Chapter 533: Chapter 533: Mika Summers VS Tristan Grayson (33)
"But the person you love isn’t me, Leo Joyce. Why can’t you just let me go?"
Tiana’s words made Leo Joyce freeze. For a moment, it felt as if time itself had stopped.
A few seconds later, Leo Joyce finally snapped out of it. He looked down at the crying woman in his arms, his expression earnest and grave. "Tiana, I can tell you with absolute certainty, the one I want is you! Only you!"
Tiana stiffened and gave a bitter laugh.
’Want?’
’He’s always like this, so cleverly sidestepping her question. She’d clearly asked who he *loved*.’
"Tiana, trust me!"
’She wanted to trust him, but who was it that pushed her away every single time?’
Even though she knew Amelia would always have a place in his heart, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, "So, do you love me, or Amelia Avery?"
"..." A wave of panic washed over Leo Joyce, and his eyes seemed to deliberately avoid Tiana’s gaze.
Tiana saw it all in his expression, and her heart ached to its breaking point. ’He told her to trust him, but he still couldn’t answer this one question.’ Her emotions suddenly began to crumble. "Look me in the eye and tell me! Leo Joyce, didn’t you just say you wanted me to trust you? Then say it! Who do you really love?" ’Is it me, or Amelia Avery!’
"Tiana, I..." The words "love you" felt foreign and painful on his tongue, and he just couldn’t force them out.
"Heh, see? You don’t love me. You can’t even say it. Leo Joyce, stop kidding yourself. You don’t love me. I should have known all along. You don’t love me. The one you love is Amelia." ’And I’m probably just a safe harbor for him, a place to rest when he’s tired of his games.’
’He never actually planned on being with me forever, did he?’
Tiana sat up, wiped away her tears, and got out of bed.
Seeing her like this, Leo Joyce suddenly panicked. He reached out, grabbing her arm tightly. "Tiana, listen to me..." he said urgently.
"There’s nothing to talk about. I’m leaving!" Tiana forcefully shook his hand off.
Leo Joyce scrambled off the bed after her. He threw his arms around her, holding her tight. His voice trembled with anxiety as he cried out, "You can’t go back! You can’t leave! Tiana, you can’t leave! I love you! I love you! I really, truly love you! That’s right, I really do love you! Tiana, you have to believe me."
His words made her freeze completely. She could feel his body shaking violently, and her own began to tremble in response.
"Tiana, I think... I think I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you." ’Otherwise, why would my heart ache like this...?’
"You’re not lying to me?" Tiana asked, her voice trembling.
"Mm-hm..." Leo Joyce hummed in confirmation. He turned the woman in his arms to face him, his gaze locked on hers. "I’m looking you in the eye and telling you plainly: Tiana, I really love you. So, so much. Maybe... maybe to a degree that’s even beyond my own imagination."
"Leo..." Tiana threw her arms around Leo, sobbing as she said, "I love you too... so, so much..."
"Silly girl." Leo hugged her back tightly, his voice hoarse. "Don’t fight with me anymore, okay?"
"Mm-hm..." Tiana nodded, tears streaming down her face.
"And don’t ever talk about breaking up again."
"Mm-hm..."
Leo’s expression grew complex for a moment as he thought, then he added, "Let’s get engaged. Right away. And after you graduate, we’ll get married."
"Mm-hm..." Tiana agreed without a second thought, just nodding along. It was only after she’d already agreed that she processed what Leo had said. Astonished, she lifted her head from his embrace.
Comments