"Come to my house," he said abruptly, his voice betraying a hint of urgency. "That's all I ask of you." With a quiet click, he swiftly ended the call, revealing his reluctance to engage in any superfluous emotional conversation with her.He reached for the untouched bottle of beer, popping the cap effortlessly as a satisfying hiss escaped. Tilting his head back, he eagerly pressed the cold glass against his lips, relishing the refreshing taste as it cascaded down his throat. Just as he was preparing to indulge in yet another bottle, his phone pierced the air with an intrusive ring. Reflexively, he retrieved the device from the table, his hand instinctively guiding it to his ear. Without pausing to check the caller ID, he awaited the voice on the other end, its identity shrouded in uncertainty."I am right in front of your door," Clarissa pointed out, her voice ringing with a sense of urgency. A wave of astonishment washed over him, causing his brows to furrow in confusion. Unable to
"That can't be the truth," he declared, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and confusion. Uncertainty hung in the air, enveloping the room in a cloud of doubt. His mind raced, desperately searching for any flicker of recollection, but he drew a blank. He simply couldn't recall ever crossing paths with her before, beyond that fleeting encounter at the necklace store. The absence of recognition left him grappling with a sense of unease, questioning the veracity of her claim."Why would you know, when you haven't been paying attention to me?" she questioned, her voice filled with a hint of hurt. Every attempt she made to capture his attention seemed to have been in vain, leaving her feeling helpless and invisible. The weight of her worries manifested in her explanation, each word heavy with frustration and disappointment. It was as if all her efforts had been futile, like whispers lost in the wind, unheard and overlooked."So why are you only approaching now?" he demanded, his tone
Chapter 34"Beer is cool, so I guess we should share from this," she suggested with a hint of enthusiasm, her words accompanied by a light chuckle. However, he responded with a skeptical chuckle of his own, indicating his doubts about her proposition. "I don't think that's a good idea. I don't share drinks with anyone," he retorted, his tone firmly asserting his preference."That sounds like a lie," she chuckled, her voice filled with a hint of playfulness, as she moved closer to him. "What are you doing? Stay where you are," he responded in an authoritative tone, his voice carrying a sense of command. "Can you stop being dramatic? I am not going to hurt you," she reassured with a bittersweet tone, emphasizing her sincerity. "I just feel like the distance between us is too much.""Stop there already; let's maintain the distance," he pointed out, his voice tinged with a sense of caution. The words carried a hidden tension, echoing the uncertainty that was gnawing at him. He couldn'
"What if you never win," he demanded, his eyes scanning her intentions with intensity. "Trust the future to decide that," she responded calmly. "Both Claire and Adrianna will need to bring their absolute best to the table to defeat me in this.""Okay, let's see how you do that," he replied, his tone tinged with skepticism. However, despite his reservations, he felt it was important to express his true feelings. "But I think it will be better if we maintain this relationship as friends," he let out, his words carefully conveying his lack of interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with her."You don't know me well," she retorted, her voice laced with frustration. "I have been crushing on you for over 4 years now, and you think I'm content with just being your friend? I want to win a chance with you," she said dismissively, the words falling from her lips as if she had grown tired of waiting for something more"It's obvious your mind is made up," he said with a hint of skepticism,
"Hello," Ethan says, his voice filled with a hint of exhaustion and a touch of curiosity. "Young master, hope you're good?" Clinton's voice resonates through the phone, laced with a mix of concern and respect. Ethan responds with a nod, his movements unseen but implied. "Are you there?" Clinton questions, a flicker of uncertainty creeping into his words as he realizes their lack of visual connection. "Why did you call?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with a subtle trace of interest, wondering about the purpose of the unexpected conversation. "To ask when you're moving in," Clinton replies, his tone shifting slightly as he transitions from lingering curiosity to a more matter-of-fact tone, hinting at the practical nature of their discussion."What if I say I am not moving in with him?" Ethan asks, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance and skepticism. "You have to, young master. Your Grandfather has been preparing for your arrival," Clinton explains earnestly, his voice carrying
She stood there in shock, her mouth agape, unable to comprehend why her mother had just slapped her cheek. Her hand instinctively went to the stinging sensation, as she struggled to understand the reason behind such an act. Confusion and hurt mingled in her eyes as she questioned her mother. "Mum, why did you slap me?" Her voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and pain. The seriousness in her gaze conveyed just how deeply this unexpected action had affected her. With every ounce of sincerity, she demanded an explanation, longing to understand what she had done to warrant such treatment from someone she trusted."That's to reset your brain. Next time you won't run your mouth at me," her tone was menacing, dripping with a harsh intensity that only intensified the already tense atmosphere. Summoning up every ounce of strength, she pushed back against her mother's aggression. "I am not going to tolerate this, mother," she declared, her voice a controlled mix of frustration and sadness.
"Stop being toxic and start acting nicely toward people who value you," she asserted firmly, her tone carrying a sense of exasperation. It was clear that she had reached her limit and was no longer willing to tolerate his toxic behavior. She wanted to bring his attention to the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, especially those who genuinely cared for him."Cherishing people who really feel deeply about you is more worth it than buying the whole world for them," she continued, her voice holding a note of conviction. Her words revealed a profound belief in the significance of emotional connections and the value of genuine affection. It was evident that she believed material gestures paled in comparison to the depth of authentic relationships.With her point made, she pointedly turned to leave, her emotions evident in the forceful slam of the door behind her. The action carried a clear message of anger and frustration, reflecting her desire to remove herself from
She rushed to Ethan, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw him struggling, his hands gripping his head in sheer agony. Worry etched across her face, she knelt down beside him, her voice filled with genuine concern."Are you okay?" she asked, her words laced with compassion, her eyes searching his for any sign of relief."I am fine," he managed to whisper, his voice barely audible amidst the pain coursing through him.Confusion and concern mingled in her eyes as she looked at him, her concern growing with each passing moment. Her attention then shifted to the others, her expression incredulous."What are you all waiting for?" he snapped, his words dripping with frustration. "Did I bring you all here just to gawk at him? Do something! Help him!"His grip tightened around Claire, his fingers digging into her skin. She struggled against his hold, feeling the desperation in his touch."What is this, Johnson? Don't you dare touch him!" she shouted, her tone quivering with a mixture of