Chapter 10
When Aliana turned around, the tenderness on her face vanished, replaced by a chill as cold as ice.
“If you’re awake, then leave, Jeremy. The next time you pass out in front of my door, no matter what the reason, I won’t help you.”
Her icy words pierced his heart like an icicle, and only then did he realize-
She wasn’t angry anymore. She truly didn’t care.
The euphoria of seeing her again was crushed completely by the unfamiliar coldness in her eyes.
Watching her stand side by side with that man, jealousy and panic coiled around his throat like venomous snakes.
“It has only been a few months since the divorce, and you already…”
Aliana said nothing. Her gaze brushed over him as if he were a stranger who had nothing to do with her.
All the love and disappointment he’d worn away over the years had already scabbed over with time.
Now, the pain and desperation in his eyes didn’t stir even the faintest ripple in her heart.
Even when he questioned her, she felt nothing at all.
When Aliana first arrived in London, she threw herself completely into her work.
Her mentor hadn’t lied-the studio, though still in its early days, already had the makings of something professional.
In just thirty days, she had mastered every aspect of the business.
It was then that Zachary Malden appeared in her life without warning, as if fate had orchestrated their meeting.
At first, when Aliana realized who he was, she suspected he might have been sent by Jeremy to spy on her.
But Zachary flatly denied even knowing Jeremy.
After months of working together, she finally began to let her guard down.
Yesterday had been their very first date.
But because of the heavy rain, she hadn’t been able to get home and ended up spending the night at his place.
She never expected that when Zachary brought her back the next morning, she’d find Jeremy passed out in front of her apartment.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath, but still directed Zachary to help bring him inside.
Chapter 10
Zachary raised an eyebrow at her. “You still have feelings for him?”
“Absolutely not.”
Her firm reply seemed to spark something in him, lighting a fire of courage.
“Aliana, I love you,” Zachary confessed suddenly.
Her lashes fluttered, puzzled as to why he would bring this up now.
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In fact, Zachary had already confessed his feelings before, but she’d always gently turned him down, saying she want- ed to focus on her career.
After giving everything she had to Jeremy, she no longer dared to risk her heart so easily.
Even though she did feel something for the man in front of her, it just didn’t seem like the right time.
Jumping headfirst into a new relationship right after breaking free from the last one felt reckless.
Just as she was about to speak, Zachary quickly added, “I know you’re not ready to say yes, but I just wanted you to know how I feel. I can wait for you.”
Looking at his anxious expression, Aliana couldn’t help but find it a little endearing.
Watching the warmth pass between them, Jeremy finally let go of his pride, his voice raw.
“Aliana, I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you-I just never knew how to show it. If you come back to me, I’ll make it up to you a thousand times over.”
Her voice was calm and steady. “Jeremy, we’re divorced. It’s over.”
His eyes red, Jeremy pulled out that old, battered leather envelope and took out the yellowed letters, reading them aloud one by one.
All those secret crushes hidden in diary pages, the drunken confessions, even the struggles he’d masked with indiffer- ence-now, every word trembled on the air.
She didn’t interrupt-she’d already read every one of those letters before she left. Every line had once been a dull blade driven into her heart, but now, all she felt was numbness.
“Aliana, look at these letters… I mean it. Please, just give me one more chance?” Jeremy’s eyes were rimmed red, his fingers trembling as he clutched the paper.
Suddenly, she spoke. “If I told you that I’d only forgive you if you kneeled for a whole day and night, would you it?”
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Before the words had even faded, Jeremy dropped to his knees with a thud, the sound echoing through the room and bringing everything to a halt.
He looked up at her, hope burning desperately in his eyes.
