Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
He let out a sigh. “I know,” he muttered.
“Alright. Let’s go. Our visitors are already in the house-what are the owners doing outside here?” Callum spoke up after a long period of silence. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice. Max could clearly tell that his brother was getting jealous of his conversation with Elspeth, so he hurried into the house. “I got it,” he muttered with his head hung low.
The three of them hurried into the house to find Yelena and Hank sitting on the couch. Margot was bustling around them to make them comfortable, and she wore a pleasant smile on her face as she ushered them to take a seat. There wasn’t a hint of hatred or dissatisfaction on her face. Margot was a woman who had survived years of interaction with the other wealthy women of Damoria, so she wasn’t the least bit fazed by such a tiny issue.
“It’s been such a long while since you last came over, Yelena. I thought you forgot about me,” Margot teased. Yelena scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. Previously, things had gotten too tense between Yelena and Max, and they agreed to end their relationship in the heat of the moment. Yelena felt too embarrassed to show up at Winthrop Residence after that.
“Oh, it’s not that! I’ve just been busy recently, so I couldn’t find the time to visit,” Yelena replied.
“You should come over more. I’ve missed you a lot,” Margot said. Yelena couldn’t tell if Margot was being honest or not, but she felt rather guilty when she noticed a hint of wistfulness in Margot’s eyes. “I know,” Yelena replied. Margot turned her attention to Hank after that.
“You must be the famous lawyer that Callum often talks about. What a capable young man you are!” Anyone could utter the same polite words, yet Margot sounded especially sincere with the tone that she used. She was right-Hank’s abilities were practically undefeated in the whole of Damoria. At the young age of 23, he was already widely known as the lawyer with the silver tongue, and the public wasn’t even aware of the other secret identity that he had. Most people would maintain a respectful and cautious attitude toward people like Hank, who had such a mysterious persona.
“You’re too nice, Mrs. Winthrop. I’m not that amazing.” Hank smiled and spoke in a clear voice, yet he sounded rather distant even as he spoke. “How could you say that? We all know the great things you’ve achieved…” They continued chatting for a while before it was time for dinner. All of them took their seats at the dining table, and they hung their heads low as they ate dinner. For the most part, the dining room was filled with silence.
After the meal, Hank and Yelena prepared to leave the house. However, Max stopped Yelena right before they left. “Can I talk to you for a while, Yelena?” Yelena tensed up as she responded in a shaky voice, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s getting late. You can call me if you have anything to say,” she replied. She found it hard to spend time with Max in private.
“It’s just a short conversation. I won’t take up too much of your time,” Max insisted. Margot happened to be standing around to send her guests off, so Hank had to refrain from saying anything that would offend Max. The best that Hank could do was to shoot Max an icy glare.
“It’s fine, Yelena. You should have a talk with him if he wants it. You can say your final goodbyes, too,” Hank finally uttered. “Well… Okay.” Both Yelena and Max stepped out into the backyard to be away from everyone else. The backyard was quiet, and Max enjoyed sitting there on his own sometimes. He would reminisce about the past and think about Yelena every now and then.
Right then, Max took a seat on the stairs. When he saw the helpless look on Yelena’s face, he pulled out some tissue from his pocket before he wiped the surface of the step. “Take a seat. I know you’re really particular about cleanliness. In fact, you were the one who built this habit in me. I’ve learned to keep a packet of tissues in my pocket ever since our previous fights,” Max uttered. Yelena’s gaze darkened when she heard his words, but she eventually took a seat beside him.
“What do you have to say to me?” she asked.
“I’m sorry about what happened the last time.” Max turned to face her as he gazed at her with a look of regret and guilt on his face. “I didn’t know how much I hurt you with my inconsiderate actions with her. Nothing happened between her and me. I know that you won’t believe me as I’m trying to explain myself to you now, but-“
“Stop it.” Yelena blinked when she felt tears forming in her eyes. “I know you’re not that sort of person,” she uttered.
“Then why did you insist on breaking up with me?” Max didn’t understand. If she isn’t bothered by my actions, then why did she insist on breaking up?
“I know you’re not that sort of person, but you’ve crossed my limits with the things that you did. I cannot continue to forgive you unconditionally-not after what you did to me. We’re just not meant for each other, Max.” There had already been a lot of issues in their relationship. For example, Max didn’t know how to comfort Yelena when she was sad. He made sarcastic comments when she was happy. He didn’t know how to offer help when she was flustered and worried over something.
Yelena could still recall the one time she held up two ice creams of different flavors in front of him. She told him to try them, but he had been too occupied with some racecar magazine and accidentally knocked off the ice cream cones she was holding. She didn’t have the words to express how she felt as she watched the ice cream melting on the ground. However, Max didn’t express any remorse then-he even blamed her for holding the ice creams up in front of him. He made it seem like it was her fault that he had bumped into them and dirtied his hands. Yelena felt like her heart shattered after she heard those harsh words.
“That day, one of the ice cream cones that I offered you was green tea-flavored ice cream. That was your favorite flavor, wasn’t it?” Yelena uttered. Max was reminded of that incident, after which she ignored him for two whole days. Max wasn’t bothered then-he simply assumed that she was being petty. Later on, he realized that she was really furious, and it took him a long while to finally get her to forgive him.
