Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Elspeth thought that wasn’t a good move. Jethro had no idea what he was doing, and he might do something disastrous next time. “I think I should talk to him.”
Callum saw through her. “Still want to save him?”
He got me. She smiled sheepishly. “No. I just think he’s not that evil. He’s just being used.”
Already frustrated by the company’s problems, Elspeth’s defense of Jethro annoyed him more. Neglecting how she felt, he snapped, “You’re not doing this because he likes you, are you?”
Elspeth’s mood turned foul. “Is that what you think of me, Callum?”
Oh, sh*t. I shouldn’t have said that. He tried to explain, “That’s not what I meant.”
Elspeth sneered, “You still think I’m flirting around with him, aren’t you?”
Callum no longer wanted to explain himself after she said that and sneered as well. “That’s exactly what I think. Do you have anything else to say?”
“I’m not going to argue with you.” Elspeth stood up and stormed off to her room, forgetting to tell him that she was pregnant.
The moment she slammed her door, Callum’s mood turned fouler than ever, but he wasn’t going to bow down this time. He stood around and left a while later.
Elspeth got angrier and angrier the more she thought about it. She was waiting for Callum to come and apologize, but after a while, he still hadn’t come into her room. She looked outside the window but saw him driving away. That made her angrier. “He’s a jerk! He doesn’t care about me now that he’s finally got me.”
She muttered under her breath. The pregnancy was giving her mood swings, making her feel even worse. “Honestly, I have no idea why I should even get pregnant. He doesn’t even care about me, much less you.”
Just then, she had an idea. Why don’t I abort it? It’s not like I’m ready to be a mother anyway, and Callum’s been really disappointing. That thought raced around her mind like a horse, but she suppressed it eventually. That was irresponsible. She heaved a sigh and buried her head in her blanket. Just when she was coming up with an idea to solve this mess, her phone rang. She picked it up, and a panicked Yelena spoke to her.
“I’m in trouble, Elspeth.”
Elspeth sat up. “What is it?”
“It’s about the news. They wrote about my crying at the funeral. Said I still loved him.” Yelena didn’t mind the article. They were making her look like a loyal woman, but she would mind what Hank thought of this. If he knows, he’s going to be more disappointed in me.
“Is the Internet starting a witch hunt?”
Yelena considered it for a moment and shook her head. “No. They’re calling me a loyal woman.”
Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. “Then, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“But what about Hank?”
Ah, so that’s what she means. She laughed. “Did he explain anything to you when he brought that woman back?”
Yelena froze for a moment, then she shook his head.
“If he doesn’t care about your feelings, then why should you care about how he feels?”
Oh, right. Yelena calmed down a lot.
“You’re right. He didn’t even explain himself to me. Why should I be worried about his feelings?” Angry, Yelena said, “I think I should do something worse for the misunderstanding to get bigger. It’s payback for all the things he did to me.”
“You shouldn’t do that.” In the end, Elspeth didn’t tell Yelena about her visit to Hank’s firm. If she knows Hank has his reason for doing this, she’s going to simp over him again. I can’t let that happen. “But don’t worry. This might be a good thing. Someone might come to you soon.” I can imagine him getting incensed over this. He’s definitely going to see her.
“Who? Hank?” Yelena was delighted. “If he does come, I’ll show him.”
Just then, her director called her back. Yelena ended the conversation. “I have to continue filming. Talk to you later, Elspeth.”
“Sure,” said Elspeth, and then Yelena hung up.
…
Yelena knew Hank would look for her, but she didn’t think he’d come that quickly. Not even an hour after she hung up, she saw a familiar figure at the entrance. She just so happened to be filming a romantic scene with the male lead. She was delighted to see Hank looking upset. Ah, so he too feels upset. Filled with joy, she put even more emotion into her acting.
Yelena was a pretty woman. Now, she looked just like an ancient princess who was demure in her long, beautiful dress and neatly styled hair. The love in her eyes mesmerized the male lead so much that he almost forgot his lines.
“You promised you’d marry me once you return. Don’t forget that, my prince.” She tugged on his sleeve, her eyes glistening. No man could resist her.
