Chapter 48
Five years had tempered me into a woman far more restrained, patient, and eposed than I once was.
The man’s gaze was intense, his eyes dark as they bore into me. My mind buzzed, and my heart pounded wildly against my chest.
All the calm I had prided myself on vanished in this moment of reunion.
It turns out a heart can indeed beat solely for one person.
“Honey, do you know him?”
Zion, my friend, tugged at my sleeve at the café door, following my gaze.
Jamie’s dark eyes were cold, unreadable, with a hint of anger simmering beneath the surface.
I couldn’t understand–what did he have to be angry about?
I turned my head slightly and replied, “No, I don’t know him.”
But when I looked back, Jamie had already closed the distance between us.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice cool and devoid of warmth.
He grabbed my wrist, a commanding grip, as if determined to take me away.
Zion looked ready to intervene, but I stopped him with a single look.
We stood beneath the sycamore tree, facing each other.
Jamie’s voice was hoarse. “Have you been well these years?”
“Very well,” I replied calmly.
“I’ve missed you.”
My fingers trembled slightly, and I moistened my lips, feeling a bit dry. “Thank you for remembering me, but-”
I let out a light laugh, “I’m getting married.”
I extended my hand, showing him the ring to Zion looked ready to intervene, but I stopped him with a single look.
We stood beneath the sycamore tree, facing each other.
Jamie’s voice was hoarse. “Have you been well these years?”
“Very well,” I replied calmly.
“I’ve missed you.”
My fingers trembled slightly, and I moistened my lips, feeling a bit dry. “Thank you for remembering me, but—”
Tlet out a light laugh, “I’m getting married.”
I extended my hand, showing him the ring to prove I wasn’t lying.
Jamie seemed stunned, his mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally managed, “I wish you happiness.”
I curved my lips into a slight smile, my tone light. “My fiancé is waiting for me, so I should get going.”This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
I turned to leave.
But my arm was seized, pulled forcefully into a warm embrace.
Jamie’s long fingers threaded through my hair from behind my ear, and his cool lips pressed against mine.
Instinctively, I tried to push him away, but when that didn’t work, I slapped him, a crisp sound echoing in the air, halting his movement.
My expression shifted, anger rising in my voice. “Don’t bother me anymore.”
He was engaged to Sylvia–I had heard the news, even from abroad.
Jamie’s husky voice was laced with bitterness. “I’m sorry, Ellen. I just… I’ve missed you so much. I think about you all the time.”
I sighed in exasperation. “You’re already engaged. You should be responsible to your fiancée. Thinking about another woman like this… in the end, you’re being unfair to everyone.”
Jamie’s eyes reddened as he tightened his grip around my waist. “Ellen, I’ve broken off my engagement with Sylvia. Can we start over again?”
I trembled all over, a voice inside urging me to say yes.
But reason won over emotion. “I’m sorry, I love my fiancé very much.”
“And what about our son?”
His voice was filled with emotion, his eyes locked onto mine.
My hands, hanging by my sides, clenched into fists. I lowered my head, staring at my toes, unsure how to respond.
From the moment I learned of the child’s existence, to giving birth, and now his fourth birthday… I had never considered what I’d do if Jamie found out.
Now, faced with this reality, I had to make a decision.
“If you truly care about him, then please, don’t disrupt our life anymore.
“Please.”
The final word made me as humble as the dirt beneath his feet.
Back then, all I wanted was for him to succeed, and he had. Not only had he succeeded, but he now stood in the most prominent position.
I felt gratified by his achievements—it proved I had bet on the right person, didn’t it?
I broke free from his grasp once more and turned to leave.
The leaves of maple trees swayed with the wind, highlighting the solitude of late autumn.
Five years, then another five–what’s missed is missed.
Three years ago, my father committed suicide in prison. That was when I knew I could never go back.
And how could Jamie ever forget the horrific car crash that took his parents‘ lives?
For the rest of our days, living well apart is the best ending for us both.