Chapter 2044
That night, she found herself once again at a bar with her colleagues.
Perhaps it was the remnants of a dream that made her feel embarrassed; she couldn't help but drink a bit more than usual. Horace was there, right by her side, cupping her face and telling her how much she reminded him of his first love. Shirley had once entertained the idea of marrying him, but hearing that comment snapped her back to reality.
No wonder Horace was so persistent; he was treating her as a stand-in for his first love.
She forced a smile, surprisingly not too hurt by the revelation.
"Why don't you go find your first love then?"
"She's settled abroad, married with a kid, seems happy. I don't want to disturb her peace."
So, another heartbroken soul.
Shirley sighed and continued to drink.
"How did you two break up?"
"It was my fault. I was so focused on my studies, ignoring her feelings. There wasn't anyone else, but distance and time apart did us in. What she needed most was companionship, and I couldn't even give her that." "After the breakup, you should've clarified things, tried to keep her."
"It was impossible to keep her. She's the type to love fiercely and let go just as easily. To be with me, she cut ties with her family. When she loved, it was passionate, and when she stopped, she let go completely. I'm not like her. She's successful now, happy with another man, and here I am, still stuck in the past."
Shirley didn't say much, just poured him another drink.
When Horace reached the peak of his sorrow, he began to cry, covering his face.
Shirley rubbed her temples, thinking this was not what she came for - to play therapist.
She quickly called her colleagues, handing over Horace to them.
As she was about to leave the bar, her mind was foggy.
It wasn't until someone's hand found her waist that she frowned, ready to scold, but then she saw Abner's face.
Her throat seemed to lock up, swallowing all her words.
"Abner?"
"Are you drunk?"
"Not drunk. What about you? How long are you staying in Greenfield?"
Abner steadied her, slowly walking her out.
"About a week. Next visit might not be until next year."
That meant another half a year without seeing him.
Shirley felt a pang of bitterness but didn't know what to say.
She wasn't sure how she felt about
Abner. Initially, she saw him as a younger brother, but facing the more assertive Abner after five years, she
She no longer viewed him that
way.
Another half a year without seeing him. Ever since reconnecting with Abner, their meetings were always months apart.
Looking at his face, she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge.
Abner didn't leave either, as if waiting for her to say something.
After standing in silence for about ten minutes, Shirley finally spoke.
"Do you want to come up?"
She was a bit drunk, and Abner was now a grown man.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
A woman inviting a man upstairs had an obvious implication, clear as day.
Abner's gaze returned to her face, making Shirley feel somewhat embarrassed.
She had just said something crazy.
She turned to head upstairs quickly, but Abner caught her hand.
"Shirley, you've been drinking. Inviting me up at this moment, do you know what I'd think?"
Feeling the heat from his hand, she regretted her words, feeling
is that she had tarnished b
image in his eyes.
Her eyes welled up, then she remembered he had a girlfriend now. Doing this, how was she any different from a homewrecker?
"I'm sorry, I was just drunk, mistook you for someone else. That's why I... I'm sorry..."
Her apology was a jumbled mess, not noticing how her words, "someone else," made Abner's expression turn cold.
He stepped closer, his eyes intensely fixed on hers.
"Mistook me for someone else?
Who? I thought you said you didn't have a boyfriend now? Or is it that we haven't seen each other in half a year, and you've moved on?"