Chapter 260
Cormac had once believed that losing everything with the Nash family was the lowest point of his life. But little did he know, the worst days were still ahead.
As he sat behind the wheel, everything became painfully clear. The so-called “temporary driver” and “coincidence” were just ploys orchestrated by Richard to humiliate him in front of Rowena. The goal was obvious: to show Rowena just how miserable her ex-boyfriend had become, to make her feel that breaking up with him was the right decision.
Cormac’s grip on the steering wheel tightened so much that he thought it might break. After everything that happened with the Nash bankruptcy, he had come to understand human nature in its most brutal form.
He didn’t want to look at Rowena—no, he couldn’t. Instead, he silently endured the humiliation. After a long pause, he asked flatly, “Where are we going?”
“To the Starry Sky Photography Studio in the suburbs,” Richard replied, glancing at him with an air of superiority. “If you don’t know the way, I can…”
“I know,” Cormac interrupted, starting the car. The drive would take at least two hours, and he had already calculated the time in his mind.
Rowena, sitting beside Richard, felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest. It made it hard to breathe, and she hurriedly rolled down the window to get some air.
“What’s wrong, Rowena?” Richard asked, reaching out to touch her face with exaggerated concern. “Didn’t you rest well last night?”
“Nothing,” Rowena muttered, pushing his hand away. Her gaze flickered toward Cormac in the driver’s seat, but her heart twisted in her chest. She quickly looked away, trying to mask the pain that threatened to surface.
Richard, oblivious to Rowena’s turmoil, continued chatting. “Remember when we were invited to Paris for Fashion Week? You loved that wedding dress. I didn’t want to buy it for you because a model had already worn it. So, I found the designer and made an appointment with him. When we get married, he’ll design your wedding dress.”
Rowena didn’t want to engage in the conversation or listen to Richard. She replied flatly, “It’s still too early for a wedding. No need to rush.”
“Of course,” Richard continued, ignoring her disinterest. “We should plan ahead. I’ve already picked out a venue for the wedding. Once this busy period is over, you can go check it out.”
“I have a lot of engagements recently,” Rowena replied curtly, hoping to shut down the conversation. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Richard’s face tightened, but he persisted. “Rowena, you—”
“I want to rest,” she interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended.
“Alright,” Richard said with feigned understanding. “We still have two hours to the studio. You can take a nap.”
As the car came to a stop at a red light, Cormac was suddenly pulled back in time by the mention of weddings. The sound of Richard’s voice faded as memories from ten years ago flooded his mind.
He remembered leaning against a tree on campus with Rowena resting her head on his leg, casually flipping through a magazine.
“My idol is getting married today, Cormac. Look, she looks so beautiful in her wedding dress,” Rowena had said, her voice filled with admiration.
Cormac had only glanced at the magazine dismissively. “She’s okay. But her husband is so much older, bald even. They don’t match at all. Only fans like you would blindly bless them.”
Rowena had immediately sat up, a frown on her face. “What do you know? They’ve been in love for ten years. He’s been writing songs for her in silence. He even mortgaged his house to promote her album when they were just dating. Now, after ten years, they’re getting married. How romantic is that?”
“Yeah, very romantic,” Cormac had smiled softly. “I don’t have the talent to write songs for you, but I could love you for ten years.”
Rowena had smiled back at him. “You say your idol looks beautiful in her wedding dress. You’d look even more beautiful. Let’s go to a bridal shop someday, and you can try one on.”
“Cormac, are you crazy? We’re still students. It’s too early to talk about marriage. Why would I go to a bridal shop now?” Rowena had asked, a little startled.
“It’s not too early,” Cormac had teased. “It’s just ten years from now.”
“Cormac!” Rowena had pretended to be angry, and they had started wrestling playfully.
The memory was so vivid that Cormac couldn’t help but smile. It felt like it had happened just yesterday.
The honking of a car behind him snapped him back to reality. He quickly started driving when the light turned green.
At that moment, Richard’s phone rang. Rowena, not wanting to engage in any more conversation, pulled out her own phone and began to search for the Nash Group news.
She was abroad most of the time, consumed by her work and neglecting the news. But as she scanned the results, her whole body went cold. Ravenna and Orion were dead, Griffon was in prison, and the Nash family was completely bankrupt. Rowena read the headlines again and again, her disbelief growing with each click. How could this be?
After breaking up with Cormac, she had assumed he would inherit the family business, marry someone of equal standing, and live a glamorous life. How could everything have gone so wrong?
Her eyes drifted to Cormac once more, and her heart ached. She could barely breathe, and before she knew it, tears started streaming down her face. Panicking, she quickly turned to look out the window, hoping the wind would dry her tears before anyone noticed.
Eventually, the car pulled up to the Starry Sky Photography Studio. As soon as they stopped, a receptionist opened the door. “Miss Blaire, you’re finally here. The photographer is ready. Please follow me.”
Rowena, still shaken, nodded and started to get out of the car.
Richard, acting as though nothing had happened, said, “Time is tight. Go in and start the shoot. I’ll join you in a bit.”
Rowena was escorted inside warmly. After she left, Richard pretended to be courteous. “Mr. Nash, thank you for your hard work today. The shoot will take about three hours. Once we’re done, you can take us back to the hotel, and your work will be done for the day.”
Cormac stepped out of the car and tossed the keys to Richard. “No need,” he said coldly. “I have other things to do. Find someone else.”
As Cormac started walking away, Richard called after him. “But we agreed you’d work the whole day. If you leave now, I might not be able to pay you…”
“I don’t want the money. Consider this a free ride,” Cormac shot back without turning around.
Richard’s voice grew louder. “But we’re in the suburbs. If you leave, where will I find another driver?”
“Mr. Richard, aren’t you full of energy? Can’t you drive yourself?” Cormac retorted.
Richard’s face flushed with anger. “Cormac, what kind of attitude is that? I paid you to work, not to talk back to me!”
At that, Cormac had enough. “Richard, what’s the point of this? Humiliating Rowena’s ex in front of her makes you feel powerful? Makes you feel capable?”
“Ex-boyfriend?” Richard said, feigning surprise. “You mean you are—”
“Stop pretending!” Cormac snapped, his voice full of frustration. “Would you have done this if you hadn’t investigated me?”
Richard scowled. “Fine. Since you’re so direct, let me be direct too. I know about your past relationship with Rowena. That’s why I don’t trust you. Our statuses are different now. Rowena has a boyfriend. I’m just reminding you to stay away from her.”
“Your status? What status? So noble?” Cormac laughed bitterly. “When I was mingling with the elite, you were nowhere to be found. Don’t play this game with me! You said it yourself, I’m just her ex. If we had a chance, we wouldn’t have broken up. I know my place. You don’t need to test me like this!”
Cormac’s voice hardened. “I’m a mess now. Do whatever you want with me; I don’t care. But have you thought about her feelings? You’re despicable. I won’t bother Rowena again, and I don’t want to see you again.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Richard fuming.
Cormac stepped out of the studio, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Pain? He seemed numb to it. Humiliation? He had faced plenty of that since losing everything.
He didn’t know how long he walked, but eventually, someone called out to him from behind. He turned around—and it was Rowena.