Chapter 345
[ 538 words ]
Chapter 345:
I understood his meaning. But the real reason I wanted to resign had nothing to do with career development. I simply wanted to spend more time with Ruby and Silas, to make up for all the years I had missed with them. Still, I had no intention of sharing something so personal with Brian.
As the conversation continued, the atmosphere inside the car slowly began to shift. The way Brian spoke gradually carried more expectation, as if he were subtly trying to push our relationship toward something more intimate.
Finally, I took a quiet breath and turned to face him directly. “Brian,” I said sincerely, though my tone remained distant, “I’m really not interested in romantic relationships right now.”
I hesitated for a moment, then continued, “You’re a great person. And that’s precisely why I don’t want to lead you on or let you waste your time on me.”
Lianne’s POV
The car gradually slowed to a stop.
Brian stayed silent for a while, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as his gaze remained fixed ahead. After a long pause, he finally asked the one question I had been avoiding the entire time.
“Is it because… you still haven’t gotten over Ethan?”
My heartbeat faltered instantly. Without realizing it, I tightened my grip around the strap of my bag.
A bitter smile tugged faintly at my lips as I repeated the same words I had forced myself to believe countless times over the past three years.
“I’m over him,” I said softly. “Our relationship ended three years ago.”
𝗪𝖾 𝗎𝗉d𝗮t𝖾 e𝘷𝖾r𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝘦𝗸 𝗼𝗇 𝗴𝖺𝗹𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝘭𝘀.c𝘰𝗺
I couldn’t explain to Brian the kind of attachment that carved itself into someone’s soul. Nor could I explain the terrifyingly realistic dream from last night.
Brian turned to look at me, complicated emotions flickering across his eyes. After a long silence, he finally sighed. “Then I’ll wait for you,” he said quietly. “I’ll give you more time… and you can give me a chance, too.”
I didn’t respond. There was no point continuing this conversation.
A man like Brian would never lack women around him. Sooner or later, once I left the country and his feelings faded, he would naturally move on to someone else.
Just then, my phone rang. It was the driver calling.
Looking through the car window, I immediately spotted the familiar car parked near the restaurant entrance. I answered the call while opening the car door. “I’m already outside the restaurant,” I said.
The moment I stepped out, I saw a man exiting the vehicle across from us.
He wore an ordinary jacket and carried the same simple, honest demeanor I remembered from Brinewick. There was a trace of weathered hardship about him, but his smile looked sincere and approachable.
He looked exactly like the driver I remembered. Almost instantly, the tension and suspicion weighing on my chest eased considerably.
At the same time, embarrassment flooded through me. What had I been thinking before? Just because of a vaguely familiar silhouette and scent, I had nearly convinced myself that Ethan had somehow been showing up around me.
It was absurd. I really must have been under too much stress lately to start imagining things like that.
“Let’s go inside,” I said politely, pushing aside my chaotic thoughts as I led him toward the private dining room I had reserved.
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