Chapter 169
I looked right into Jonathan’s eyes.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t go after him again.”
Stroking my face, Jonathan sighed, “Elise, that’s not what I meant.”
I shoved his hand away and kept a distance. “No matter how they picked on me or hurt me in the past, I won’t hold a grudge against them anymore.”
I gave him a bitter smile. “Because being with you means everyone gets to step on me.” 2
Jonathan’s gaze darkened, emotions flickering behind his eyes.
His voice dropped an octave as he asked, “Does being with me feel that awful?”
“Yeah, it does,” I replied flatly. “It’s no different from torment. Everyone knows that I mean nothing
to you I’m just someone with a meaningless title. You could toss me aside anytime.
“Even if they humiliate me, you’ll still let it slide for Alicia’s sake. So really, what was I even hoping for?”
I turned and left. This time, he didn’t follow.
As soon as I stepped out of the office, Gabrielle came rushing over.
“Elise, are you okay?”
Hearing her voice made me swell with emotion again. I grabbed her hand tightly but didn’t say a
word.
We exchanged a look, and in each other’s eyes, we saw the same storm of emotion.
“I saw everything,” she finally quavered after a long pause.
“Saw what?”
“Michael and Alicia just left together,” she said.
“Don’t say things like that. If I forgot everything, maybe I’d forget you too.”
Her face fell. “I just meant the bad memories–not me!”
“But that’s what you just said.”
“Fine, that was a mistake,” she said, pinching my waist. “I just don’t want you remembering
someone like Michael.”
It was getting late. After Gabrielle’s words of comfort, my mood finally settled.
We had dinner together outside. Halfway through, she suddenly shot me a worried look and reminded me, “Don’t go after him. I don’t want you fighting for me.”
“Relax. I’m not that reckless girl anymore,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I’ll find another way. I won’t be impulsive.”
Still, Gabrielle looked uneasy. “Michael’s rich, and he’s also close to Alicia. She’ll definitely back him up.”
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