Third person's POV
Leopold forcibly took Gloria away.
Gloria asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Leopold ignored her question and asked, "Where's your room? Let's go in and talk."
Gloria nodded to indicate the direction. Leopold led her into the room.
"Exactly what do you want... mmm..."
The moment the door closed, Leopold closed in, his thin lips accurately capturing Gloria's. "I've missed you," he said.
Gloria was stunned. She had expected Leopold to have some important business.
Lately, she had been reviewing the contracts she handled, worried there might be issues that prompted his long journey.
But the moment Leopold kissed her, she thought, 'Is this man crazy?'
"Let go of me!"
She pushed him away with great effort.
Although some time had passed since her miscarriage and her body had mostly recovered, it didn't mean the pain in her heart had healed.
What on earth did this man want, being so reckless?
Leopold, pushed away, appeared somewhat displeased. Yet, he still remembered Gloria's miscarriage and treated her gently.
"Sorry, it's been too long. I really missed you," he said.
He sat down casually, legs slightly apart, and beckoned to Gloria, "Come here."
"What exactly do you want..."
Before Gloria could finish, Leopold took her hand and sat her on his lap. He then took out a jewelry box from his suit pocket.
"Open it," he said.
Gloria stood still, and Leopold opened the box for her. Inside was a rose ring crafted from pink diamonds.
"Last year, you really liked this designer's work, right? I customized this rose ring and it took six months to make. I intended to give it to you on our second-anniversary, but as soon as it arrived, I couldn't wait to bring it to you. Try it on and see if it fits," Leopold said as he reached to put the ring on Gloria's finger.
The pink diamond was romantic and dazzling, like a fine artwork.
Gloria loved money, and her initial thoughts were simple.
Leopold wanted her body, and she was attracted to his physique.
She figured, at her age, being with a man like him and getting money was a great deal.
Both parties got what they wanted, how perfect.
She didn't want to foolishly invest her heart.
But Gloria had miscalculated one thing—she had fallen in love with Leopold and developed unrealistic expectations.
She wanted recognition, something Leopold couldn't give her in a lifetime.
She took off the ring and said coolly, "Let's end our relationship."
Leopold was stunned. He couldn't believe Gloria would say such a thing.
Even when she was crying and making a scene in the hospital, she never mentioned ending things.
He frowned and said, "Say that again."
Gloria lowered her head, fiddling with her nails, and replied, "I'm tired of it. Let's end it."
Leopold's hand around Gloria's waist tightened, pulling her close as he gritted his teeth and said, "Take back what you just said."
"Alpha Leopold, I've thought long and hard. This relationship isn't what I want," Gloria said.
"Not what you want? Ha." Leopold let out a cold laugh and lifted Gloria's chin, "Do you want to be my Luna?"
His cold voice and mocking gaze made Gloria secretly glad she hadn't mentioned wanting recognition. Otherwise, it would have been embarrassing.
"No, I just want to quit. Our contract was only for three years, and there are only a few months left. You promised me three months off, and it's about time," Gloria said.
"Quit? Tired of being an assistant and want to go back to sales?" Leopold sneered.
Gloria shook her head, unfazed by his sarcasm, and replied earnestly, "I'm exhausted after these two years. I want to rest. Alpha Leopold, let's end it."
"You know breaching the contract means paying a penalty," Alpha Leopold said, thinking this would make Gloria anxious, given her love for money.
However, Gloria calmly replied, "Fine, I'll pay whatever it is."
"What if the penalty is the total of your earnings these years? You'd have worked for nothing," Leopold said.
Gloria's eyelashes fluttered. Leopold stroked her head, as if he knew her well, and said, "I knew you'd never do something so foolish with your love for money. Babe, I'll give you paid leave and double your bonus. I'll be more careful and won't let you suffer from pregnancy again."
Gloria said nothing, just gazed at him. Her look was unfamiliar to Leopold.
He had never truly cared for her. His thoughts were always on her body.
After all, they had agreed to a transaction from the start.
When a woman sells herself at a set price, she gains material wealth but loses her self-respect, a priceless treasure.
She hadn't thought much back then, only seeing the benefits of being with a handsome man with great skills in bed and generous payment.
Now, she realized what she had lost, but it was too late for regrets.