The President's Pregnant, Ex-Wife-Chapter 475 - Don’t force her

Giselle felt sorry for Mark. She could tell that he really loved her, but she couldn’t love him beyond a family friendship, unlike how she felt for Robert.

She had no idea how it started, but her heart was stolen, and she knew that Robert never saw her like that.

Such an irony of life. The way she felt towards Mark was the way Robert felt towards her. Thinking twice, she didn’t want to hurt Mark’s feelings and said,

"Mark, you know I don’t love parties."

"But you have always been there," Mark hinted. The family parties were different from all other parties because their parents were there.

This was the first time they were going to have it without the elder citizens. With Mark’s unrelenting stand, Giselle pursed her lips and spoke honestly.

"Well, I can’t be your date."

"And why is that?" Mark was disappointed. He had had a few one-night stands, but that was it. He had never been in any relationship before.

Giselle glanced at Robert and lowered her head. It was as if he wasn’t listening; his attention was divided between eating and being busy on his computer.

"Because I have eyes on a guy."

The smile wiped from Mark’s face, and Robert stiffened slightly. No one would know that he was paying attention to their conversation.

Giselle never talked about any guy before, and she never introduced anyone, so Mark was both disappointed and curious.

"Who is he? Is he better looking than me?" Mark could not accept his loss, adding, "forget him. I will take good care of you."

Giselle didn’t think it wise to urge Mark on when she knew that the only man she would ever love was Robert. "I will introduce him to everyone at the right time."

Mark was relieved. If she hadn’t introduced the so called guy anyone, then it meant that the relationship hadn’t progressed. "Since it’s not official, you are my date at the party."

"Don’t force her," Robert suddenly spoke up. Giselle’s heart did a flip. It was as if he cared or felt something for her, but his next words made her understand that things were not as she thought. "She said she has a man, didn’t you hear that?"

Giselle felt that Robert sounded bitter, but then again, it might just be her mind playing games on her. It was rather as if he wanted Mark to respect the fact that she had a man.

"I did. I just don’t care. I like Giselle, and I don’t want any man to mess her up," Mark stated seriously. Mark smiled and glanced at Giselle.

"Everybody likes Giselle, but it’s up to her to choose whom she likes." Robert dropped his cutlery. His appetite was gone.

From the way he said it, Giselle felt as if he would accept it if she confessed her feelings to him, but things could also go wrong if she did.

She might lose the opportunity of working with him and being close to him every day.

"Why are you so perturbed about this discussion? Go find a woman," Mark said in annoyance. He suddenly lost his appetite, and the food he painstakingly cooked because of Giselle lost its attractiveness to him.

"She’s my secretary but also a family friend. She’s under my protection in this office, so if you must, then you can have this conversation outside, and I won’t interrupt." Robert was speaking casually but internally, he knew it wasn’t the case.

He just didn’t like Mark hitting on Giselle, whereas Mark was not anywhere near giving up.

"That is even better. Giselle, let’s continue outside," Mark stood up and began walking towards Giselle, Robert grimaced.

"Didn’t you bring her food? She has to eat, and we have a meeting," he said. Mark was uncomfortable with Robert’s protectiveness with Giselle and his attempt to stop him from talking to her.

"Are you sending me away after eating my food?"

Robert was unfazed by Mark’s sarcasm. "You can stay if you like." He knew that Mark wouldn’t want that. He never stayed after they had their lunch and would instantly be on his way.

"In your boring meeting? Heck! My lunchtime is almost over. I’m going back to my office." He stared at Giselle at the door. "I will send your dress for the party. Don’t bother buying one," Mark said and left.

Giselle couldn’t refuse, wishing that she could return Mark’s feelings. It hurt her the most because she was going through the same thing.

Forcing a smile, she said to Robert, "I will arrange the meeting, sir."

"Eat first, Giselle." Robert’s tone was soft. He treated her just as he did Savannah, but at the same time, he felt different towards her. It was just that he couldn’t put a finger on exactly what it was.

Twenty-five minutes later.

"It’s nice doing business with you, Mr. Jewel. I would like to invite you to lunch," Miss Taylor said. She was glaring at Robert flirtatiously, but he wasn’t even looking.

"Sorry. I don’t really like eating out," he said. Giselle smiled, but it was soon wiped by his next words. "But guess what, we have a family gathering next weekend, and for the first time, it’s open to the public. You are invited."

Miss Taylor beamed. She wouldn’t miss any opportunity to be with Robert, and now that he was inviting her, she couldn’t refuse. freёnovelkiss.com

"I won’t miss it for anything."

After she left, a sad smile settled on Giselle’s face when she stood up to leave. It didn’t go unnoticed by Robert.

"Are you alright, Giselle?"

She paused her actions and forced a smile. "Yes. I was just wondering why you invited her."

Robert bit his lower lip thoughtfully. He was a replica of his father but also different. "I don’t know myself, but mom is so persistent. I just feel I should give relationships a chance."

"Oh," Giselle let out, her heart saddened. "And you are considering her?"

"I don’t know. I just want to give it a try," Robert said honestly. Giselle blinked back her tears. She already knew that Robert would never see her that way, so why was she so pained about it?

"I wish you all the best."

Robert was concerned about the sudden change in her mood. She was all bubbly when Mark was around, but suddenly, it was as if her soul left her body.

"Giselle, is there something you are not telling me?"

"Something like what?" Giselle looked at him and asked, praying silently that her emotions would not give her away.

"I don’t know, you tell me. Is your mom and dad okay?" Robert asked, fearing that she perhaps had some family problems.

"Everyone is fine." Giselle had returned to her professional mood.

"Okay. But don’t take Mark too seriously. He just loves to joke around," Robert said. He didn’t know why he sabotaged Mark but felt uneasy for Giselle to go out with him.

"I know," Giselle replied with a forced smile.

A week later, the Crystal Hotel was booming with a family gathering. The older generation weren’t invited and had to stay away.

Friends, siblings, and cousins arrived from far and near, but two men were looking for one woman.