Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 252

“It’s all right—let me drive you home,” Luke insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Mr. Taylor was right. It’s late, and it’s not safe for a woman to walk back alone. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing you were out there by yourself.”

Before Laura could protest, Luke all but ushered her into his car. His determination brooked no refusal.

They sat together in the back seat, the barrier of the empty front row doing little to dispel the awkwardness that settled between them. Laura turned her head to stare out the window, unsure how to face him, her mind a jumble of half-formed words.

Luke, meanwhile, busied himself with work emails. His phone kept buzzing, a relentless reminder of obligations waiting elsewhere.

He was supposed to attend an important meeting tonight. But when Marguerite called, inviting him out to dinner, he dropped everything. In his mind, Marguerite always came first—she was the most important person in his life.

The ride was short; Laura’s apartment was only about ten minutes away. Too quick for Laura’s comfort, and yet not quick enough.

“Thank you for driving me home, Mr. Zade,” Laura said as soon as they arrived. “Be careful on your way back. I’ll head up now.”

She hurried to escape the stifling tension, eager to put distance between herself and the evening’s confusion. Every time she met Luke, she tried to prepare herself—to figure out how to act, what to say. But when it came down to the two of them, alone together, her resolve always crumbled. The words she’d rehearsed vanished without a trace.

“Of course,” he answered, sounding more serious than usual, his trademark easygoing humor nowhere to be found. “Marguerite, I need to ask you something. You have to be honest with me. How does Laura really feel about me? Does she… have some other feelings? Don’t laugh at me—I've finally realized what’s going on.”

He knew it was time to clear the air. If he let things fester, it could harm his friendship with Marguerite.

The reason he’d never dated anyone else all these years was because of Marguerite. Even when they lost touch, he’d never truly let her go.

Marguerite was silent for a long moment before she finally replied, her voice thoughtful. “Since you can already tell, I won’t keep it from you. Laura does have feelings for you. But she’s a sensible girl—she’d never confess so easily, and she would never meddle in your life. I hope you won’t overthink it. Some things… just have to happen in their own time.”