Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 94 Let’s Become Friends

Toward the end of the workday, Erin’s phone rang. It was a call from May.

Although they were no longer running the online shop together or sharing a rented apartment, they

were still relatives, so Erin answered the call.

As soon as she picked up, May started cursing. “Erin, are you fucking serious? What kind of shitty

house did you rent? The landlord sold the house shortly after we rented it! Now the landlord is

pressuring me to move out! How am I supposed to find a new place in such a short time?”

May started to direct her anger at Cherry. Erin’s face immediately fell when she heard that. “May

Chapman, you’d better watch your mouth! My mom didn’t provoke you.”

May toned it down slightly at Erin’s words. “I’m just really stressed out. Didn’t the landlord assure us

when we signed the lease that they wouldn’t sell the house in the near future? Why did they change

their mind?”

Erin could sympathize with May’s current situation. After all, she was the one who had signed the

lease, so she felt partly responsible.

“Calm down. I’ll call the landlord to find out the situation. I’ll call you back later.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for your update.”

After hanging up, Erin felt a sense of helplessness. It seemed that the new landlord, Chandler, was

eager to drive her cousin

out.

She had asked him about it when she returned to the villa. That night, Chandler was able to visit her

place because the landlord had secretly sold the house to him.

After all, it was hard for anyone to resist selling when someone offered a significantly higher price than

the market value.

He had initially bought that house for Erin. Now that Erin had returned to the villa, Chandler naturally

treated that ordinary residential property as disposable trash.

After moments of contemplation, Erin decided to discuss the matter with Chandler when she returned

to the villa in the

evening.

She continued to immerse herself in work. Although Caleb no longer had direct contact with her, they

still had to work. together. Work arrangements were mostly communicated through email.

In order to showcase her professionalism, Erin voluntarily stayed behind to work overtime.

She didn’t want to rely on any personal connections in the design department. She aimed to earn the

respect and recognition of her colleagues through her skills and be worthy of her salary.

Time flew, and when Erin finally stretched and prepared to leave the office, she realized it was nearly

ten pm.

She shut down her computer and got ready to leave. Coincidentally, Caleb also stepped out of his

office.

Their eyes met, but Erin quickly avoided his gaze and hurriedly left.

She patiently waited for the elevator to arrive.

She couldn’t help but notice the approaching sound of a man’s footsteps behind her. Trying to appear

busy, she stood to the side and pretended to text on her phone.

When the elevator finally arrived, she and Caleb entered together.

The atmosphere inside was awkward and silent. Finally, Caleb spoke up, “I want to apologize for my

attitude when I left the café last time. I hope you can forgive me.”

Erin looked up at him and replied, “It’s fine. It’s all in the past. I’ve already forgotten about it.”

There was a hint of suppressed emotion in Caleb’s cool gaze as he calmly said, “Welcome back to the

design department. You

don’t need to worry about me. Even if we can’t be lovers, we can still be friends and colleagues.”

His goodwill eased Erin’s heart, and she expressed her gratitude, “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me? I haven’t done anything for you…” Caleb’s expression seemed somewhat

desolate.

She smiled and said, “Thank you for still considering me a friend.”

Erin’s warm smile was powerful enough to ignite a spark in Caleb’s previously dormant heart, causing it

to flutter once again.

However, she was dating Chandler…

As the elevator doors opened, Caleb snapped to reality and walked out first. He asked, “Are you going

home alone?”

“Yes, I’m going home on my own tonight.”

He suggested, “I didn’t drive today. If you’re okay with it, shall we take a taxi together?”

Slightly surprised, Erin replied, “But I planned to take the subway. There’s still enough time…”

“Then I’ll accompany you on the subway.”

Although Chandler had warned her to stay away from Caleb, taking the subway together shouldn’t be a

problem, right?

“Alright, let’s go together.”

Of course, Hans noticed Erin and Caleb heading toward the subway station after leaving the company

building. Although Chandler promised Erin he wouldn’t have Hans track her anymore, he still worried

about her safety.

Whether Erin was alone or with Chandler, Hans would still secretly follow and protect her.

Not long after, Chandler received a text message from Hans at a private estate.

The message contained a photo of Erin and Caleb taking the subway together.

Chandler was swirling his cup of red wine with Logan sitting beside him, wearing a mischievous

expression.

“Chandler, you’ve been either spacing out or pulling a face since we arrived. If your mind is elsewhere,

you might as well head back early.” Despite his refined appearance, Logan’s slanted eyes exuded a

sinister aura.

Hearing that, Chandler put away his phone and suddenly asked, “What kind of gift do women anticipate

the most?”

Logan took a drag from his cigar and replied, “Aren’t you skilled in cooking? Since Erin sets her

standards high and doesn’t care about material possessions, why not personally cook a meal for her? It

would surely touch her deeply.”

Chandler couldn’t help but feel doubtful. “Is that so?”

Logan grinned and said, “Trust me. Give it a try, and you’ll have a great night tonight…”

Chandler sneered, “Why are you so sure?”

“She’s the kind of person who is content with what she has and has never lacked money since she was

young. Money isn’t as important to her as it is to most people. Even though her parents divorced when

she was young, her biological father is quite wealthy. While he may not be on the same level as us,

he’s considered one of the wealthiest individuals in their hometown, Southwrok County…”

“Are you that bored that you investigated her?” A tinge of coldness flashed across Chandler’s eyes.

Logan glanced at him and said, “I’m just a little curious about her. I want to know what kind of

upbringing shaped her.”

“How boring! Aren’t you afraid your jealous girlfriend will go crazy when she finds out you’re

investigating her?” Chandler’s gaze towards Logan now held a touch of sympathy.

Logan chuckled helplessly, and his expression began to turn gloomy. “We broke up.”

Chandler was surprised to hear that. “She agreed to it?”

“Whether she agreed or not, we had to break up. She has some psychological issues that need to be

solved! If this continues, I, too, will need to see a psychologist sooner or later.”

Chandler asked, “You and Yvonne were together for five years, right? Don’t you feel it’s a pity to end

things like that?”

“Well, toxic relationships like this should end, even though it’s a pity.”

As Erin exited the subway station and was about to hail a taxi back to the villa, a woman, who had

been following her, walked past her and swiftly jabbed a needle into her nape.

Wearing a hat, the woman hurriedly left the scene.

Erin suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck. Instinctively, she reached to touch it and saw a

small bead of blood on her fingertips. Dizziness started to take over her vision.

Within a few seconds, she collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness. Right before she blacked

out, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure running towards her from a distance. Silently, she uttered

the person’s name, “Caleb…”