FreeNovelHertha kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, not daring to even glance at Alaric.
She feared that seeing Alaric's strikingly handsface, with those fox-like, captivating eyes filled with profound sadness, would make her heart soften and compel her to retract the words she had just spoken to him.
After much internal struggle, Hertha had resolved to keep Alaric at arm's length, deciding their relationship should continue merely as that of casual friends.
It had taken sconvincing, but Alaric had agreed. She couldn't let his pitiful appearance sway her now, not when she had finally steeled her heart against him.
With a heavy heart, Hertha marched on, her head held high, refusing to give in to the pain and pity gnawing at her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWalking beside her, Alaric kept his head slightly bowed, not once looking at Hertha. His demeanor was one of subdued sorrow.
He feared Hertha seeing the redness in his eyes, the unshed tears. After all, he was a man, and men weren't supposed to cry easily.
He couldn't allow Hertha to see him weep. She had made her stance clear-they were to be just friends, with no further entanglements. That was her showing mercy, her being generous.
And he had accepted her terms.
If Hertha saw his tears now, where would that leave his pride? He was a man, and no matter how much pain he was in, he couldn't show his vulnerability, especially not in front of a woman.
Their short walk to the elevator felt like an eternity, each step heavy with unspoken words and suppressed feelings. The silence between them was palpable and awkward.
Just moments ago, they had been desperately trying to explain themselves to each other, and now, they stood together like strangers, without a word to share.
This unfamiliar familiarity between them was heart-wrenching.
At the peak of the awkward silence, it was Hertha who finally spoke, attempting a small smile. "Aren't you planning to return to the Falconer Group? How long do you intend to stay with the Crawley Group?" Her words were casual, the kind of question friends might ask each other-nothing more.
Alaric snapped back to reality, stealing a quick glance at Hertha. Seeing her attempt at a smile felt like a sting to his already aching heart.
He didn't really have the heart to answer her question, merely responding, "We'll see." For Hertha, maintaining a friendship was simple, but for him, it was as painful as undergoing a major surgery. In his life, Alaric had been a playboy, treating women like they were disposable. Falling so deeply in love for the first time, only to have it end in despair, felt like a cruel punishment from fate.
Hertha, sensing Alaric's indifference, felt her forced smile fade. The pain she had been trying to keep at bay pricked her heart once more.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmJust then, the elevator arrived. Hertha stepped in without another word to Alaric.
Feeling both hurt and angry, she had ět as n
m thought that giving up on their relationship.would cause Alaric as much pain as it caused hẹn Yet, within minutes, his indifference and curt responses made it clear she had overestimated her importance to him.
It seemed she was no different from the other women in Alaric's past Once the possibility of a relationship was! was off the table, they truly becstrangers. He didn't even seem willing to talk to her anymore.
The more she thought about it, the angrier Hertha became.
Standing in the elevator, the confined space magnified the tension between them.
Soon, the elevator reached its destination. Hertha stepped out first, with Alaric trailing behind. As she walked away, he called out, "Hertha..." X
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