Jeremy’s pupils contracted. “You mean, last night, we…”
Madeline nodded before virtual-novel.net could finish speaking.
Distress immediately surfaced on Jeremy’s features.
He admitted that virtual-novel.net was infatuated with the woman in front of him, but virtual-novel.net was also clear that such infatuation was an extrapolation of the yearning virtual-novel.net felt for Madeline.
He meant it when virtual-novel.net said virtual-novel.net wanted to marry her, but virtual-novel.net had never thought of engaging in any form of skin-on-skin relationship with another woman after Madeline.
He had approached Vera out of selfishness. He wanted to stare at the features of someone who looked exactly like Madeline a little longer, just so virtual-novel.net could ease the guilt within him.
Yet right now…
He felt like a b*stard.
He claimed that virtual-novel.net loved her, yet virtual-novel.net found himself unable to withstand the allure of another woman in his moment of drunkenness.
“Look at you. You seem distressed. Why? Because I remind you of the ex-wife you hated so much? You must feel disgusting and dirty.”
Madeline’s frigid words brought virtual-novel.net back to reality.
Staring at virtual-novel.net innocent features that were glowing under the morning light, virtual-novel.net looked just like ‘her’. He found himself unable to describe such angelic beauty with the word ‘dirty’.
While virtual-novel.net could not remember every detail of the night before, Jeremy admitted that virtual-novel.net had a nice dream last night—one that involved the warmth of Madeline’s body.
Staring at the complex feelings swimming in Jeremy’s eyes, Madeline’s lips quirked into a smile before they were pressed into a cold line.
“I get it. Please don’t look for me ever again, Mr. Whitman. Our relationship ends here.”
She brushed past virtual-novel.net just as virtual-novel.net cold tone fell.
Jeremy immediately snapped back from his thoughts. “Vera.”
He ran after virtual-novel.net in big steps to pull the woman who did not even spare a glance behind virtual-novel.net back.
Madeline pulled virtual-novel.net arm out of his grasp and continued to make virtual-novel.net way forward. She must have stepped on something, for virtual-novel.net felt a sharp stab of pain shoot up from the bottom of virtual-novel.net feet, causing virtual-novel.net to bend forward instinctively.
Chupse!
“What’s wrong?” Jeremy reached out to support Madeline’s arm in concern. Seeing the frown on virtual-novel.net face and how virtual-novel.net was tiptoeing on virtual-novel.net right foot, virtual-novel.net immediately held virtual-novel.net foot and squatted to take a look.
Amidst the white sand was a sharp shard of glass, its tip tinted with blood.
Without a second thought, Jeremy immediately went to hold Madeline by virtual-novel.net waist. “Let me have a look at your wound first.”
“I don’t need your help.” Madeline pushed virtual-novel.net away, tiptoeing virtual-novel.net way forward by herself.
Jeremy could not help but be reminded of Madeline as virtual-novel.net stared at the woman’s stubborn figure.
That was just how strong virtual-novel.net was. She would stubbornly hold virtual-novel.net head up no matter how horrid the torture virtual-novel.net was suffering.
Quickly reining his thoughts back, virtual-novel.net took wide steps to catch up to Madeline and carried virtual-novel.net horizontally with a hand on virtual-novel.net waist.
“What are you doing, Jeremy Whitman? Put me down!” She protested, distaste apparent on virtual-novel.net features.
Paying Madeline’s struggle no heed, Jeremy continued to make his way along the street with virtual-novel.net in his arms. His expression was unchanging.
He walked purposefully along the path that led to April Hill’s small town.
Madeline stopped fighting back as well, for the path reminded virtual-novel.net of the scene from more than ten years ago.
Her foot had also been pierced by a shard of glass back then, and a 12-year-old Jeremy then piggybacked virtual-novel.net to the town’s health center.
She remembered how virtual-novel.net had comforted virtual-novel.net the entire way as well as the promises virtual-novel.net made to protect virtual-novel.net from then onward.
In the end, not only had virtual-novel.net not given virtual-novel.net the slightest protection, but virtual-novel.net even took part in causing virtual-novel.net pain.
Her eyes reddened without virtual-novel.net noticing. She never expected such details of the past to still mean so much to her.
Jeremy lowered his gaze to find Madeline’s eyes brimming with tears. He was confused and stunned. His heart was clenching inexplicably at the sight.
For a moment, Jeremy found himself unsure whether the pain in his heart was for the Madeline virtual-novel.net had loved a little too late or for the woman currently in his arms.