“These are my friends. They have acquired a taste for good-looking men, especially Zidonians. So I’m offering you to them-don’t worry, they will give you some proper lovin’.”
She deliberately emphasized on that last part to highlight the importance.
James was speechless.She looked young, even harmless and innocent… And yet!
He inhaled deeply to repress his rage, and said, “Tell them to leave us, and I’ll tell you.”
Seeing that she was getting what she wanted, she gave the men a look, and they left the room.
“Now release me. I’ll take you there myself,” James continued.
Erin grinned. “You just have to tell me where it is—I’ll go there on my own. And we didn’t have to go through all this if you told me sooner, y’know?”
She was certainly naive to believe him so easily.
James restrained himself even as she moved to release him.
“Fine. It’s in Cloud City, and it’s near-“
That was when he felt his shackle loosen, and he quickly leaped to his feet and freed himself.
Erin was still blinking innocently. “There. You’re free. Now tell me.”
“Dream on!” James was almost blowing up.
Erin finally realized then. “You tricked me!”
“Of course! You’re as dumb as a pig!” James said as he put on his clothes, while rebuking her, “You’re a girl, so stop hanging out with the wrong crowd. I mean, just look at those goons-what on earth is their deal?”
Erin’s cheeks were puffed from frustration, her eyes bulging. “I’ll kill you, James Cross!”
With that, she lunged at him, but he was prepared and simply sidestepped her.
Erin tripped on the bed and dropped on top of it.
Her fingers clenched over the bed sheets, and she growled in frustration. ‘ Grr…”
James pulled up his pants and gave her a look. “You’re still too young to play with me, kiddo.”
He opened the door smugly while Erin was left gritting her teeth, only to see the men standing outside and taking one step back in reflex.
He gulped.
“S-Stay back!”
James had barely finished when one of the three burly men pushed him back inside the room.
Erin was huffing and she promptly snapped when she saw that. “Fuck him up!”
The three of them charged forward, and one of them landed a heavy jab on his left eye, flooring him.
Luckily, James had seen action, and quickly grabbed a chair, swinging it at the man nearest to him, knocking him out!
While another man tried to grab him from behind, he leaped aside and kicked him squarely on the back before making a dash outside and making his escape!
Harvey went looking for Abigail right after he landed in Minerva. However, he had been knocking on her door for quite a while, but nobody answered.
Still, he was going to call her when he noticed some sort of lifeform walking toward him.
He flinched in shock-how could someone so ugly exist?
When Abigail saw him, she asked, “What are you doing here? It’s so late already.”
Harvey appeared incredulous. “W-Wait, you’re Abigail?”
“Yeah,” she replied casually as she opened the door.
Following her inside, Harvey said, “What’s with that look? You scared me, y‘know-1 thought I was seeing some sort of monster.’
“I was worried Diarmuid would recognize me,” Abigail replied.
The instant Harvey heard Diarmuid’s name, he asked, “You were meeting him?’
“Yep,” she said, plucking off her cap and mask and heading into her washroom to clear her makeup.
Since it took her time to put on so much makeup, it took time to clear it away too.
Harvey stood outside the washroom, watching her as he asked, “You talked to him?”
Abigail was focused on her own reflection on the mirror and wiping off her makeup as she continued, “I’m now his doctor.”
“He’s sick? Is it terminal?” Harvey felt schadenfreude the instant he heard that.
Abigail shot him a glare. “What good is Diarmuid’s death to you?”
“I won’t have a rival to win you over,” Harvey said plainly.
“I won’t fall for you even if he’s gone,” Abigail retorted.
Harvey grabbed her wrist. “Why?”
Abigail met his gaze without flinching. “The human heart is actually very small, so it doesn’t have much space for too much stuff- especially lovers. The slot in mine is taken, and I can’t spare any space for you.”
She had no idea if Harvey was kidding or serious, but thought that she should make such things clear early on.
“If you’re joking, pretend I never said a thing. But if you’re serious, I’m serious too.”
Harvey slowly released her hand. “You really love him that much, huh?”
Abigail washed her face in silence, but it could well be an admission.
Naturally, Harvey was despondent. “Why would you leave him, then? If it’s a disfigurement, you can get reconstructive surgery after giving birth. It’s not permanent…”
“I left… because he doesn’t love me,” she said, holding Harvey’s gaze.
Harvey’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Did he mishear her?
Diarmuid did not love Abigail?
That was impossible-how could he not? He had to be the person who suffered the most because of her death!
‘He only kept me around because I gave him Tommy. I love him, but I don’t like compromised relationships, or to force myself on others. That’s why if he doesn’t love me, I won’t try to tie him down with our child.”
She put away her towel and turned to Harvey again. “It’s late. I’m taking a shower before I sleep.”
She was ordering her to leave, but Harvey was left staring at her.
Why on earth was she convinced that Diarmuid did not love her?
Was there some misunderstanding between them?
It had to be.
‘Hello? You should be going,” Abigail said, because he was not moving.
Coming to his senses, he gave Abigail a solemn look.
“Sleep tight,” he said, and turned to leave.
Since there was a misunderstanding between them, he could let it persist.
This might be his last chance, and he would seize it even if it was selfish of him.
He returned to Olston Hotel-he usually stayed there whenever he visited Minerva.
In the morning, he was going to buy breakfast for Abigail when he ran into someone at the entrance and almost laughed himself
James furrowed his brow. ‘What are you laughing at? Did you lose your mind?”
Harvey was staring at his left eye, however. “Are you trying to turn into a panda, with one black eye?”
James raised his hand to hide his bruised eye while glaring at Harvey with the other. “Seeing that you helped me before, I won’t hold this against you. But you should know that I have a temper, and don’t complain that I never warned you when you mock me again.”
“I helped you?” Harvey was a little confused.
When did he help James, and with what? How did it manage to slip his mind?
‘Are you sure about that…?”
“Don’t bother. I won’t remember it even if it was a huge favor-you laughed at me, so we’re even. Now buzz off.”
With that, James headed toward Diarmuid’s room, leaving Harvey speechless.
He doubted that he would help James out of the kindness of his heart.
Still, he glanced at the time. “Oh, it’s almost seven.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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