Chapter 62.2
“Yes, of course, that’s why.” Hector murmured, sighing deeply. He raised a hand and slowly ran it through his hair. Unlike before, his touch wasn’t rough. He seemed almost relaxed. I couldn’t understand what about my words had pleased him so much.
“So, are you satisfied now?” I asked, implying he should leave, having heard and said what he wanted. A faint smile touched his lips as he gazed at me. The way the corners of his mouth tilted upwards was incredibly irritating.
“Amelia, I apologize that Vivian came to see you so abruptly.”
“What is it you want to say?”
“But I’d like you to apologize for speaking harshly to her.” What a preposterous request.
“She must be feeling very insecure right now. It’s my fault for not reassuring her. So…” Hector Acid straightened, his gaze fixed on me. His red eyes reflected only my image, as if searching for my reaction.
“I’m asking you this. Break off the engagement with me.”
“…Ha!” Laughter escaped me at the sheer absurdity of it. This was the second time he’d asked for the engagement to be broken, but it was drastically different from the first. Unlike the first time, when he’d indifferently declared the end of their relationship, this time, Hector’s emotions were palpable. A malicious desire to see me hurt by the separation.
“…Hector.” I bit my lip as I spoke his name, and his eyes darkened, a flicker of satisfaction within them. Because I upset Vivian, I should be hurt too. I no longer harbored enough feelings for Hector to be wounded by such words, but it still stung. I wasn’t kind enough to ignore such blatant malice.
“Hector.” I said his name again, firmly. “Fine. Since you want it, let’s do it.”
“…What?” His red eyes wavered.
“I’ll break off the engagement.” I deepened my smile, watching his bewildered expression.
“I’ll do as you wish. We’ll break off the engagement.”
“…Amelia.”
“But not right now.” I reached into my bag and retrieved the item I’d carried ever since Vivian gave it to me. “I won’t keep you waiting long, so just be patient. You don’t need this. Return it to her.” I tossed the envelope of money at Hector’s chest. He caught it, checked the contents, and frowned.
“What is this?”
“I’m not so desperate that I’d accept money from her.” Ignoring his confused question, I continued. I reached out and yanked his tie, pulling him down towards me. He’d been momentarily stunned by the money, and now his upper body lurched forward. I gritted my teeth, my words slow and deliberate.
“Amel…”
“If you’re having an affair, have the decency to be ashamed of yourself. Don’t make ridiculous demands.” I whispered in his ear that if he came to me one more time, he should look forward to the rumors that would follow. As his eyes widened, I released his tie and stepped back, putting distance between us.
“Surely even you, devoid of conscience as you are, can manage to wait.”
Leaving Hector standing there, frozen, I turned and walked back into the mansion.
***
“[Amelia, what brings you here? Spending time in the flower garden.]” I’d spent some time in the flower garden, where I often left the little ones, including Jiggly. As I emerged, Slinky peeked out from my hair, asking me a question while carefully hiding her body within my hair, tilting her tiny head.
“I had some free time. I didn’t manage to see Ronen today either.” I’d stopped by the garden to leave the black robe I’d worn to meet Ronen and to chat with the little ones. I’d lost count of how many times this had happened. I’d been trying to see Ronen, but our timings never aligned.
“[This isn’t the first time, is it?]”
“Hmm?”
“[That you’ve had this much trouble meeting Ronen, I mean.]”
“Now that you mention it…” This was the longest we’d gone without meeting since we’d met. We’d missed each other a couple of times before, but we’d always managed to meet the next time. But this time, I’d tried almost ten times, and it was proving unusually difficult.
“I wonder if something’s happened.” We’d never properly shown our faces to each other, but we’d known each other for a long time, so I was worried.
“[Whatever it is, he’s not the type to die, so don’t worry too much, Amelia.]” Slinky said, nuzzling her small head against my cheek. Not the type to die? I chuckled at her rather dramatic words.
“[You’re trying to meet Ronen because of Snowy, right?]”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s not that urgent, so…” I replied to Slinky as I walked slowly. I turned my head absentmindedly and saw a very familiar face.
“Gasp!” I inhaled sharply.
“[Oh? Isn’t that Luke?]” As Slinky said, Luke Randy was not far away.
“[Why is he with a woman?]”
“It seems…” I could see the forced smile on Luke’s face. The awkward atmosphere between the two, the formally dressed man and woman…
“…a blind date?” Especially Luke Randy’s awkward attempt at acting friendly—it had to be a blind date.
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