Chapter 205
Elle’s POV
“Have you ever considered that maybe there’s more to that situation that what Mira told you?” I kept my voice steady.
Lester opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling.
–
I sighed. “Listen, I’m friends with Sophia. I want her to be happy. So here’s my question for you, Lester if you really care about Sophia the way you claim to, then do something about it. Make your choice clear.”
“It’s not that simple-
“It is that simple,” I cut him off. “Either you want to be with Sophia and you’re willing to put her first, or you don’t. If you can make her happy, truly happy, then I’ll step back. I’ll fade out of Sophia’s world if that’s what it takes for her to have a good life.”
Lester’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting this.
“But,” I continued, “if you’re not serious about her, if you can’t commit to putting her beeone else – including Mira – then do her a favor and leave
her alone. She deserves better than being someone’s second choice.”
The shock in his eyes was unmistakable. For a moment, he looked like he’d been struck.
I leaned back, studying his reaction. “You know what? Let me tell you something about my own situation. When I first realized Brad was torn between his feelings for Mira and whatever he felt for me, I was ready to walk away. I was prepared to step back and let them work it out.”
“But Brad made a choice,” I said firmly. “He looked me in the eye and told me he wanted me to stay. He chose me, despite all the complications. That’s what someone does when they actually want to be with you, Lester. They choose you.”
I could see him processing this, his face cycling through different emotions.
“So here’s what I want to know,” I continued, my voice getting harder. “Why do you keep pretending you can’t see Brad’s feelings? Why do you keep ignoring what he actually wants, over and over again? Why do you keep lying to him, using him?”
“I don’t-”
“You do,” I said bluntly. “You claim to be his friend, but you’re willing to scheme against him the moment Mira asks you to. You see her pain, her tears, her disappointment, and suddenly Brad’s feelings don’t matter anymore.”
Lester’s hands were clenching into fists.
“You want to talk about who deserves consideration?” I asked. ‘What about Brad’s pain? What about the fact that he’s been dealing with this situation for six years? Why does Mira’s discomfort matter more than his?”
“You’re deciding who deserves sympathy based on what – species? Status? Personal preference? You expect me, as a human, to sacrifice my happiness for Mira’s comfort. But why should my feelings matter less than hers?”
Lester stared at me, his mouth slightly open.
“Here’s the real question, Lester,” I said quietly. “If you can hurt Brad to protect Mira, if you can sacrifice your supposed brother for your supposed sister,
then what exactly is your friendship worth? How much of your loyalty is real?
He looked stunned, like I’d just spoken in a foreign language.
“That’s… he started, then stopped. “You’re very sharp–tongued.”
I’m telling you the truth,” I replied simply. “I’m pointing out things you refuse to see.‘
We sat in silence for a long moment. Finally, Lester spoke, his voice much quieter than before.
“I’ll… I’ll think about what you said today.”
I stood up, smoothing down my dress. “I hope you do. And Lester? When we see each other again, I hope it won’t be with this hostility between us. I’m
willing to get along with you, if you’re willing to try. What about you?”
His eyes flickered with something – surprise, maybe even a hint of respect. “I’ll… consider it.”
“Good enough,” I said, and headed back.
39
Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly exhausted. The conversation with Lester had drained me. I’d had to be sharp, calculating, diplomatic – all while keeping my emotions in check.
My goal had been simple: turn Lester from an enemy into a neutral party. Maybe I’d succeeded, maybe not. Only time would tell.
a cookbook I didn’t remember seeing before. Frowning, I picked it I was just starting to relax when I noticed something on the small table by the window up. It was beautiful, leather–bound, with recipes from various cuisines – Chinese, Western, Japanese, Korean. The instructions were simple and clear, perfect for someone learning to cook.
Several recipes had been circled in red ink, dishes that looked delicious but not too complicated.
I flipped to the back of the book and froze. There, in strong, decisive handwriting, were the words: “Smart as you are, foolish as I am.”
My heart started pounding. I flipped to the front cover, and there was another line written on the inside: “Being too concerned leads to fear of loss. Is your retreat and self–protection because you don’t love enough?‘
This was definitely a man’s handwriting. But who…?
My phone buzzed, making me jump. A text message from Brad.
I know I lost this round in our game of love. You’re smart – you know when to pull back, when to protect yourself. I’m the fool who can’t let go. I understand your concerns, your helplessness. I know the pressure you’re under. But I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you to come back.
My hands were shaking as I read the message. I covered my mouth, realization hitting me like a truck.
Brad. He hadn’t send a single word in the past five days. Why now?
Why won’t you just let us both go? I thought desperately. Why won’t you let me leave in peace?
I looked at the cookbook again, understanding now. He’d sent this. He’d been thinking about me, planning ways to reach me even when I was trying to
escape.
But it didn’t change anything. The ending was still the same – he couldn’t give up his mother, which meant he had to give up me. I’d left so he wouldn’t have to carry the burden of ‘abandoning” me, so he wouldn’t have to face that kind of guilt and struggle.
I’m the foolish one, I thought, tears burning my eyes. I knew I shouldn’t fall for you, but I did it anyway.
3
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
