Help! My One-Night Stand Is Examining Me?!

Chapter 162: Chapter 162 Easily accepted

No wonder she easily accepted when he suggested a break up.

He had thought she might try to hold onto him and fight for him.

But she had already let go of him.

He grabbed Alana’s shoulders with both hands and explained urgently, “Lana, that wasn’t true, I was just joking...”

He had been so young back then, full of pride and arrogance, he hadn’t realized the consequences of his words.

Back then, he’d assumed that because she was always by his side, she depended on him and couldn’t possibly live without him.

But when she completely vanished from his life, without a single word, he suddenly realized how important she was to him.

It was actually him who couldn’t live without her.

Alana smiled bitterly.

He didn’t realize how deeply the words he spoke back then had affected her.

She thought he was special, different from all the others who had humiliated and mocked her.

But the truth dealt her a crushing blow.

Yet now, with a single offhand remark, he casually brushed the whole thing aside...

Alana feigned calmness. “Whether it was a joke or not doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that I don’t care anymore. I don’t care that you were about to marry someone else. I don’t care if that worked out or not. I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

Seeing Alana’s composed demeanor, Cole felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of

panic.

Even though he was so close to her, he still felt as though she were far away.

So far that he felt he couldn’t reach out and hold her.

That sense of panic, the fear that he might lose her, held him in its grip.

Unable to control himself, he pulled the girl in front of him into his arms, wishing he could merge her into his very being.

“Lana, I want no one else. I’ve broke all contact with Sophia. I will never let anyone deceive me again. I will never let you question your worth in my life again. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, okay?”

Alana hadn’t expected Cole to suddenly pull her into his arms. Startled and terrified, she pushed him away with her hands.

“Cole! Let go of me! We’re at the office, someone could walk in at any moment!”

Her eyes darted around in panic, fearing someone might see them.

Cole couldn’t bear to let her go. “Will you forgive me?”

“If you forgive me, I’ll let you go.”

Alana pleaded urgently, “I forgive you, let me go!”

In truth, she had never once resented or blamed him, so how could she even speak of forgiveness?

He had simply made it clear to her that there was absolutely no point in loving him. Upon hearing this, a flicker of joy crossed Cole’s eyes.

If she was willing to forgive him, did that mean there was still a chance for them?

“Lana, I...”

Taking advantage of his distraction, the girl in his arms suddenly struggled free and

backed away from him. She stared at him with a guarded expression.

“Cole, from now on at the company, please keep your distance from me. If someone had seen you hugging me just now, it would have caused a misunderstanding.”

Cole paused for a moment, realizing now that his behavior had been a bit impulsive.

“I’m sorry, I just...”

He couldn’t help himself.

Before he could finish, the girl softly interrupted him.

“I’m leaving now.” Alana lowered her eyes and turned to leave.

Cole’s heart tightened.

The words that had slipped out...’Would you like to have dinner together tonight?’

was ultimately swallowed back as she walked away.

He felt a strong sense of frustration.

But he tried his best to reassure himself: It’s okay. They’ve only met again; there will still be chances for their relationship to improve.

Alana returned to her desk, feeling somewhat unsettled as she thought about Cole’s sudden embrace.

She didn’t understand what he was really trying to say.

Clearly, in his eyes, she was nothing more than a dispensable figure.

He looked down on her background and had even mocked her in front of his friends and his sister.

Since he wasn’t sincere with her, there was no point in her clinging to any illusions about him.

When he wanted a break up, she easily agreed.

And just when she had forgotten him and let go of that relationship, he reappeared, claiming he had been looking for her all along, showing concern for her, and acting as if he cared deeply about her.

It was truly baffling.

If she couldn’t figure it out, she wasn’t going to bother trying.

After all, she wasn’t a mind reader; she couldn’t possibly know what was going on inside Cole’s head.

She wasn’t delusional enough to think he was interested in her.

After all, once bitten, twice shy.

Ever since she found out his intentions toward her weren’t pure, she’s been afraid to get any closer to him.

She was particularly afraid of getting hurt. Once she’d been hurt by someone, she wouldn’t get close to them again; she’d just retreat into a hard shell to protect herself. She admitted that when it came to love, she was a complete coward, afraid to take even a single brave step.

If it weren’t for Stephan, who was proactive and passionate enough to persist despite her repeated rejections, time and again choosing her with unwavering resolve, she would never have found the courage to choose to be with him.

So she hoped Stephan wouldn’t be like Cole.

He was her first act of bravery, and she hoped he would be her last. Two days of peaceful life passed.

During those two days, Cole didn’t assign her any overtime. She was able to catch her breath a little.

The weekend followed closely behind.

She hadn’t made any plans for the weekend and intended to spend all her time with Stephan.

Stephan wanted to take her on a date just the two of them. Like going shopping or seeing a movie, or something like that.

Apparently, this was the standard routine for couples to strengthen their bond. After all, since he couldn’t bring Alana home to meet his parents just yet, he had no choice but to focus on building a connection with her first.

However, a phone call from Alana’s hometown instantly threw a wrench into Stephan’s weekend plans.

Someone from her hometown called to say that her grandmother had fallen and broken her arm.

With something this serious happening, Alana naturally had to go back to check on her.

She received the news on Friday morning, immediately took time off work, and booked a flight for that afternoon.

When she took the time off, she informed Cole, since she was now his assistant.

Cole asked with concern, “Is your grandmother’s condition serious?”

Alana looked a little pale. “We’re not sure yet. I’m going back to check on her. Could

you please approve my leave?”

After all, her relatives couldn’t explain the situation clearly over the phone; she wouldn’t feel at ease until she saw for herself.

Given the gravity of the situation, Cole couldn’t stand in her way. “Alright. When are you heading back? Do you want me to drive you?”

Actually, he wanted to go back with her; after all, he had met her grandmother before.

Alana shook her head. “No need. I’ve already booked a flight for this afternoon. I’ll be leaving shortly.”

Cole stood up and said without waiting for her reply, “Then I’ll take you to the airport.”

Alana declined, “No need. My boyfriend is coming to pick me up.”

In truth, Alana didn’t know if Stephan would come to pick her up. She had just sent him a message saying her grandmother had an emergency and she’d booked a flight to go back.

He hadn’t replied yet; perhaps he was busy.

But to turn down Cole, she had no choice but to use him as an excuse.

Cole couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Here we go again. Every time he tried to get close to her, she used her boyfriend as an excuse to fend him off.

Did she really not want to be with him that much?