Chapter 22
After work, Eliana was riding her scooter out of the parking garage when she almost ran into someone who suddenly darted out from the bushes.
“Are you okay?” Eliana quickly got off, but the moment she took off her helmet and saw who it was, the concern vanished. “It’s you?”
“Ellie.” The young man standing across from her was Luke Graham. He was dressed in a slightly worn designer hoodie. stained with bits of grass. His eyes, once bright and full of life
now looked dull and defeated.
Eliana was instantly reminded of other’s families, he’d been swayed
three
years
she’d dated
fre back in college. Just when it came time to meet each
Wayed by a few casual remarks from Hannah.
Not long after, Luke had broken up with Eli.
without hesitation and started pursuing Hannah instead.
Now, the whole thing felt like a lifetime ago–until Luke finally spoke, “Ellie, can you tell Hannah to answer my calls?”
Eliana raised her brows, her voice unusually calm. “So you jumped out and nearly got yourself hit just to get me to help you find Hannah?”
Rubbing his hands together, Luke said with a slight sniffle, “They won’t let me into your company. I had no choice but to wait for you outside the garage.”
It was wintertime. Back when they were dating, Eliana would’ve taken off her gloves and handed them to him without a second thought. But now, all she could do was laugh–and even that laugh was one of mockery.
“You want to see Hannah? That’s easy,” Eliana replied.
As Luke’s eyes lit up, Eliana gave him a suggestion. “Next time, go throw yourself in front of the Maserati, got it? We’ve only got one of those in the company, and I guarantee Hannah’s in it.”
Hearing that, Luke fell silent.
“What, did I say something wrong?” Eliana asked. “Weren’t you the one who always said you liked a challenge?”
Luke had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. With his good looks and charm, girls practically lined up for him.
Back when they were together, Eliana had always been the one putting in all the effort. Even her best friend used to tease her, saying she babied him so much, she might as well be his nanny.
Eliana hadn’t believed it at the time, but reality didn’t leave much room for denial. Luke liked a challenge–just like he loved riding motorcycles and racing. And she had just been a small, forgettable blip along his thrill–seeking path.
Luke murmured, “Ellie, the Graham family’s done for.”
“I already knew that,” Eliana replied. ‘Which is exactly why Hannah ditched him and moved on to Nolan,‘ Eliana thought, not bothering to feel guilty about it.
Sniffling, Luke said, “If something really happened to me, my mom wouldn’t be able to take it.”
“Then why are you standing here pretending to be some tragic romantic? What, did you show up because you figured my scooter wasn’t fast enough to kill you?” Eliana called him out.
She went on, “Mr. Graham, I’m not the type to be moved by a love that was never mine to begin with. So no, I can’t help
you.”
Just as she was about to leave, Luke reached out and held down her scooter’s handlebars, saying pitifully, “Ellie, didn’t we
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Chapter 22
part on good terms? I thought we were still friends.”
Eliana scoffed inwardly, ‘Screw you, you jerk.
5.93%
She gripped the handlebars tighter, thinking, ‘He’s seriously spoiled rotten.‘ Then she remarked, “If you don’t move, I swear I’ll run you over right here.”
But Luke stubbornly dug in his heels. “I’m not moving.”
While they were at a standoff, his stomach let out a loud growl.
In an instant, all the bravado drained out of him, and he muttered in a soft voice, “Ellie, I–I’m hungry.”
Eliana said coolly, “Then go home and ask your mom for food.”
For some reason, in her eyes, even Theodore seemed easier to deal with than Luke right now.
The next second, realizing where her thoughts were headed, Eliana quickly shook her head. Last night, Theodore had been more terrifying than a devil when he lost control.
AD
