Iris:
"What is the excuse? You two have been apart for five years.
When you returned, you found out the woman he cheated on you with is now engaged to him, and he is going to marry her in fifteen days.
I do not understand what is holding you back. Should it not be you demanding rejection?"
He continued, and I silently watched him because he was not lying.
Then he added, "Because Iris, you will be more hurt when, after getting married, he cos to you to reject you at Lara’s request. So why not be the one to demand rejection? At least it will satisfy your pride."
His words shook . He was not wrong. I could expect that from Kash.
I knew how much he would do for Lara. He had ruined our relationship for her.
I let out a long breath and nodded.
"It looks like I do not have many choices left."
I stood up and wiped my face again, fixing my hair.
I stepped to the mirror and cleaned the sared mascara.
"Maybe it is the right ti," I whispered to myself. "I am already angry with him, and I have enough reasons to ask for rejection." I reminded myself that I had seen him with her, and now he was marrying her. What was I waiting for?
I turned around and stepped out of the room, ready to go and demand rejection.
I stepped out of the guest house and walked toward Kash’s mansion.
My pace was fast because I wanted to reach there and be done with it, but my body was trembling.
When I entered the mansion, I found Lady Vivian sitting in the living room, enjoying evening tea with her daughter Zoe.
It felt strange seeing them together like that, because it reminded of the old days when they would sit and order around.
They both looked up at , and Zoe put her cup down, leaning back to fold her arms across her chest.
I could not read her expression.
"Did you co here for a reason?" Lady Vivian asked , not sounding angry or full of hatred.
"I wanted to speak with Kash," I replied, forcing myself to stay calm.
"Brother is in his room," Zoe remarked in a calm tone, glancing at her mother.
That was new.
I expected them to stop or at least question further, but they did nothing.
Their silence made a knot form in my stomach, but I nodded and stepped toward the hall.
I reached his door and knocked. After a mont, he opened it and looked surprised to see .
He had already changed into more comfortable clothes, wearing shorts and a black shirt.
"Is Colin okay?" he asked as he stepped aside for to enter.
He was gathering so files from his bed, flipping through them with focused eyes.
After letting in, he had returned to the bed.
I stood near the door, rubbing my fingers together and trying to steady my breath.
"I ca because I wanted to speak with you," I told him, swallowing hard before I could request a rejection.
"Go ahead," he replied, flipping through the pages.
"I want rejection."
His hand stopped moving. He slowly looked up at , and a deep frown settled on his forehead.
"What?" he asked.
"I said I want a rejection." I repeated myself. "You are already getting married, so I want to be free of you," I added.
He stared at as if he had not heard correctly.
Then he picked up a stack of papers and set them on the table with more force than needed.
"Go back to the guest house," he told in a sharp tone. "And do not co here seeking a rejection from again."
He yelled the last part, and I blinked at him in bewildernt. He was getting married.
Why was he dragging our rejection? Why was he refusing sothing that should have been simple?
And then I rembered. If I went ho without a rejection, my mother would make Colin suffer again.
"No," I told him, shaking my head. "I want a rejection, and I want it right now."
"Why?" he asked, staring at as if he was trying to read sothing in my face.
It was surprising he needed a reason when I had every right to ask for one.
"Because..." I paused as my mind went blank.
If I told him he was getting married and that was why I wanted a rejection, he would think I had not asked before because I was waiting for him to change his mind.
Nothing worked. I tried to think of an excuse. Then the words slipped out of my mouth.
"Because I am marrying Luca."
His face changed at once. The hurt in his eyes appeared so quickly in the form of tears that even I was unsettled.
But then a small sense of comfort hit .
He deserved it. He deserved this pain.
"Co on then, reject ," I added, straightening my back.
He did not move at first. Then he lowered his gaze, and I noticed the file he was holding in his hands.
It was titled sothing, but I could not see it clearly.
"I am never going to reject you, not after you told you were marrying Luca," he stated, making my eyebrows twitch.
"And why is that a problem? You are marrying soone of your choice. Let marry soone of mine," I scread, feeling a heavy exhaustion inside . "I just want soone, one of you, to respect my decision. I want a rejection, and I want it now. My decision should be respected too."
Sothing snapped inside . I shoved him away when he tried to step closer and stomped my foot on the ground.
My voice echoed around the room. He stood still while I threw a tantrum, like a child worn out from everyone trying to control .
Then he finally yelled, "Fine."
My body froze.
"You want a rejection?" he asked, stepping closer, his eyes locked into mine. "Here it is. You get it. But rember, you wished for it."
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