“I’m sorry. I know I was too harsh with my words,” Max uttered.
“You don’t have to apologize. We simply have really different views in life.” Yelena knew that they would have to part ways because they were just two different people.
“I know. I know we don’t stand a chance.” Max shrugged before giving her a casual grin. “How have things been with him? Are you guys together now?”
Yelena blushed when she heard Max talking about Hank, and Max immediately noticed her change in expression. “Why are you smiling like that? I’ve never seen you look so bashful-not even when you had a crush on me.” Max couldn’t help but recall the past memories when he brought up Yelena’s crush on him. The gorgeous young lady chased after him for two whole years back then, and he kept finding ways to reject her until she finally managed to win his heart. Coming to think of it, I didn’t know how to cherish her back then. Now, she has another man who has spent so much effort trying to win her over. Why does that make me feel so sad?
“No. I’m not dating him,” Yelena replied.
“Didn’t he confess to you?” Max asked.
Yelena thought about his question for a moment before she shook her head. “He didn’t confess his love to me.”
“Do you like him, then?”
Yelena was stunned by Max’s sudden and direct question. “Why are you asking about this?” she asked.
“Well, if you didn’t reject him, it also means that you like him,” he stated.
Yelena was even more dumbfounded by Max’s abrupt conclusion. “I saw the way you guys interacted with one another just now. You guys seemed really relaxed, and you seemed pretty happy.” Max let out a sigh. “You never looked as happy while you were with me.”
Max had a bad temper, so Yelena was a lot more watchful and cautious while she was dating him. Even though Hank could be a fierce man, Yelena was a lot more daring and relaxed when she was with him. She didn’t seem fearful of him at all.
“Is that so?” Yelena asked.
“Of course. We’ve been together for so long. Don’t you think I know you well enough?” Max replied. It’s a shame that I was too cocky in the past. I thought I could be in full control of everything, and I never once thought about genuinely pleasing and pampering Yelena.
Yelena’s face turned serious all of a sudden. “Actually, you were really nice to me, too,” she stated. She could still recall how Max had protected her when she was bullied back then. “When you first showed up and stood up for me, you were like the light at the end of the tunnel. I fell for you immediately. Did you know about this? You looked so gorgeous at that moment. Why would you think you’re any less than him?”
She met a young man back when her life was in turmoil, and that lad left a deep impression on her. No matter how much time had passed, she could never forget him.
Max noticed her eyes. They were gleaming, and he had conflicting emotions. At first, he thought she hated him or at least harbored a strong dislike, but when she showed up all smiling, Max tossed his worries behind him. “Thank you. You’ll still remain the best woman I’ve ever met.” We used to be in love.
That brings the conversation to a close. Yelena stood up, ready to leave. “May you keep shining bright for the rest of your life.”
“You too.”
That lifted a weight off Yelena’s shoulder. She heaved a sigh of relief and was about to leave.
“Oh. If he does treat you badly, come to me. I’ll always welcome you.”
“Oh, he won’t ever treat me badly,” said Yelena. There was a hint of pride in her voice, the kind of pride only a woman loved by someone could have.
“Good. Just kidding.”
Yelena came back to the lounge, where Hank was waiting for her. The light shone on him, dragging out a long shadow on the ground.
Slowly, Yelena approached Hank, and Hank smiled. “Done?” Good. That clingy Max isn’t here. His frown went away.
“Yes.” She didn’t elaborate lest it upset Hank.
“I’ll take you home then.” Hank held her hand.
They emerged from the house, but before they got in the car, Hank bent over, and Yelena felt a little shy that he was so close to her.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. I just think you look good tonight.”
If it were any other guy, Yelena would have rolled her eyes, but when it was Hank, she just thought it was alluring. “It’s getting late. We should go home.” Yelena didn’t want this to go on, or something lustful might happen. She had experience after all.
“You’re in a hurry to leave.” Hank was a little upset that she wouldn’t stop pushing him away. Why is she so scared of me? I won’t eat her.
“Nothing. Just think the air is a little bit off.”
“How so?” Hank was pushing her to say something embarrassing.
Noticing that, Yelena shot him a glare, but he didn’t really see it as a threat.
“Tell me, or we’re not leaving.”
“You’re so unreasonable.” Yelena mustered up her strength to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge.
“I’m unreasonable?” Hank suddenly didn’t want to tease her anymore, or she might just cry. “Alright, you’re off the hook.” He stood back up so she could take a breather. “Get in. I’ll take you home.”
Surprised that Hank would let her go just like that, Yelena quickly got in the car, but for some reason, she felt a little disappointed. Because nothing happened? No, what am I thinking? She shook her head.
Noticing her weird movement, Hank was amused. “What are you doing?”
Oh, no. I can’t believe I actually shook my head. Yelena wanted to run away. “I think I should get a cab.”
Hank stepped on the brakes, his smile wiped off. Taken by surprise, Yelena almost bumped into the windshield.
“Why did you stop all of a sudden?”
“Do you really not like being in the same room as me?” Hank thought her trying to run was because of the talk she had with Max, and he felt depressed. “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing. Just told me to be happy and made some small talk,” Yelena said honestly. He’s mad.
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. Nothing else.” Yelena took a quick look at him before starting at the ground.
