Clifford and Zhen-Zhen were now facing each other in the mini-forest of the campus. Sophia was standing next to Zhen-Zhen, feeling a little bit awkward.
She could see that Clifford felt uncomfortable with her presence. He was having a hard time how he would start talking to Zhen-Zhen. He planned to act as pitiful as he could be to get Zhen-Zhen's sympathy.
However, with Sophia's presence there, he was now hesitating to do that. It was too embarrassing for him.
He asked her to give him five minutes just to talk but already ten minutes had passed by and Clifford hadn't started talking yet.
Zhen-Zhen, on the other hand, was waiting patiently for Clifford to speak up. She wondered what important thing he wanted to tell her.
Clifford exhaled deeply before finally speaking up. He just tried his best to ignore Sophia's presence so that he could talk to Zhen-Zhen without feeling awkward and embarrassed.
"Lillie, I don't know where to start. I don't know what Tristan had told you about me. I assume that you already knew that Tristan and I are not on good terms."
Clifford took a pause, observing Zhen-Zhen's expression. He just confirmed that she was now aware that there was a conflict between Tristan and him.
"But since we've already come to this. I will tell you the reason why and when this conflict started."
Zhen-Zhen couldn't help but be curious. Tristan just told her that Clifford was his business competitor.
But from the way Clifford had said this, Zhen-Zhen realized that there might be another reason for their conflict.
This would explain why Tristan got worried too much when he learned that Clifford was seeing her and began approaching her.
"Lillie, can you still remember the things I told you about my past relationship? My fiancé's betrayal caused me great pain to the extent that I decided to end my life."
Zhen-Zhen nodded her head, "Yes, I remember.'
She would still feel sorry for Clifford whenever she would remember that. She thought Clifford needed to give himself another chance in love and be happy.
Meanwhile, Sophia just remained silent. She heard about Clifford Sy's failed relationship. He was about to get married to his beautiful fiancé but everyone in the City of Empire got shocked when Clifford announced the breaking of his engagement with the famous fashion designer, Olive Patterson.
It became a hot topic in the entertainment news. Everyone wanted to know the reason why for the breakup but Clifford and Olive just kept their silence.
They didn't disclose to the public the reason why their six years relationship ended that day. Then Clifford Sy suddenly changed as he began hating women.
There was speculation that one of them cheated. Some assumed that it was Olive. To avoid being bashed by everyone, Olive decided to leave the City of Empire.
She was transferred abroad and started managing their company branch.
Sophia wondered why Clifford Sy was bringing this up to Zhen-Zhen. Soon, she got an answer as Clifford said another word that shocked Zhen-Zhen and her.
"Tristan was the reason for our breakup," Clifford stated while staring intently into Zhen-Zhen's eyes.
Zhen-Zhen and Sophia were stupefied after hearing that. Clifford just continued speaking.
"Lillie, Tristan was the guy my fiancé met overseas during her business trip. The two started seeing each other behind my back when they both returned here in the City of Empire." Clifford clenched his fists as he recalled the scene where he caught Olive and Tristan kissing and making out in a bar.
"My fiancé cheated on me because of him. I was mad before. I felt like Tristan had stolen my life. One day, I confronted him but do you know what he told me?"
"Don't blame me for your incapability to satisfy your fiancé! I didn't steal anyone from you. She's the one who came looking for me." Clifford smiled bitterly after saying that.
"Instead of apologizing to me, Tristan mocked me. He sounded proud of what he and my fiancé had done behind my back. He didn't feel guilty nor sorry."
"That's Tristan's true color, Lillie. Don't be deceived by him. He is not the good guy here. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to get hurt in the end. He might betray you anytime."
"He is a womanizer. That is his true nature. I'm afraid that he will never change." Clifford said, attacking Tristan. He was ruining his image in front of Zhen-Zhen now.
Clifford saw the complicated emotions flashing through Zhen-Zhen's eyes right now. She was still speechless and didn't know what she should feel about this.
Though she didn't want to doubt nor judge Tristan right away, Clifford's words might be true.
Based on Tristan's past and reputation with women, there was a high possibility that it really happened.
Sophia was thinking the same way. After all, Tristan Davis was known as certified Casanova, a playboy, and a womanizer.
There was a moment of deafening silence in that mini-forest after Clifford was done talking. He was waiting for Zhen-Zhen to react or even say something.
It did not take long when Sophia received a message, snapping her from her stupor. It was from Matthew. She simply checked it and responded to him, still observing Clifford and Zhen-Zhen.
After several minutes, Zhen-Zhen had finally cleared her mind. She was now ready to respond to Clifford's statement.
"I know it must have been so hard on you experiencing that heartache. I couldn't blame you if you hated Tristan for that. But believe it or not, Tristan already changed. He is not the same Tristan you knew before."
Clifford gritted his teeth. He couldn't understand why Zhen-Zhen was still defending Tristan even after hearing his words.
"Lillie, are you already blinded by your love for Tristan? Why can't you see the truth? He is not a good guy. It's still not too late, Lillie. I just don't want you to get hurt in the end."
"Stop brainwashing my wife, Clifford Sy!"
Zhen-Zhen, Clifford, and Sophia averted their gaze in that direction of that voice. Tristan arrived with a dark expression on his face.
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