Troy Drake seems to be quite the ladies’ man, very experienced. After getting in the car, he imdiately helped with my seatbelt.
"Sister, shall we go straight to the hotel?" Troy smiled at , his voice deliberately low and deep.
Truthfully, it was a bit oily, but I didn’t show any aversion, just nodded, and propped my chin, looking at the scenery outside the window.
This out-of-line decision today wasn’t a montary impulse.
Mrs. Preston hopes I can find a suitable husband soon, cutting off Henry’s hopes, while Mrs. Underwood hopes I won’t see Ivan anymore.
I must find a man sooner or later.
Maybe freeing my body will also free my mind; I have to give it a try.
In the midst of my sowhat chaotic thoughts, the car had already stopped outside a hotel, which looked quite upscale. At least he didn’t take to a cheap one.
"Sister, let’s go up." Troy familiarized himself quickly and booked a room, then hugged my shoulder, blowing a breath beside my ear.
For so reason, when he said that, it felt strangely sleazy and greasy, and the tide of desire within began to recede.
After entering the elevator, he pressed the button for the fifteenth floor and waited for the elevator to go up.
I was thinking about what excuse I could use to leave here that would make sense.
Just as we stepped out of the elevator, my phone rang. It was Ivan calling, incredibly tily.
"Hold on a second." I imdiately broke free from Troy’s hand, pretending the call was very important, "Let take this call first."
"Alright, sister, be quick!" Troy had no idea I was planning to use this call as an excuse to leave, and his smile was ambiguous.
I quickly went to the end of the hallway to take Ivan’s call.
Ivan’s usually calm and composed voice was now hurried, "Zoe Hathaway, why did you agree with my mom? I can give up everything for you; all I want is you!"
I was stunned, not quite reacting at first. It took a few seconds for to realize that Mrs. Underwood had probably told Ivan about our phone conversation.
Actually, this is good; it can let Ivan give up sooner.
"Ivan, let’s just be friends," I hardened my heart, making things very clear, "I don’t have romantic feelings for you."
"Didn’t you used to teach ? When it’s ti to let go, just let go; it’s a good thing to co to terms with it." I softened my tone, hoping Ivan wouldn’t act rashly anymore.
"But you also taught , when it’s ti to fight, you should fight, don’t be influenced by outside factors." Ivan replied with my own past words against .
Back then, I thought he would inevitably fall in love with Azure, and out of a sense of watching a good show, I wanted him to start competing with Henry, not expecting that the person he ended up liking was .
I didn’t know how to respond, and thus the other end of the phone fell into a long silence.
"Where are you? Let’s et and talk." Ivan finally spoke again, suggesting we et up.
I didn’t want to et, but Troy suddenly ca over, staring at closely, seemingly urging with his eyes to quickly end the call, so I had to change my tune, "Okay, where shall we et? I’ll head over right away."
Ivan really liked the tea at The Windchi Teahouse, so he set it there.
After hanging up, I saw that Troy’s expression was already not looking too good. I took out my phone, "Shall we add each other on WeChat?"
Troy unhappily took out his phone, letting scan a QR code, muttering, "The room’s already booked, and you still want to leave?"
"Sorry, sothing urgent ca up," I waited until Troy accepted my contact request, then transferred so money to him, "This counts as today’s room fee and compensation for your ti; maybe next ti."
Seeing that I paid and quite generously, Troy’s expression improved a bit, but he still looked a bit regretful, "Okay, I’ll ask you out again, just don’t do this next ti."
"No problem." I casually replied and swiftly returned to the elevator to leave.
When I arrived at The Windchi Teahouse, Ivan was already there. He was holding a cup of tea but hadn’t taken a sip. Upon seeing , he put it down, "You’re here."
"Yeah, let’s just speak clearly face to face." I nodded, initially thinking I would be nervous, but when it ca ti, I felt quite calm.
But Ivan didn’t give much chance to speak; he interrupted , "Zoe Hathaway, give so ti. I’ll find a way to give you up, but if I can’t, would you give another chance?"
I was stunned; was he really willing to try letting go without saying anything?
But since it’s co to this, if I continued to question him, it might not be good.
I pretended to consider for a mont before replying, "Alright, since you’ve said so, then agree to your family’s matchmaking first. You might find soone you like among the matches."
"Heh." Ivan rely chuckled, a hint of detachnt in his tone.
I buried myself in drinking tea, pretending not to see his current expression.
I don’t know when Ivan started liking or what he likes about , but feelings don’t have to make sense. I didn’t want to discuss it with him, fearing the more we talked, the ssier it would get.
So we just sat there quietly drinking tea. I didn’t know what Ivan was thinking, and I didn’t want to know.
After a long while, I couldn’t sit still, "Let’s leave it at that. I’m heading back."
"Alright." Ivan didn’t raise his head to look at ; only his cool voice ca through.
I left the teahouse without looking back, then rushed ho. After settling things with Ivan, I felt significantly lighter and enjoyed a soothing bath.
A ssage from Troy ca through: "Sister, do you have ti over the weekend?"
Why is this guy so persistent? I just stood him up, and only a few hours passed before he was asking for another date. It seems the notion of a free ’sleepover’ felt very worthwhile to him.
I didn’t reply; I just finished my bath and went straight to rest.
When the weekend arrived, Crystal Dawson, who was quite pregnant, insisted on inviting Tiana O’Connell, Leah Lane, and I out for so food. She’s beco quite the gourmand, needing to nourish three with one stomach.
The four of us were drinking coffee and chatting when Leah softly said to us, "Look, who is that?"
Following her gaze, I saw Joy Lawson and Julian Jennings.
I still can’t fathom how Julian fell for Joy; setting everything else aside, just her outlook on life seems bizarre to .
Seeing there, Joy purposely pulled Julian to the table right next to ours.
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