Chapter 230

"How could you hide such a thing from me, Nance?" Inside the cafe, Douglas sat calmly across from the table where Caroline and I were seated. Although his voice sounded gentle when he asked that, he exuded an inexplicable sense of pressure. I knew I was in the wrong, and I was too ashamed to even utter a single word in my defense. Caroline tried to smooth things over, saying, "Please don't misunderstand us, Mr. Irvin. We didn't mean to keep this from you. It's just that… It's too embarrassing. "You see, you've gone to such lengths to help us find an investor, and yet we can't even gain full ownership of the project. Isn't that a waste of your hard work?" Douglas remained silent, simply picking up the packed burrito on the side and slowly unwrapping it. It seemed like he was genuinely upset. Caroline flashed me a knowing look and spoke up a bit. "What do you think of what I just said, Nance?" With a hesitant nod, I acknowledged Caroline's remarks. However, realizing that it did