Chapter 22
Eugene grew agitated before I could answer. He cried, “I can explain everything! I’ve only ever thought of Cassandra as my savior–I’ve never thunngja of having anything else to do with her, and nothing ever happened between co! It was only after you left that 1… Once you were gone, 1 found out that…
He became choked up, and tears flowed down his face. It took him a while to compose himself and continum, “I found out that the one who saved me on New Year’s Day all those years ago was you had the wrong person the whole time,”
He looked at me with his red eyes, his gaze filled with regret, guilt, and frustration. I also caught a subtle hint of expectation. He was looking forward to my forgiving him after learning the truth, he wanted us to get back together.
It was too bad that he would be disappointed.
I had to admit I was surprised to learn that Cassandra had supposedly saved Eugene on that New Year’s night all those years back. When he’d first introduced her to me, he hadn’t mentioned when exactly she’d saved him. At the same time, I had refused to bring up that night before Eugene after waking up at the hospital.
So, this was how the misunderstanding had come about. Even now, despite letting go of my past, I still couldn’t help lamenting the tricks fate had played
on us.
At my silence, Eugene carefully tried to feel me out. “Riss, I didn’t let Cassandra have the child back then–it was aborted. I also now know that I’ve had the wrong person this whole time, Does this mean we can still go back to how things used to be?”
His words pulled me back to reality. I shook my head without hesitation. “That’s not happening”
He turned ashen and lowered his eyes. My firm tone had dashed whatever hopes he’d had. He’d waited for me for two years, but he’d never expected things to turn out like this. He’d thought I would always love him.
He looked at me and asked shakily, “But why? I love you.”
When I saw how Eugene was acting, I couldn’t help being reminded of how I’d acted when he and I dated. He’d never once gotten me any gifts or acted affectionately with me like everyone else’s boyfriends would. He’d never even told me that he liked or loved me.
Yet at the time, I’d firmly believed that there was a spot for me in his heart. Why else would he have agreed to date me? I was sure he’d only acted like that because that was just what he was like. One day, I would be able to change him.
I’d stuck it out for five years based on that belief. Then, Cassandra’s appearance had shattered my fantasy. She’d woken me up, making it impossible for me to lie to myself and everyone else anymore.
Now, however, Eugene was telling me he loved me.
I smiled mockingly. “Are you sure that’s how you really feel?”
