Chapter 677

Aspen thought for a moment, then let out a cold, satisfied laugh. She decided to wait a little longer before calling Gordon again.

Now that Andrew was finally out of the picture, the suffocating frustration she had been feeling for weeks seemed to lift, and she was in a much better mood.

Meanwhile, Christina was on a call with Owen Maloney from Wealthroller Investments.

“Mr. Maloney, this is Christina Stevens. I was wondering if I could possibly speak with Mr. Yates… if he has a moment?”

Her voice was cautious, almost nervous. Wealthroller Investments was a powerhouse, and she knew she had to tread carefully.

Owen had overseen the South City Orphanage project and had previously liaised with the Stevens family, but his tone remained indifferent.

He asked, “What do you need to speak with Mr. Yates about, Ms. Stevens?”

Christina hesitated, gripping the phone tighter. “I–I’d like to ask him something about Andrew.”

There was a pause on the other end. When Owen spoke again, his voice had completely shifted – from dismissive to sharp and attentive. “Hold on, Ms. Stevens. I’ll get Mr. Yates on the line right away.”

Christina’s heart skipped a beat. She wondered why Owen’s attitude had changed so drastically the moment she mentioned Andrew.

He had treated her like an unimportant small-timer moments ago, despite her being the CEO of Stevens Corporation. Yet, as soon as Andrew’s name came up, his entire demeanor flipped.

Could Andrew really be someone important to Marvin?

While she was lost in thought, a deep, gravelly voice came through the phone.

“This is Marvin Yates. What can I do for you, Ms. Stevens?”

Christina felt her palms grow clammy. She quickly said, “I–I’m so sorry to bother you, Mr. Yates. I just… I just wanted to ask if the South City Orphanage project – was it Andrew who convinced you to give it to us?”

Marvin chuckled dryly. “So, you want to know how your company managed to get that project, huh? Well, you might not want to hear the truth, Ms. Stevens – but yes. It was your ex, the man you dismissed like trash, who got me to hand it over.”

He continued, “Do you really think I would have bothered with a small company like Stevens Corporation otherwise? Do you think I lack people begging to work with me? Please.

“If I so much as snap my fingers, business leaders across Jayrodale – and even across the entire Gabo Creek region – would fall over themselves trying to partner with me.”

Christina’s heart pounded in her chest. She had braced herself for this possibility, yet hearing Marvin confirm it so bluntly still hit like a sledgehammer.

Andrew had not lied – the South City project really had been his doing. However, she still could not understand how.

How did a supposedly insignificant, “useless” man convince a tycoon like Marvin to hand over a high-profile development project to Stevens Corporation?

Was Andrew more than just a disposable pawn in Marvin’s network as the rumors suggested?

“Mr. Yates, I’m so sorry to take more of your time,” she ventured hesitantly. “But… could you tell me what exactly Andrew is to you?”

There was a beat of silence. Then, Marvin let out a low, scornful laugh.

“Now you’re curious? Don’t you think it’s a bit late for that, Ms. Stevens?” he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

“If you’d asked me that when you were still with him, I might’ve humored you. Hell, I would’ve smiled and chatted with you for hours out of respect. After all, back then, you were his woman – and that meant something to me.”

“But now?” Marvin’s voice hardened. “You’re nothing but a CEO of a small, second-rate company. Whatever status you once had through him is gone. Tell me, Ms. Stevens – what makes you think you have the right to ask me about my relationship with Andrew?”

Christina’s mind went blank. “I–I’m so sorry, Mr. Yates!” she stammered, panic flooding her voice. “I didn’t mean to overstep. Please don’t be angry. I–I won’t ask anymore.”

Marvin’s voice turned icy. “Good. Because you have no need and no right to know.”

“But I will tell you this, Christina,” he added, his voice slowing for emphasis. “You once had the world’s greatest man standing at your side. The strongest. The most capable. And you let him slip through your fingers. By giving him up, you didn’t just lose a relationship – you lost everything.”