Chapter 178
178 Burnt Bridges and Cold Shoulders
For a moment, no one dared to speak.
“Venom, you know exactly who I am,” Alice said quietly but firmly. “One wrong move, and my entire reputation could go up in flames.
“You’re dragging me down. Is that your way of protecting me? Or is that just the easiest way out for you ?”
Alice had spent years surviving in the real world. She wasn’t naïve.
If Venom had reached out in any other way, maybe they could’ve shared a quiet drink and talked about the past.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he’d investigated her. Dug up old secrets.
Then tried to force her hand.
Sure, the online rumors had been suppressed for now, but people always talk.
She could pretend not to care, but society never lets you forget. The damage was done and she hadn’t asked for any of it.
It was Venom who dragged her into the mud.
And no one wants to stay in the mud forever.
Alice’s words were crystal clear and painfully honest.
“So, Venom,” she said, “I suggest you don’t repay kindness with betrayal.”
With that, she stood and walked out.
“I’ll conduct my own investigation. Save your goodwill. I don’t want it.”
Venom stood motionless, long after she disappeared.
Only when the silence threatened to choke him did he finally lean on the conference table and force himself to move.
Daniel, watching from the side, couldn’t resist twisting the knife.
“Funny how folks think a weak apology is enough to fix the damage they’ve done. Like a heart stabbed through can just patch itself up.”
He scoffed. “Some people really think the storm will never strike them. If you get too arrog bound to get hit by lightning.”
ou’re
Venom didn’t answer. Pretending not to hear was easier.
But the words stuck, sharp as nails, driving deep into his chest.
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178 Burnt Bridges and Cold Shoulders
When he finally stepped out of the building, the sun was already high above but he felt cold all over
His expression was dark and clouded.
A green sports car pulled up in front of him.
He got in. leaned back, and shut his eyes.
The driver, the same guy as last time, glanced over and chuckled at his defeated posture.
“Wow. So she shut you down hard, huh? Must’ve been painful–throwing yourself at someone who wants nothing to do with you.”
Venom frowned. “Did you look into that employer like I asked?”
The driver hit the brakes at a red light, whistled at a pretty woman in the next car, and grinned when she blew him a kiss .
Not missing a beat, he continued to chat, “Yeah, about that. That person’s mostly based overseas. High- level target, Way outta our league. We’re lucky to have made it out of that mess in one piece. My advice? Let it go.”
Venom let out a quiet sigh.
The driver glanced over again, this time with a more serious tone.
“Wait. Does Ms. Spencer even know that the Greysea incident … wasn’t you?”
Venom said nothing.
The guy groaned. “Man, are you serious?”
Back then, there was already infighting within their organization.
Venom wanted out. He wanted to clean his hands before they were too stained.
But one of the other bosses wasn’t ready to walk away. He wanted to go out with a bang.
So Venom left, taking his closest guys with him. Meanwhile, that boss went to Greysea and carried out the mission.
The whole thing had been downright bizarre.
By the time Venom got word and rushed to Greysea, the ship was nearly empty–aside from a few dazed survivors, there was nothing left.
No signs of a struggle. No blood. Not even a broken railing.
Later, every single one of those survivors fell into a coma.
When Venom and his guy pulled them out, the ship sank.
And when those people finally woke up in the hospital, none of them remembered ever being on that ship.
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178 Burnt Bridges and Cold Shoulders
Selective amnesia, they called it.
The incident was eventually brushed off as something paranormal.
But Venom couldn’t let it go.
He started digging, trying to trace the employer behind it all.
+5 Free Coms
Unfortunately, the person’s identity was a complete enigma. What little he could uncover led nowhere.
And the biggest ironic twist of it all?
The whole mess turned out to be connected to Alice.
For a long while, Venom sat in silence.
Then, finally, he said, “We bury this. Don’t say a word.”
The man’s face fell.
“You’re planning to handle it alone?”
Venom didn’t respond–but his silence said it all.
The guy let out a humorless laugh.
“You’re really out of your mind, huh? You wanna throw your life away? Fine. I won’t stop you. But what, I’m not your buddy?
“Venom, seriously—are you insane? I’m telling you, women? They’re not exactly in short supply on this planet! Snap out of it already!”
Venom rubbed his forehead, still saying nothing.
The man was so furious, he nearly destroyed the steering wheel with his punches.
Later that afternoon, Alice got a call from Risa, reminding her not to forget the casting session on the 3rd.
Alice had honestly almost forgotten.
She quickly gave Janice a few instructions and headed out the door.
There was no way she was going to miss tonight–Risa was throwing her a party.
And the room? Packed with six–foot–tall heartthrobs.