But Alan's response to Ford's request was, 'I'm busy.'

Monroe had only seen him at a distance in her first year and never got a chance to meet him.

​​

Whenever she got to know anybody proposing to Alan, she would try to make her mind to talk but she always trembled after getting his glimpse.

When she had returned to country A, Aria had shifted to country S to the same college. So she didn't have much idea about Aria other than hearing from secretaries saying about her, Alan's mood and his behavior around her, and how much they were missing Aria's presence.

She had gone through Aria's verified social media account to see how she looks. She didn't worry about her presence and tried to get near Alan without any fruitful results but she didn't lose hopes.

Only twice she had got a glimpse of Aria's back when she had visited country A and took Alan out for the complete day on his birthday.

After that, she saw Aria in her homecoming party. Without seeing Alan, she thought people were exaggerating about her but when she brought Alan with her, she saw the whole new Alan who she never knew.

After that, she always read articles about Aria in all types of media elaborating how good she was in everything she was doing.

She had seen Aria in the Morgan Industry too but Aria never spoke to her and She never greeted Aria either while all others greeted her as President and most of them liked to greet her as Young Madam President.

When Aria ran away from the wedding, she really wanted to beat her up for hurting her love, Alan Morgan who always and only cared about Aria. She didn't think much when Ford was saying what Alan had done to Aria.

Now she was feeling like Aria left him because of his affair.

She asked, seeing Alan shift the bumpkin's head to his lap who had dozed off looking at Alan, "President Morgan, did President Cooper leave you because of your affair? Don't you love President Cooper?"

Alan could have ignored the question but he answered looking at Aria's disguised face as he removed her glasses. "I love her and this one too."

Monroe felt it ludicrous. She never thought Alan could be like the one having two women.

Alan finished his work but found no useful information. His bodyguard took their laptops when Alan carried Aria to his car.

He drove his car out of the club premises without bothering about Monroe's presence.

Monroe had followed Alan out seeing him how carefully he took care of the countrywoman.

She wished she was the one in her place. She knew well she couldn't trick him and plan against Alan who was smart and never would fall for it easily.

She drove her car home with conflicted heavy emotions.

She reached her home in half an hour. She vaguely greeted her parents before she went upstairs. Jeremy noticed her and followed her upstairs to her room.

"Moon." He dotingly called her.

"Dad, Is there anything I could be of any help?"

Jeremy was very fond of his daughter so he was loving towards her unlike how he treated Aria. He shook his head and cued her to sit.

"Moon, What's wrong? Is Alan too rude to you?" He sounded concerned.

Monroe shook her head and asked her own question, "Dad, I understand I can't compare with President Cooper, am I useless compared to a countrywoman? Don't I look good? Am I not smart and hardworking?"

She knew Aria was good at many things so she never tried to excel like her but seeing a tawdry woman with Alan, she was doubting her own presence.

Her tone and words were full of despair. Jeremy grounded his teeth hearing Aria's name. He gently patted Monroe's back.

"Moon, you are the best. Why do you want to compare yourself with that girl who is an ungrateful brat? Just because she could manage such a big conglomerate doesn't mean you misvalue yourself. What countrywoman are you talking about? You are a graduate of top business school. Why are you thinking negatively? Is something troubling my girl?"

Monroe gave it a thought before telling Jeremy, "Dad, I have liked Alan for a really long time. That's why I wanted to work with him. Today, I..."

Jeremy cut in to confirm, "You... Do you really love Alan?"

Monroe nodded without an ounce of hesitation but she didn't get to continue and was amazed by seeing her father excited to know about it.

"My Moon, why didn't you tell me sooner? I will talk to Amelia. She loves you like her daughter, she will definitely agree for you to be her daughter-in-law. My girl, why are you so slow?... No problem, we will arrange everything now..."

Seeing him going on and on, Monroe cut in, "Dad, Alan loves somebody else."

Jeremy quietened as his eyes darkened, "Aria Cooper? I will remove the thorn for you."

Monroe shook her head, "There is another girl in his life... Dad, is it really true that some heirs will have two women for business and love as the rumors say?"

Jeremy sighed and hummed promptly, "Usually the heir of such a family has to listen to elders about marriage to strengthen the business roots. So of course, the girl will be haughty having her own opinions whereas the man wants peace after a long day of work which he couldn't get by his wife. So they will have their love of life too."

Monroe was nodding hearing him and asked, "Will you still approve of Alan if you know he loves somebody else?"

Jeremy gave it a thought, "If you are the legal wife of Alan, then I have no problem... Moon, you are such a sweet girl, if you marry Alan, he will not leave you for another woman. I know you will keep your husband happy."

Monroe awkwardly smiled hearing her father. She wasn't sure if she could agree and accept that.

Jeremy rubbed her head, "Don't worry. Go to bed. I will see when I could talk to Amelia."

Monroe nodded and saw him leaving. She got fresh and went to bed trying to hold the stinging pain in her chest.

---

At Focus International

Xoan and Xin had almost reached the Focus International headquarters, Xin's mobile rang showing his assistant number.

Xin answered as they entered the elevator to hear the frantic voice, "Boss Xin, are you the one remotely controlling your systems. I don't understand why codes are running so swiftly. I can't make out anything."

'Clack'

The next second, mobile ended up in hundreds of small scraps on the ground splattering in the elevator.

Xoan realized something's up and the attacker took the upper hand against Xin.