CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 126: STILL LIKE YOU

[Volume Three: Sweet Romance Diary]

The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.

Just moments ago, it was full of excitement; but with Sienna Thornton’s accusations, many things are gone, shattered into pieces.

She suddenly felt a hint of fear, an inexplicable terror.

Simon Forrester remained silent for a long time, and when he looked at her again, his face was full of disappointment: "Because of the DK case, you refused to meet me, saying you wanted to avoid suspicion. Fine, I resolved the DK case, yet you sentenced me to death based on mere rumors heard from somewhere!"

At this moment, his hard-earned calm was now for nothing, and in the end, he laughed bitterly in anger: "If it weren’t for wanting to be with you sooner, do you think DK could have taken advantage of me?"

Sienna’s heart tightened, looking at him in shock, her emotions complex.

After a moment of calm, her attitude slightly softened, "That wasn’t my intention." But her decision remained firm, "I appreciate your affection, but I can’t be with someone like you."

She opened the door wide, letting the summer breeze from the open staircase blow into the room, inflating her dress, which she didn’t bother to press down, calmly saying: "Leave now, don’t meet again unless necessary."

He was already in utter despair, looking at her with eyes full of pain and hatred, stepping towards the door, and as he passed by her, he let out a cold laugh—

"You accuse me of having chaotic relationships with women, but you don’t seem much better. Zion Quincy came down from your place early this morning, hair wet, clearly having spent the night here showering. If you honestly admit he’s your boyfriend, it would at least make sense. But do you? Since you don’t like me, and can’t accept someone like me, why didn’t you reject me outright from the start? Do you think it’s fun to string me along?"

As if unable to believe such words came from his mouth, Sienna stood frozen, her eyes red from the sharp sarcasm, her mouth opened to explain something, but in the end, she chose to give up: "Yes! I’m exactly that kind of careless bad woman! So don’t love me!"

He fell silent, staring at her fiercely with hatred.

In this confrontation, the thin veneer covering each was torn away by the other, leaving behind only shame and disgrace scattered on the ground.

There’s no need to pretend anymore.

Sienna had also reached her limit, her eyes red as if they could bleed, forcing herself to hold back the tears.

Taking a deep breath, she turned away, striving to breathe calmly, not wanting to look too defeated.

Just as Simon was still angry, seeing her like this, he suddenly found himself speechless, silent for a long time. After a quiet while, he suppressed his suffocating emotions and said, "There’s nothing I can do, even knowing you’re that kind of person, I still like you."

Sienna was astonished, her heart pounding, the sound echoing in her chest, surging into her brain, instantly dispelling anger and shame, replacing it with nervous agitation.

She hated him like this, first slapping and then giving candy; hated herself too, forgetting the slap for the candy he offered.

She turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

The two sank into silence once again, neither speaking. Both seemed tired, feeling that such arguments and venting were meaningless.

The summer morning sun rose from the horizon, filling the old apartment with a cozy atmosphere. The two silently stood there, almost melting into the warm light.

Until Sienna felt her limbs weakening, unable to hold on any longer, she whispered: "Let’s end this."

Simon looked at her, neither refuting nor angry, sunk into prolonged silence.

At that moment, he realized his feelings for her had changed.

Before this moment, his feelings for her were merely a man’s basic possessive desire toward a beautiful woman and the most straightforward hormonal reaction.

She was beautiful, intelligent, elegant, and well-proportioned, with flawless skin, perfect to the point of absurdity, even her toes were so exquisitely alluring.

Before the DK case, her personality was lively and cute too. Living together, clearly annoyed by him one moment, yet cooking hangover soup for him the next, always caring for and showing concern, being with her was genuinely relaxed and pleasant.

Yes, during that month, he fell completely in love with that feeling.

But that feeling wasn’t so indispensable that he couldn’t do without her, so when she rejected him a second time, he went to The Northeast without saying a word, childishly and ridiculously trying to prove he could be fine without her.

Yet he ultimately failed, as his prideful self-control crumbled upon seeing her half a year later.

Now, his heart felt a sharp pain, suddenly fearing losing her.

After such an argument, she would surely run away.

Repressing various emotions within, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on her soft hair, whispering: "I won’t end this."

She shivered all over, struggled slightly, and then allowed him to hold her.

The tremor she felt was from him speaking, his chin moving as he spoke: "Let’s not fight anymore; regardless of the past, I want to be with you."

She mechanically repeated: "I’m a bad woman; you shouldn’t be with me."

"Everything I said was in anger, don’t take it to heart."

"In anger?" She suddenly laughed, her thin shoulders shaking.

He hugged her tightly, waiting for her to provoke him with sharper words. But she just quietly let him hold her.

Gradually, he felt a dampness on his chest. Looking down, he saw his white shirt soaked by her tears. Shocked, he cupped her tear-stained face: "It’s all my fault, don’t cry."

"Of course it’s your fault!" She shoved him away, pushing him out the door.

The door slammed shut with a loud "bang," and she leaned weakly against it, collapsing in tears.

...

Sienna cried until her body ached, falling into a muddled sleep and waking up with a clearer mind, deciding she should hide for a few days.

After packing her things, she went to look out on the balcony.

The afternoon sun scorched the earth, a black S90 parked under the blazing sun, the driver’s window rolled down. The man’s long, elegant arm rested on the window sill, holding a cigarette between his index and middle fingers, tapping the ash with his index finger until the cigarette burned out.

Sienna stood on the balcony watching for a while.

Suddenly, the car door opened, and the man got out, holding a phone, leaning against the car as he spoke, looking up towards her position.

Startled, she quickly withdrew her head. After a while, she peeked out again, finding the car gone.

Simon Forrester had left.

She felt a brief moment of emptiness, but it was just a moment; soon, she picked up her bag, grabbed her car keys, and left the apartment.

The car sped along the highway, and she called the minister to take three days off; the minister, eager for her absence at Vantage, agreed readily.