Chapter 228 The bitterness
“I didn’t have the money to buy expensive gifts, so I had to focus on the sentiment.”
Stephan felt a sharp pang in his chest, as if he’d been dunked in a vat of vinegar, the bitterness still fermenting wildly.
“So you guys dated since that time?”
Alana choked on her words, biting her lip as she timidly defended herself, “Back in
school, having a crush on someone... that’s... normal, right? We didn’t date then.”
Normal?
Whether it was normal or not, his heart felt as if it had been pierced by a needle...it ached!
Seeing the man’s expression darken, Alana quickly added, “Anyway, I told you before. What I had with him is like child’s play compared to what I had with you. Yes, we dated but we barely saw each other. I was young and naive thinking he was only busy but he was clearly seeing other people and had no time for me. So now, I think the only person I’ve ever truly been with is you...you’re my first love!”
Stephan laughed with a sarcastic edge, “Not your first love...your second, right?After all, even if the guy didn’t treat you well, you still liked him.”
Alana’s eyes widened as she tried to explain to him, flustered, “No, that’s not how it works. In my eyes, a first love is the first man you made you feel things you’ve never felt before. I rarely ever did anything with Cole, how could he be my first love?”
“So, please calm down. Don’t overthink it. You just need to remember that it’s all in the past and has no bearing on our relationship now.”
Calm down?!
How was he supposed to feel at ease?!
The man she once loved was now eyeing her hungrily, and there was a constant risk of her being stolen away...how was he supposed to feel at ease?!
Stephan ground his back teeth. “Fine, then let me ask you this: do you still have feelings for him?”
Alana immediately shook her head: “No, no, absolutely not.”
“If he were to pursue you again, would you accept him?”
Alana shook her head again. “Of course not.”
Stephan gave a forced smile. “I’ve heard that women are especially forgiving toward
the first man they fell for, and that no matter what he asks of her, she can’t bring herself to refuse.”
Alana raised her hand in assurance. “I definitely won’t be like that.”
She was the kind of woman who, knowing full well that relationship was impossible, would never look back!
Since a relationship was impossible, why would she foolishly get so deeply entangled in it?
Wouldn’t that just make her mistakes even more outrageous and her wounds even deeper?
She’d rather endure a short, sharp pain than a long, lingering one. She would cut all ties completely and never give herself another chance to make the same mistake.
Stephan crossed his arms, his expression cold and unyielding.
“Why should I believe you?”
“I...” Alana felt a bit deflated. “It’s true I used to have some feelings for him, but that’s all in the past. I don’t have a single shred of emotion for him now. But if you don’t want to believe me, I don’t know what to do.”
Alana glanced at him, bit her lip, and spoke with some difficulty, “But I understand you. I too would feel uneasy if there was a woman from your past being a threat. I guess, that makes you see me differently now and it might be too much to handle...I’d accept any decision you make. I really am sorry, if you want to break up...
Stephan’s breath caught in his throat, unable to believe it.
“Why would I want a break up?!”
Alana forced back the pain in her heart and said coldly, “I said, if you mind the fact that I once liked another man, and it makes you unable to trust me now...”
Stephan immediately grabbed her chin, gritting his teeth and saying fiercely,
“Who said I mind? I don’t mind! I don’t care at all! Alana, if you ever bring up breaking up with me again, I’ll lose my temper! Is that so easy for you to say?!”
He’d just been a little upset tonight and wanted her to comfort him, he certainly didn’t want her to break up with her.
He would never do that.
Alana hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from him. She couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise, looking at him helplessly.
Stephan feared she might actually go through with breaking up with him, so he couldn’t help but wrap his arms around her delicate frame, softening his tone as he soothed her in a low voice.
“Sweetheart, I was being unreasonable. It’s my fault. Let’s not bring this up again. Don’t mention breaking up, okay? You just took a wrong turn once and fell for a man who didn’t deserve you, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re back on the right path now, and you’re with me.”
“You didn’t end up with Cole. Instead, after all your twists and turns, you met me, we got to know each other, grew close, and fell in love. What does that tell you? It means I’m your true soulmate. I’m the one you were meant to be with! So, please don’t ever mention the word ‘breakup’ again, okay?”
Alana blinked.
Did the word break up scare him so much?
His anger had suddenly faded.
Was this... normal?
Alana sniffed back a tear, her voice trembling with emotion. “Stephan, how could you do this to me?”
One second he was making her feel sad, and the next...
Stephan looked at her, his tone both resigned and earnest. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I won’t do that again. So please, don’t ever mention the word ‘breakup’ again, okay?”
Alana bit her lip, a bittersweet ache in her heart. “Okay, I won’t mention it anymore.”
Stephan held her close and said sternly,
“Even if we argue in the future, you must never casually bring up breaking up!”
Alana nodded once. “Mm-hmm. We can’t just casually bring up breaking up.”
“Yes, we can’t.”
Stephan couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
He had made his girlfriend think about breaking up because of a few words from a male homewrecker meant to drive a wedge between them.
It wasn’t worth it...not at all!
If they’d actually broken up, wouldn’t that have played right into the other guy’s hands, letting him take advantage of the situation?!
He would absolutely never give that man the chance!
Alana watched the man’s reaction, biting her lip, still uneasy and asked cautiously, “So... are we just going to let this matter drop?”
Stephan was about to say yes, but then he seemed to think of something and changed his mind.
“No!”
Alana’s breath caught, her face turning slightly pale. “What... do you want then?”
Stephan caught sight of her anxious expression, gave a soft snort, and spoke with even greater certainty.
“I was wronged by another man tonight. You need to make it up to me properly.”
Alana looked at him with unease in her eyes and asked timidly, “Compensate for what?”
Surely he didn’t mean she had to make it up to him in bed?
Like being handcuffed to the bed and whipped with a cane or something...
Stephan shot her a glance, his deep voice tinged with a hint of resentment. “You went to so much trouble preparing a birthday gift for that guy, I want one too! I’m your boyfriend. The birthday gift you prepare for me has to better than any of his, or I’ll get jealous!”
Thinking of that Cole guy still wearing the sandalwood beads Alana had given him, felt worse than if he’d swallowed a mouthful of shit.
Why should that man have it, but he can’t?
No way, he wanted one too, and he wanted more than that man!
Hearing this, Alana breathed a huge sigh of relief.
So that was what he needed to feel better.
That was easy enough to arrange.
She nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll get you birthday presents from now on, and they’ll definitely be better than his.”
Stephan asked pointedly, “How many times have you given him birthday gifts?”
“Well...” Alana thought for a moment, then said somewhat sheepishly, “About six or seven times...”
She couldn’t exactly remember how many.
Stephan stared at her and asked with a touch of bitterness, “What did you send him?”
“A thermos, a hat and scarf I knitted myself, and stuff like that. It’s been so long, I don’t really remember...”
Stephan snorted with a laugh. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Just some cheap trinkets...nothing to get jealous over.”
But the next second, he spoke up.
“From now on, you’re going to get me a birthday present too! If you did it for him, you have to do it for me too, and I want something even better than his!”