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“But I promise you, from now on, I’ll keep my distance from her and focus more on you, on your feelings.”
“Will that be enough?”
How
1:25 PM c c
Rejected and Abandoned, until the Right Man Fund Me
Mathias‘ words were thick with certainty, his expression so sure that it was as if he expected me to fold, to apologize, to become the vine again, clinging to him for survival.
But I only shook my head.
“We’re over.”
I couldn’t tell which part of my words broke him, but Mathias snapped.
He was like a cornered cat, ready to tear at anything within reach. His forehead veins bulged, threatening to explode.
“Irene, I’ve humbled myself. I’ve apologized, What more do you want from me?”
“Even if you’re trying to make a scene, there has to be a line!”
I locked eyes with him, utterly composed.
“I’m not making a scene. I’ve already told you we’re done.”
“Irene, is this really how you want to be?”
“Yes.”
“Fine!”
Mathias‘ voice trembled with an emotion he likely didn’t recognize in himself, but still, he forced a bitter smile,
his lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a grin,
hit.
it was as though he was waiting for me to falter or perhaps trying to comfort himself before the inevitable storm
“Irene, you’ll regret this. One day, you’ll regret it.”
When Norman found out that Mathias had come looking for me, he appeared unbothered on the surface, but
within moments, he had a small army of black–clad bodyguards stationed at every entrance of the complex, their
shifts rotating 24/7.
Watching him feign concentration as he pretended to read a book, I couldn’t help but suppress a laugh.
As if on cue, Aunt Sofia, who lived next door, strolled past, greeting me with a warm smile and handing me some freshly picked eggplants from her garden.
Aunt Sofia had known my parents for years and had seen me grow up, so I couldn’t possibly refuse her. I accepted the eggplants, though my mind was still slightly elsewhere.
Suddenly, her voice rang out, full of surprise, as she pointed inside.
“Isn’t that the buyer who bought your house?”
I followed the direction of her finger and froze. Norman sat on the couch, and for a moment, disbelief washed
over me.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course!” Aunt Sofia’s smile was mischievous as she teased, “The young man’s a real catch. Every time he comes, Zayn’s daughters can’t seem to take their eyes off him. It’s almost like their eyes are sparkling!”
She chuckled, continuing. “And every visit, he takes it upon himself to clean the entire house. So thorough! You’d
think it was his own parents‘ home!”
After sending Aunt Sofia on her way, everything started to click into place.
No wonder his friends had mentioned a “long–planned scheme.” No wonder he hadn’t hesitated for a second to
rush in and save me when danger loomed.
I took the book from Norman’s hands, my gaze locked on him, serious and unwavering.
“You’ve known me all along, haven’t you?”
Norman’s brow arched, a flicker of something unreadable flashing in his eyes.
“You already know?”
1:25 PM
Reacted and Abandoned. Until the
Lad the Fight Man Found Me
“You already know?”
I nodded, the realization settling in.
“Well, ‘known‘ is a bit of an understatement.”
“I should say I’ve liked you for a long time.”
My heart stuttered for a moment, the words catching me off guard. But as much as I tried, I couldn’t find the place where we’d met before.
Someone like him, so distinct, I surely wouldn’t forget.
Then, a sudden spark of recognition hit me like a lightning bolt.
“Wait… are you the little wild one from back then?”
I hadn’t thought about that name in years, and I’ve almost forgotten it entirely. But now, it was coming back in
flashes, unbidden.
If not for that fleeting moment just now, I might have gone my entire life without remembering
