Chapter 413
Anathea looked into Gregory’s deep eyes. “Do you smell something?”
“What?” Gregory sniffed seriously but couldn’t smell anything.
The next second, Anathea tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Jealousy.”
Gregory was momentarily stunned and frowned. “You did that on purpose?”
“You’re overthinking it.” She had better things to do than come downstairs just to make him jealous.
But Gregory refused to let her go as he uttered seriously, “I think you did it on purpose.”
If Anathea did it on purpose, that meant she still had feelings for him.
“I think you still like me.”
+25 BONUS
Under the light, his sharp features looked as though they were painted on. He exuded a unique charm. With a face like that, he could make anyone fall for him.
But from the very start, he had only ever wanted one person’s heart.
Gregory raised his hand, gently stroking her face. After a long moment of hesitation and gathering his courage, he finally spoke with a low, magnetic voice.
“Annie, I never truly faced my feelings before. I thought if a person had no emotions, they’d have no weaknesses. But I was wrong. Even without weaknesses, no matter how strong one is, loneliness still finds them.
“I was used to being alone until you came along and showed me how it felt to have someone with me. From that moment, I knew there was no going back for me.”
Like a traveler lost in a frozen desert who finally discovered a flicker of fire, he couldn’t possibly return to facing endless cold nights with the same indifferent heart.
Instinctively, he would chase after that warmth, desperate to hold onto that flicker of fire. He would want to cling to it, even if the flames burned him all over. Yet, he wouldn’t feel the pain because the warmth itself outweighed any suffering.
Maybe he was a little crazy, but he didn’t mind. It was a pain he was happy to endure.
So, he gazed at Anathea and finally voiced the longing he’d kept buried deep inside. “Annie, I think you still like me. I want you to like me, just like the way you wrote on those sticky notes. I want you to…”
“Love me.” He finished the sentence in his heart, not daring to say it aloud.
He didn’t want to be too greedy, afraid that his desire would scare her away. Hence, he held back, choosing instead to say something less risky.
Anathea listened to him quietly. Hearing those words come from his mouth was indeed moving.
After all, she had liked Gregory since she was young. She’d had a crush on him for ten years. Just when she thought she’d never get a response, he finally reciprocated.
It was like a fire that had almost gone out, about to turn into a cold pile of ashes, suddenly being fanned by a gentle breeze, sparking it back to life.
So, she couldn’t help but feel touched by his words.
But after years of hardship in their marriage, she had learned not to invest her feelings in anyone that easily, especially someone unpredictable and moody like Gregory.
She wasn’t sure if opening up her carefully pieced–together heart again would only lead to it breaking once more.
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Chapter 413
She didn’t dare take that risk again.
Her eyes reddened slightly as she looked at him.
+25 BONUS
After a while, she finally said, “Gregory, I don’t know if you truly mean that or if it’s just part of some scheme. But if it’s real, it’s too late.”
Maybe two or three years ago, she would have said yes without hesitation.
But now, she was afraid.
“When I had feelings for you and was married to you, I nearly lost my dad. When I lost my feelings for you and wanted a divorce, I nearly lost my mom. You have something to do with everything that happened.”
She wasn’t the type to blame others for everything, but these were facts.
She also blamed herself for not being strong enough. She couldn’t protect her parents and almost failed to protect her baby.
All she could do now was stay away from Gregory, as he was the source of all her pain.
