Annie nodded and said, “Yes. Our family used to be considered normal working ss people, but


    Uncle Jeremy’s protection enabled US to be quite well off. You could even say that I was the


    daughter of a rich family. Now that Uncle Jeremy isn’t around, those who used to do business with our


    family for my uncle’s sake no longer do so anymore. That’s life, am I right? One look at the men that


    my family’s been introducing to me on these blind dates, and you’ll be able to see just how far we’ve


    fallen. They never would’ve dared to introduce someone like that to me when Uncle Jeremy was


    around.”


    Aaron’s initial focus was on Annie’s situation, but he did not realize how big of an impact Jeremy’s


    disappearance had on her family. Things had be very


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    challenging for them.


    “Now that your uncle is gone, perhaps you can ask your parents if they’re interested in having a son-in-


    law who can turn things around?” Aaron suggested. “I might not be as influential as Jeremy, but I do


    have some connections and influence in the city’s business scene.”


    Annie was bewildered by his suggestion, and she turned away in embarrassment. “Stop with your


    jokes!”


    “I’m not joking! Why do you always think I’m joking with you?” Aaron frowned.


    “Because I’ve heard you say so many sweet nothings to so many women,”


    Annie said, averting her gaze from him. “I can’t tell the truth from lies, so I’m not even going to bother


    trying! And I don’t want to get hurt again. All the men I’ve had the bad fortune of encountering are


    jerks!”


    Aaron was a little helpless when he heard that, but he smiled and said,” Well, I am a bit of a jerk, so I


    don’t me you if you don’t believe me.


    However, I’m not lying when I say I can help your family in this crisis. Are you sure you’re not going to


    take advantage of my offer?”


    Annie hesitated and nced at his irresistibly handsome face. However, she looked away at once,


    fearing that another lingering look might lead her to agree.


    After all, her self-control was very weak! “I’m sure. I don’t want to owe you any favors.” 1 Aaron looked


    into her eyes. “What if I don’t see this as a favor? I’m more than willing to make myself useful to you,


    even if only to make amends for any harm I might have caused you.”


    “No.” Annie shook her head. “You don’t have to make amends because you never hurt me in the first


    ce. I did it to myself. If you truly want to help me, I hope you’ll leave me alone right now and stay as


    far away from me as possible!” Aaron seemed a little hurt as he asked, “Do you hate me so much that


    you won’t even look at me? Can we at least be friends if you don’t want to ept my help?”


    “I don’t hate you,” Annie rified, “but I don’t want to be friends with you either.”


    Rather than bing upset, Aaron smiled. “Then tell me why. Give me a reasonable exnation, and


    I’ll respect your decision.”


    Annie could not offer a logical exnation as she was unsure of herself. She was afraid that her


    emotions would spiral out of control, thus beholding her to his charm. Thest thing she wanted was to


    catch feelings again. The hurt she suffered from each sessive failure was too agonizing for a


    romantic like her!


    “I… I just don’t want to be friends with a jerk like you. Do I need to give you a reason?”


    Aaron smiled and said, “You don’t, but I can’t bring myself to watch after knowing that your family is


    having it rough. Setting aside my history with you, I still must look out for you because you’re


    technically my boss’ niece.”


    “To put it bluntly, Corinne only acknowledges me as her niece because of Uncle Jeremy, otherwise, I’m


    not worthy of calling her my aunt. Corinne has suffered a lot because of Uncle Jeremy, and no one


    knows where he is right now. So, I hope you won’t feelpelled to help me just because of that.” 1


    Aaron then argued, “You can refuse my offer to help, but you can’t refuse Corinne’s help, right?”


    Annie then pointed out, “Don’t tell her about this! Didn’t you hear what I just said? She’s suffered a lot


    because of Uncle Jeremy’s disappearance, and I don’t want to burden her any further.”


    “I don’t think you grasp your aunt’s character very well,” Aaron replied with a smirk. “Let’s look at it from


    a different perspective. You might be reluctant to ept help from strangers, but does your family


    share the same view? Can you bear to watch your parents constantly endure the pressures of the


    family business? These issues can all be resolved very easily.”