?
Villain Ch 153. Facing The Past [Part 4]
Hearing his reply, a lump formed in her throat. How could she explain her actions in a way that would make sense to him? How could she make him understand the turmoil she had been going through, the confusion and vulnerability that had clouded her judgment? It was a difficult task, but she knew she had to try.
"I'm not trying to make excuses for what I did," she began, her voice filled with earnestness. "I know that inviting him into our apartment was a betrayal of your trust, and I can never justify it. But please believe me when I say that I never intended for things to turn out that way. I made a terrible mistake."
She paused, searching for the right words to express her remorse. "At that time, I was grappling with my own emotions and insecurities. I thought I could find answers or escape from my doubts by seeking validation from someone else. It was a selfish and misguided decision, and I regret it deeply."
Sophia's eyes never wavered from Allen's gaze, her sincerity evident in her every word. "But Allen, I want you to know that I have learned from that mistake. I have taken the time to reflect on my actions, to understand the pain I caused you, and to work on becoming a better person."
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she continued, "I can't change the past, but I can promise you that I am committed to earning back your trust. I know it won't happen overnight, and I understand if you're still hesitant to forgive me. But I'm here, right now, willing to face the consequences of my actions and to do whatever it takes to make things right."
"Seriously? That's all you've got to say?" Allen's words cut through the air, icy and devoid of warmth.
Sophia couldn't believe her ears. She had just bared her soul to him, poured her heart out, and it seemed like her words had fallen on deaf ears. Allen remained distant, unmoved by her confession.
A quick glance at the clock on the restaurant's wall made Allen's intentions clear. He was ready to leave, eager to put an end to this conversation. "Well, would you look at that," he sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You wasted three minutes of my life. It faster than I thought. Now, I can escape this dreadful ordeal." He began to rise from his seat, prepared to walk away.
Desperation surged through Sophia's veins as panic gripped her. She couldn't let him go, not when there was so much left unsaid. With a trembling hand, she reached out, her fingertips grazing his arm. "Please," she pleaded, her voice shaking and stammering. "I-I haven't finished yet. Give me just a little more time."
Allen paused, his hand halfway to freedom. Sophia's touch had halted his escape, tethering him to the seat opposite her. Reluctantly, he sank back down, his eyes fixed on her face. The tension between them was palpable, the air heavy with unresolved emotions. His actions were accompanied by an air of detachment as if he didn't care whatever she had to say. Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned back in his seat, a gesture of whatever she said wouldn't reach his heart. "Speak."
Her heart pounding in her chest, Sophia gathered her thoughts, determined to convey her emotions with utmost clarity. She met his gaze, her eyes brimming with both vulnerability and resolve. "You haven't given me your answer," she began, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
He arched an eyebrow in confusion, his expression hardened with skepticism. "Answer?" he scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. "Answer about what exactly?"
The words stumbled out of her mouth, each one carefully chosen to carry the weight of her intentions. "About our relationship," she said, her voice quivering slightly. She held her breath, waiting for his response, desperately hoping for a glimmer of understanding.
A frown etched its way onto Allen's face as he absorbed her words. He shook his head, a mixture of frustration and exasperation evident in his voice. "Sophia, there's nothing left between us," he emphasized, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "You have to understand that when I walked away that day, I made a decision to sever all ties between us."
Sophia's heart sank, the weight of his words crashing down upon her. She had known deep down that their relationship had been strained, but she had clung to a glimmer of hope, a flicker of belief that perhaps they could salvage what was left. Hearing him speak so definitively shattered that fragile hope.
Tears welled up in Sophia's eyes, her voice now laced with a mix of sorrow and determination. "But Allen, can't you see?" she pleaded, her voice trembling. "We've been through so much together. We've shared moments that I thought were irreplaceable. Are you really ready to throw it all away?"
"Yes. There are times when I value it. Now, it means nothing to me," Allen responded, his voice laced with icy detachment. The tears streaming down Sophia's face did nothing to sway him. He had seen this tactic countless times before—the power of her tears, her ultimate weapon to manipulate him into submission. But this time, he remained resolute. He had grown immune to her once-persuasive force.
Sophia's voice trembled with desperation as she continued to plead her case. "No, that's not what I meant," she implored, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I'm asking if we can start over, if we can wipe the slate clean and begin again, from the very beginning."
Allen couldn't help but feel a cynical chuckle bubble up within him. He suppressed it, aware that they were in a public place and didn't want to cause a scene, but the irony of her request was not lost on him. The audacity of suggesting they could simply go back to the way things were seemed laughable.
A snort escaped his lips, and he shook his head, trying to contain his amusement. "You aren't serious, aren't you?" he remarked incredulously, his voice dripping with disbelief. "After everything that has happened, you actually want us to go back? That's rich."
Sophia's expression wavered between vulnerability and determination. She refused to back down, determined to make him see things from her perspective. "Why not?" she retorted, her voice tinged with a touch of defiance. "Everyone deserves a second chance, including us. We can rebuild what we had, start anew."
A scoff escaped Allen's lips as he leaned back in his seat, his disbelief transforming into sarcasm. "Oh, so you're the one who gets to determine that, huh?" he jeered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me, Sophia, what makes you the authority on our second chances?"
Sophia's resolve faltered for a moment, her confidence shaken by his biting remark. But she refused to let his cynicism dampen her spirit. She leaned forward, her gaze meeting him unwaveringly. "I may not be the authority, but I believe in redemption," she asserted, her voice carrying a glimmer of hope. "We all make mistakes, but it's how we learn from them and grow that matters. And I believe we can learn and grow together."
Allen's eyes narrowed, his skepticism deepening. He had built walls around his heart, shielding himself from the pain that their relationship had brought him. Opening those wounds again seemed like inviting further hurt. "And what if history repeats itself?" he challenged, his voice tinged with bitterness. "What if we fall back into the same destructive patterns? Can you guarantee that won't happen?"
New novel 𝓬hapters are published on fre ew𝒆bnovel.com