Chapter 1551
She nodded. “Yes. You see, we were just your average middle-class family, but things took a turn for the better when we got under the wing of my uncle. I became a bit of a heiress. But now that he’s gone, those who used to do business with us for his sake have stopped. Life, you know, is just that real. You can tell from the suitors being introduced to me. Some of them wouldn’t even have the courage to meet me when my uncle was around.”
Chase had been focusing on Belinda’s personal situation, not aware that the disappearance of Theo, her uncle, had also affected their family’s business.
“Now that your uncle’s not around, why don’t we ask your parents if they want a son-in-law to help out? I may not be as strong as your uncle, but I do have some influence in the market in Greenhaven.”
Belinda blushed and looked away. “Stop kidding, Mr. Larios.”
Chase frowned. “I’m serious! Why do you always think I’m joking?”
Belinda avoided his gaze. “Because I’ve heard you speak so gently and seriously to many women. I can’t tell if you’re sincere or not, and I don’t want to get hurt again. So, I just don’t bother. I can’t attract a good man; I always end up
with the bad ones.”
Chase chuckled. “Yeah, I’m a bad guy, and you’re right not to trust me. But I can really help your family’s current situation. Are you sure you won’t take advantage of that?”
Belinda glanced at him. His handsome face was too much for her to resist, so she quickly looked away. She had always been bad at self-control; she had to be careful not to fall for him again.
“No need; I don’t want to owe you any favors.”
Chase kept his gaze on her. “What if I don’t see it as you owing me? I’d be willing to help. Maybe you can see it as a way of me making up for any past wrongs.” Belinda shook her head. “No! You don’t owe me anything. It was all my own wishful thinking. If you really want to help, please leave now and avoid me in the future.”
Chase looked at her, feeling somewhat hurt. “Wow, you dislike me that much? You don’t even want to see me? Can’t we at least be friends?”
“I don’t dişlike you, but I also don’t want to be friends with you.”
Chase smiled at her. “Tell me why. Give me a good reason, and I’ll respect your wishes.”
Belinda had no good reason, except that she knew she couldn’t trust herself not to fall for him again.
“I… I just don’t want to be friends with a jerk like you. Do I really need a reason?”
Chase laughed. “No, I suppose you don’t need a reason. But now that I know about your family’s situation, I can’t just ignore it. Not for anything else, but because you’re Ellinor’s niece. I have to care about you.”
Belinda frowned. “In other words, it’s only because Ellinor cares about my uncle that she recognizes me as her niece. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare claim to be Ellinor’s niece. Ellinor has had a hard time with my uncle these years, and he’s still missing. So, you really don’t need to help me because of this.”
“You may not want my help, but surely you can accept Ellinor’s.”
Belinda said emphatically, “Don’t tell Ellinor! I don’t want to cause her any more trouble!”
Chase smirked. “You still don’t understand her character. Look at it from another perspective, you may not want help, but what about your family? Can you bear to see your parents under constant business pressure? There are some problems that can be easily solved.”
