I had been deeply in love with him and had indulged his every whim without question. After that, I never mentioned my work or looked at my notes in his presence.
Now, I faced him directly, no longer avoiding the topic.
“I’m reviewing some professional notes. When did you get back?”
I blinked, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction despite my tired eyes.
“So you ignored my calls just to read this?”
His voice was tinged with irritation and anger.
I didn’t get why he was so upset. Missing one call was a minor issue. He frequently ignored mine, and yet he was enraged now.
It was truly baffling.
I stood up and began searching for my phone, which I had misplaced somewhere.
“What's wrong with your arm?”
It was only then that Scott noticed my arm in a cast.
“It was hit by a falling rock, but it’s no big deal now.”
Scott unconsciously touched his nose, probably feeling a bit guilty, and made a move to touch me.
I subtly stepped back, sidestepping him as I headed for the door.
His hand dropped to his side, and he spoke with a touch of frustration.
“That day, Hannah said she wanted to go sketching in the mountains, but halfway there, she changed her mind.”
“I meant to tell you…”
I gave him a wry smile. He had plenty of opportunities to respond to me that day, even if it was just a single sentence.
When the accident first happened, his phone was still on, but no one answered.
Later, it was just off.
Now, his pale excuses seemed like a cruel joke.
As soon as our eyes met, he quickly looked away, pressing his lips together as he changed the subject.
“Hannah called today, saying she had a cooking mishap, so I went over to help. She knew I loved homemade noodles, so she insisted on making them for me as a thank you.”
“But she’s not exactly a great cook, so it ended up being me…”
As he spoke, a smile of affection and satisfaction crept onto his face.
I stopped in my tracks, turned back, and quietly stared at him.
His high nose bridge, long lashes, and deep, dark eyes always seemed to be filled with a kind of tender affection, even when looking at a dog.
I had been lost in those eyes for five years.
But now, I felt weary.
“She can’t cook, and it’s okay you’re much better,” I said.
He stopped mid-sentence, staring at me in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand why I was so calm.
If this were before, I would have been hysterical, demanding he do the same for me, as if that would prove my place in his heart.