Chapter 175 Too Late for Love
Finished
“Where’s your proof? Go ahead–show me the evidence.” I couldn’t be bothered to explain, nor did I want to argue. I hadn’t even met Ethan that many times. Yes, I knew he cared about me, but I’d never once made a move or reciprocated. I’d always kept things in check.
The only time I ever wanted to kiss him in the elevator was a mix of anger and impulse, a moment of revenge.
Tiffany, is this your way of getting back at me?” Shawn’s face twisted with pain. “How far have you two gone?”
“Can you stop being ridiculous?” I said, now clearly annoyed. “We barely know each other.”
Suddenly, Shawn took two long strides toward me. He bent down in front of the single armchair I was sitting in and trapped. me with his arms on both sides. His voice was husky, laced with a strange desperation. “If all this is just about revenge, I won’t hold it against you. Just cut things off with him right now. Tiffany, don’t make a choice you’ll regret just because of me.
I stared at him, totally stunned. Honestly, I didn’t understand a word of what he was saying
Tiffany. I really do love you. You’ve always had a place in my heart, he murmured, then suddenly buried his face against my knees. My whole body tensed.
His face rubbed against the bare skin of my legs as he rambled, completely out of control. “I keep thinking about how we used to be when we were dating. You were like a rose in full bloom, so passionate. I was obsessed with you, Tiffany. I mean it -I’ll never screw up again.”
I’m not a saint. The way he brushed against my skin–it made me flinch. Sensitive as I was, I reached out to push him away. But instead, he grabbed my hand, yanked me toward him with force, and I ended up pressed against his shoulder. The next moment, he scooped me up in his arms and laid me down on the nearby couch, his body leaning over mine, trying to pull me into something heated
I wasn’t having it. No hesitation–1 sank my teeth into his neck.
He jerked back from the pain, eyes wide and dazed, but slowly, the fog in them started to clear.
Finally, he sat back, leaning against the couch, looking at me with a bitter, self–deprecating smile. “Now, even a touch is too much for you?”
I straightened out my clothes, which he had messed up, and my voice was cold as ice. “Shawn, please don’t do this.”
He took a deep breatly stood, and walked out the door without looking back
I could tell he was completely defeated.
Once upon a time, I begged for his affection, did everything to win his attention, and lowered myself time and again. Now, the tables had turned.
The wheel of fate spins–it’s always like that.
For some reason, a strange sadness welled up in me. It felt like fate was mocking me. It always forced things I didn’t want onto me, and the things I did want–it never let me have them
I leaned forward, resting my head on my knees. I thought I’d cry–loudly, maybe even uncontrollably. But my tears betrayed me. They welled up but refused to fall, only leaving my eyes damp.
Oh well. Maybe it didn’t hurt as much as I thought. Fighting fate was never wise anyway. Sometimes, letting things take their course brings its own kind of surprise.
I turned the TV back on. The interview was still running.
Chapter 175 Too Late for Lovel
Finished
Noticing his blush and gentle demeanor, the host decided to tease him, asking if he had someone he liked. She even added that she was asking on behalf of all his female fans–what kind of woman was his ideal type?
Seriously? I thought. This is a finance show, not a dating segment. Isn’t this kind of crossing the line? It must’ve put Ethan in an awkward spot, right?
But Ethan responded sincerely, “I like quiet, mature women.
“Oh! Do tell. I’m sure the viewers are dying to know what kind of person Mr. Hayes wants as a life partner.”
ut if she’s
Ethan glanced at the camera and then looked down with a small smile. “I don’t know how to put it,” he said softly, “but if: standing there, then it can only be her.”
The host made an ‘oh, I get it‘ expression and laughed. “Looks like someone already has someone in mind. We wish Mr. Hayes all the best in making that dream come true.”
–
My heart thumped–once, twice. That ‘her‘ he mentioned, could it be me?
The show ended, but my mind was still spinning.
All those years ago, I’d helped someone on a whim–and that someone had become a rising star in tech. That was a good thing, right?
But somehow, I’d also stirred up his heart. Was that… good too?
I turned off the TV, and finally, the peace returned.
When I accepted that I’d never get married again, Ethan stopped being a viable option.
He had worked hard to reach where he was–how could I trample on that by playing with his feelings?
If I was going to mess with someone. It should be Shawn. Make him regret everything. Crush him.
The next morning, I went to the office for a meeting. Apparently, the hotel project had been generating quite a buzz. After all my tireless promotions and strategic packaging, we’d finally gotten some serious traffic and attention.
Shawn sat in the meeting with his usual calm face–no sign at all of what had happened the night before.
He looked up at me when we reached a particular data set. For a second, his gaze lingered–dark and unreadable.
Send Gifts