Resolve flared in the prince’s heart. He said, “I won’t let you down.” He leaned down for a deep kiss.
Yelena closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss, but she didn’t feel any skin contact. Instead, things got chaotic.
She opened her eyes and saw Hank standing before her. Then, Hank shoved the lead away.
Exasperated, the lead actor snapped, “You interrupted us, sir. Why?” That was my chance to get close to Yelena and he ruined it.
Hank was smiling, but then he made a shocking announcement, “I’m the investor. I request a change of the male lead actor, director.”
The actor didn’t expect Hank to be the investor, and he paled. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was you. Please don’t change me out.”
The male lead regretted what he said. This was his first drama set in ancient times, and he had gone through the script. If the drama was a success, he would be famous, but now his chance at fame was leaving him. He didn’t care if he lost the kiss with Yelena now. Noticing that Hank was close to Yelena, he said sensibly, “I can ditch the kiss scene, sir, but please don’t change me out.”
Yelena lost all desire to act with this man after this cowardly performance. She looked at him scornfully. “You can’t act if you’re that much of a coward. Go home.”
The actor smiled awkwardly. He wasn’t going to argue with Yelena, so he played dumb and hoped Hank would give him a chance.
“You’re stepping in? Good. I was just going to deal with you.” Hank shot her a look that made her feel uneasy.
“I thought we were done. I also told you never to come to me again.” Yelena was still annoyed. She could still recall that conversation they had.
Hank ignored her. He stared at her face fixedly. “Can you explain the article?”
Ah, so this is what Elspeth meant. She sneered and straightened her dress out. “Clickbaiters. Not that I had anything to do with it.”
“So, you weren’t crying for him, then?” Hank was smart enough to guess the gist of the matter. “You were crying for me.” A smile curled Hank’s lip.
Yelena looked a little miffed that Hank guessed it, but she refused to admit it. “No way.”
Hank cocked his eyebrow. “Is that so? Then do you have an alternate explanation?”
“It has nothing to do with you.” Blast. I don’t have any other excuses. Fine. I’ll play along. “Yeah, the stories are real. I cried for him. He was my ex after all, and he was nice to me. Of course, I got upset.”
Yelena had no idea how triggering that was for Hank. Instead of answering her, Hank turned around and said to the director, “Stop the shoot. I need to talk to her.”
Panicked, Yelena said, “I’m fine. I have nothing to say to him.”
“You’re coming with me if you want to keep shooting this,” Hank threatened.
For some reason, Yelena shivered in fear and let him take her away. A gust of wind blew across the street, and Yelena trembled. Her dress was thin, to begin with, and without any heater around, she felt chilly. “Ah choo!”
Hank noticed her nose getting red. Worried, he took his coat off and draped it over her.
“Get it off me. I don’t want your coat.” Yelena took the coat off, but another gust of wind blew across the street. She looked at him awkwardly and wore the coat again.
A smile flashed in Hank’s eyes.
Yelena rubbed her hands and snapped, “What do you want? You can’t be here just for the article.”
“But I am,” said Hank.
Well, this is awkward. What should I say? “I told you I cried for him.”
Hank backed her against the guardrail, his eyes flickering with anger. “Are you sure you want to stick to that story?”
In the past, Yelena would have apologized, but this time, she mustered up her courage and shoved him away. “What’s with that attitude? You went on a blind date with someone else, and you gave me the silent treatment. What gives?”
It’s so unfair. He gave me the cold shoulder and cut all ties with me. How could he make me answer something that’s not even my fault? He’s selfish and a hypocrite.
“I have my reasons.”
Yelena laughed mockingly. “Fine, tell me then. I’m really curious. Tell me all about how hard you’ve had it and how unreasonable I’ve been.” Yelena put her hands on her hips, thinking that Hank was just trying to find an excuse for his behavior.
Hank held his forehead. Man, I can’t take it. This is a solemn conversation, but she made it sound so… comedic even though she didn’t mean it. “I’m doing it for you. I’m trying to protect you.”
