struck him - hard . A crisp slap echoed through the room , and a red handprint bloomed across his face . She took a step back , her voice threatening . " I'll press charges for sexual harassment next time you dare touch me , Mr. Connolly . Don't forget -you're in my company . In my city . Mess with me , and it won't end well for you . " 12:42 pm A Barrington looked dazed - almost hurt . Xanthe had always been the one to take the initiative to be intimate with him . And now that he finally approached her , she called it sexual harassment ? Outside the door , Zandra didn't dare delay any longer . She quickly called for security . Moments later , Barrington was escorted out of the building . That night , he had barely had a moment to himself after enduring an entire afternoon of verbal beatings . Once the BMC Global shareholders heard he'd lost the partnership deal , they all turned on him one after another . For three long and relentless hours , they bombarded him with criticism . When the online meeting finally ended , he shut his laptop and pressed his fingers to rub his temples in exhaustion . He had built this company from the ground up . No family fortune . No one backing him . So whenever things went south , the shareholders took it out on him . Back when Xanthe was still around , she had always borne these things silently on her own , never letting any of the chaos reach him . Back when Song Xanthe was around , she had quietly absorbed the brunt of it . She never let any of that pressure reach him . But she was gone . And everything fell squarely on his shoulders . He closed his eyes , murmuring , " Xanthe ..." Suddenly , he felt a pair of hands gently massaging his temples . His heart leapt . Eyes snapping open , he said , " Xanthe ? Is that you ?! " But it wasn't Xanthe in front of him - it was Vionnet . The light in his eyes vanished . His expression hardened . " What are you doing here ? " Vionnet bit her lip , putting on a wounded look . " Barry , I heard you came here for business deals . I just wanted to help ." " The doctor said my pregnancy is a bit unstable , " she added to explain , " so I figured I could also check in with the hospitals here , too ." She thought bringing up the baby would soften him , maybe even move him . But Barrington just let out a sharp , scornful laugh . " Then get rid of it ." Vionnet froze . Her arms dropped to her sides , and she stared at him in disbelief . " Barry ... You're ... You're kidding , right ? " But Barrington's eyes glinted with cold light . His voice was chilling when he replied , " Do I look like I'm joking ? " That sent a wave of dread that washed over Vionnet . The baby in her belly was her last card - her only leverage . She had planned to use it to force a marriage with Barrington - there was no way she could lose it now . " Are you still hung up on Xanthe , Barry ? But she's already divorced you ! She doesn't even love The CEO's Countr 1/2 15.3 % 12:42 pm A Chapter 17 you at all anymore ! " she cried out . " I'm carrying your child . You have a responsibility to me ! " But Barrington didn't even pity her . Instead , he let out a mocking laugh and gripped her chin with his own fingers . " You're trying to use a child to trap me ? " he scoffed . " I don't even want you . Why the hell would I care about a child that's yours ? " " Vionnet , I only ever looked after you out of respect for what we had back then ," he clarified . " But you used my sympathy to manipulate me . " " And you thought you could trap me into marriage with a baby ? " He shook his head . " You really overestimated yourself . " With a flick of his arm , he shoved her away . The force was so unexpected that Vionnet stumbled and fell to the floor . She slumped there in a daze , her eyes filled with panic . Something about him had changed like he'd become a completely different person . Still , she wasn't done . She lashed out again , trying to drag Xanthe down with her . " Even if you don't love me anymore , Barry , you can't love Xanthe either ! " She held her chin up as she reminded him . " Have you forgotten ? She drugged you back then ! And she drugged me too ! How can you share a bed with a woman like that ? Aren't you afraid she'll turn on you again ?! " She should've kept her mouth shut ... because Barrington's face darkened , and the next second , he slapped her hard . The impact made her collapse and crumple to the floor . Rage burned in his eyes . He grabbed her hair , yanked her head up , and hissed . " It wasn't her . The one who drugged me back then ? I know it's you ! " And you drugged yourself , too ! From the beginning, Xanthe never did a thing to you . It's you , Vionnet . You just kept framing her - again and again ! " You shouldn't have come back . Without you , Xanthe and I wouldn't have ended up like this ! " Vionnet breath caught . Her whole body tensed , and her blood ran cold . " Y - Y - You knew ? You knew all along ? " 212 15 7