Charmed by the Billionaire CEO
Chapter 397: Apologize for the trouble caused

Chapter 397: Apologize for the trouble caused

The entire day went with Gwen avoiding Karl. She tried to keep the talk formal, limited to work, and then return to her normal self.

Linda was happy to see them act like strangers. Even now as soon as the meeting ended, Gwen walked out first without paying a glance at him, and that gave her a huge sense of relief.

As everyone vacated the place, she got up from her seat and approached Karl who was busy collecting his stuff, and called him out.

"Karl.."

Karl paused when he noticed her close to him and quickly took a step back. Even her closeness disgusted him, making him recall what happened between them.

Linda knitted her brow watching him behave indifferently, stepping back as if she was some kind of plague.

But then she quickly composed herself as she told herself it wasn’t time to get upset with him.

"I heard you weren’t feeling well and were also hospitalized," Linda asked.

The next day when she came to work and couldn’t find Karl anywhere she asked one of the staff. It was then she learned Karl had been hospitalized. No one knew the real reason except for her, but she sealed her mouth and acted surprised.

Karl finally looked in her direction and watched her concerned face. He didn’t want to associate with her in any way, but when he saw the genuineness in her eyes, he dropped his guard a little and bobbed his head.

"Was it because of me" Her next words made him look at her in shock.

"Karl, I know whatever happened between us was a mistake. You weren’t in your senses and I am ready to apologize but please Karl don’t hurt yourself because of me...The guilt of ruining such a beautiful relationship is already drowning me"

Linda began to cry her fake tears acting like she meant every word she said. If only he knew it was all an act.

Karl was shocked to see her cry and it somehow made him guilty. He knew it was her fault entirely because it was he who forced himself on her or that’s what she said to him.

He had no clue what was going on in his life anymore. That one dreadful night ended up ruing everything and he didn’t even know whom he was supposed to blame.

Heaving a sigh of defeat, Karl to a step closer to Linda and patted her shoulder. "It’s not your fault Linda. We both made mistakes, especially me. So don’t take the entire blame on yourself"

Karl felt like his heart was being ripped apart but the reality was drowning him deeper into the pool of regret. Only if he had not got drunk and stayed with Gwen, nothing would’ve happened.

While Karl was busy comforting Linda, suddenly the door of the meeting room flung open and Gwen walked in.

She came to take the file she left on the table but the scene she was welcomed with stopped her from taking another step.

Karl and Linda stood close to each other and just like that day, even now, Karl was comforting her.

Clenching her jaw she gulped the lump form in her throat as she watched them with cold eyes. She thought everyone might have left the room but she was wrong.

Glancing the two for some seconds she finally voiced out," Sorry to disturb you both. I came to get the file I left" Averting her eyes away from them Gwen walked towards the table and picked up the file and quickly turned to leave.

Karl who stood there stunned, snapped out of his trance.

Dropping his hand off Linda’s shoulder, he sprinted towards Gwen and quickly grabbed her arm stopping her from leaving.

"Gwen, it’s nothing that you think was going on..." Karl tried to explain but Gwen jerked off her hand indifferently.

Glancing at Linda she then turned her eyes to him and said," You don’t have to explain anything to me" The coldness in her voice broke Karl’s heart.

"We don’t owe each other anything" With that she glanced at him one last time before turning around and walking out from there.

Karl stood there like a broken person as he watched Gwen leave. His heart shattered with every word she spoke, but there was certainly someone who was happy with the view she witnessed.

Linda smiled watching the two. She could see how Gwen didn’t even give Karl the chance to speak and assumed everything on her own.

This behavior of Gwen was the only reason why she choose Karl to execute her plan and now she was happy with her decision.

****

Ashley reached the set and so did Riel. They had a scene to shoot together. Their previous shoot was postponed to the other day due to some change in the scene.

Even after getting thrown out by Ashley it didn’t stop Tristan from warning the writers and the director to change the love scenes between her and Gabriel.

After much brainstorming, the writers finally wrote the scenes keeping Tristan’s condition in mind and came up with a better love scene that eliminated every kissing scene between the couple.

While Ashley was going through her lines preparing for the scene Gabriel approached her.

After that day in the Brown house, Gabriel didn’t get the chance to apologize to Ashley for the trouble he cause her. He regretted not finding the entire truth and targeted her who was innocent all the time and had nothing to do with his revenge.

"Ahem... Hi" Standing next to her chair, Gabriel cleared his throat as he tried to grab her attention.

He was still ashamed to face her but knowing they had to work together as a couple for a film, he muster up the courage to talk with her.

Noticing someone’s presence next to her, Ashley raised her head and saw Gabriel standing there with a polite smile lingering on his face.

"Do you mind if we rehearse our dialogues beforehand?" Gabriel asked as he scratched the back of his head. He just wanted to start a conversation with her and dialogue practicing was the best way to talk with her.

Ashley wasn’t expecting Gabriel to approach her but now that he was standing in front of her she accepted his offer. "Sure" she answered plainly and he quickly took the chair next to her.

Gabriel wanted to forget his building feelings for Ashley knowing she was someone else wife. So he decided to act friendly around her.

Once again silence engulfed the two as Gabriel lack words to speak when Ashley asked," Is there anything you want to talk about, Riel.." she purposely used his stage name knowing how he had concealed his real identity from everyone.

Something are better concealed, she thought.

Gabriel gape at her surprisingly and watched her look at him. He opened his mouth to speak but words didn’t seem to come out. He didn’t know how was he supposed to apologize to her, knowing how awkward he felt around her.

"I... I wanted to apologize to you" he finally confessed and watch her frown.

"Apologize!... for what!" Ashley didn’t know what he was talking about, but the way he appeared all restless made her want to listen him.

Gabriel pursed his lips as he lowered his head. He was guilty for his actions towards her, so he mustered up the courage and dropped the awkwardness and confessed.

"For hurting you" he confessed.

"Huh!" Ariana was shocked by his words looked at him with utter disbelief.

’So this is what he wanted to apologize for, but... wasn’t he forgiven already’

When he sensed she didn’t speak a word he continued," I know you and Tristan have forgiven me but still I want to apologize, Please forgive me for all the troubles I cause you and the people around you"

Riel was genuinely seeking her apology, knowing how far he went to hurt her. He didn’t even spare her father and now the guilt of causing trouble to the old man widen the void in his heart.

He had developed feeling for Ashley knowing she already had someone who loved her dearly, but now the feeling were gone to far. He knew since the beginning it would be an unrequited one still he opened up his heart again but for the wrong women.

And now he wanted to keep this liking to himself, maintaining a pure friendship. He knew it was hard but he would never let anyone know this, especially Ashley.

Some feelings are better to be buried deep in your heart without expressing them.

Ashley remained silent and let him speak. She could sense the remorse he felt with every word he spoke and that somewhat changed her view towards him.

’He isn’t someone he appears to be. Humanity still exist within him’

A smile crept on her lips as she listened his genuine words and she forgot everything that had happened back then.

"I forgive you" came her quickly response that startled Riel for a few seconds but then he noticed the sincerity in her eyes and all the heaviness within his heart clamed down.

"Thank you" he said returning the smile and just like that the awkwardness between the two lessened.

******

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