Chapter 428 – Second Chance Love of the Missing Groom Novel

Erin’s fingers clenched, and she looked him in the eye. “I don’t like you.”

“You actually liked me?” James asked. “I thought you loved me all along.”

Erin was speechless—James was never like this before, since he was always serious.

She did not know how to respond as he suddenly gave up on his old routine.

James lowered his gaze then and continued quietly as he stared at her clenched fingers. “You never gave up on me when I was a vegetable, taking care of me even though I might not wake up. You must love me to bits if you could be that determined, and that’s why I’ll stick with you too. Do you get it?”

Erin feigned composure and snapped, “I was just being sympathetic! Love you? How did you get so thick-skinned, James Cross?”

Rising to her feet, she started to leave. “Since you don’t want to talk it out, that’s all I have to say!”

James did not move. “Erin.”

Erin stopped wheeled on him. “What?”

“What do you want to talk about?” he asked, studying her. “Would you really feel happy if you broke up with me?”

“At least I won’t feel pressured,” Erin replied honestly.

“Then, how about this: I’ll hook up with a couple girls tonight, get laid. Would that make you feel better?” James said, walking up to her.

Erin was quiet for a moment and bit her lip. “Do whatever you want. I don’t care.”

She started towards the door, but James caught her wrist. “That’s supposed to make us equal by your definition, no? What are you upset about? Because you don’t want me to mess with other women?”

“Nope.” Erin denied it.

“Lying is not a virtue,” James told her.

“You’re the liar here. I’m being serious,” she said, and tried to shake him off. “Let me go.”

James did not, and continued patiently, “Well, since you’re serious, I’ll get some girls here right now. Just sit over there and watch.”

Erin glared at him. “You sicko!”

James looked into Erin’s eyes and smiled. “I like it that you’re upset.”

It means that she cared about him, and that she did not want to share his body with other women.

Erin lowered her head, her voice unwittingly turning raspy. “You’re so annoying.”

James tenderly reached out with his arms to hold her.

This time, she did not push him away, but she grabbed him by the collar instead as she forced back her tears.

She was failing, even as she sobbed. “Could you not? Please don’t make this difficult for me.”

Her shoulders were shaking and her tears started to roll, and she leaned against his chest. “I-I don’t deserve to be with you…”

James held her tightly then and kissed her hair and her cheek before whispering beside her ear, “You gave me your first time to me. I had you in your purest state.”

“No, I’ve been defiled…”

“Shush.”

James pressed a finger on her lips. “It’s in the past, and I’ve punished the people who hurt you. They’ll spend the rest of their lives in jail, and I’ve instructed their jailmates to make sure that they wish they were dead.”

“But…”

“Would you want to see me end up like them? Barely alive because of you?”

Erin looked up then, her eyes welling with tears over her skinny but pretty cheeks. “No, I don’t. I want you to be safe and happy…”

“I’ll only be happy with you. Do you understand?” James said as he gave her a gentle peck on the cheek. “Trust me just this once.”

He closed his eyes, his lips tenderly lowering to her eyes to kiss the tears off the corner of her eye. “Please don’t break my heart.”

Erin wrapped her arms tightly around his neck just then and put her face against his chest. “I love you… but what should I do? I’d rather be the only one hurting.”

James put his arms around her thin waist, “Trust me, the darkness will pass and a bright future awaits us in the end—it’s a spring day, filled with life.”

“Can I be without you without feeling any pressure?”

“Yeah,” James rasped. “I wouldn’t have come if I’d given up on you.”

Erin cried even harder then.

Because she tried to hold back her tears, it was even more bitter and she could not stop.

She felt lonely and despaired, but as she leaned against his arms right now, she found refuge.

What should she do? She loved him so much she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life!

As all the feelings she repressed burst out, she could no longer hold back and she cried audibly in his arms.

There was no telling how long that passed. Her feet turned numb and her eyes turned red and swollen, while her voice became hoarse.

“Does your hand still hurt?” she sniffled.

“Yeah,” James nodded, looking at her lovingly then. “It’d hurt more if you left me.”

Erin lifted his hand to see the bite marks on the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.” James reached out to wipe her tears. “I can’t stay long—I’ll be gone tomorrow. Stay with me for today.”

“Okay,” Erin nodded. “You must be hungry since you haven’t had lunch, yes? Let’s eat outside.”

His lunch on the table had already turned cold.

“Okay,” James said. “We can catch a movie after that.”

“Okay.”

They went to a restaurant, and Erin was watching him eat since she already ate.

Still, James cut a slice of his steak and held it beside her mouth.

A little embarrassed, she said, “I had lunch.”

James simply stared at her in silence without answering, but he was obviously determined.

Erin struggled a little before leaning forward to eat the slice, but James’s hand withdrew just as she was about to reach it.

Missing her mark, she looked up to see James grinning in amusement.

She blushed right then!

“You’re nuts!”

James kept grinning in amusement. “Just pulling your leg.”

Erin rose to her feet right then. “Enjoy your meal.”

James quickly caught her wrist. “You’re really upset, huh? Alright, it’s your turn to pull a prank on me.”

“When did you change so much?” Erin asked, staring at him—she almost could not recognize him.

He never behaved like this before! How did he change so drastically in such a short time?

“I just wanted to cheer you up,” James said, tugging at her so that she sat down. “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Here—take this slice and mess with me.”

Erin smiled despite herself.

“No way, that’s so childish.”

James smiled as he watched her smiling face.

There were not many others at the cinema when they arrived after James had his lunch, and it was just the two in the entire hall.

Still, James put an arm around her shoulder and said, “Come on. Lean on my shoulder.”

Erin did so, like a delicate little bird.

She suddenly said softly, “You never did this before.”

“Did what?” James asked, lowering his gaze at her.

“This,” Erin said. “It’s the first time we’re catching a movie together. Before this, it was always work, work, work, and work—like you’re a dog.”

James was speechless, but he smiled since she felt relaxed, and decided that everything he did was worth it.

“Alright, I won’t work like a dog from now on. I’ll try to keep you company more often.”

Emotional, Erin pushed herself against his chest, swallowing the bitterness that came unwittingly with a smile. “Okay.”

The film they watched was a romantic comedy, with laughs and love.

Erin’s mood slowly improved with James’s company and she felt wistful as he prepared to leave the next day.

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