Chapter 8
For five years, I loved him in my own way, carefully, wholeheartedly, and with everything I had.
But that was only because I always believed he loved me too.
In my mind, he was always the one who loved me back.
He was the one who said he liked me first.
He was the one, eyes all red, promising he'd never let me down.
He was the one who swore he'd never let me suffer, not even a little.
If he didn't love me anymore, we could have simply broken up.
If I could love him, I could let him go.
He didn't need to go to all that trouble, using a program to brush me off and humiliate me for five years.
Andrew's eyes were rimmed with red.
I caught a glimpse of regret and guilt in his gaze.
He hurried toward me, desperation in his voice.
"I'm not tired of you.
"You're the only one I've ever truly loved.
"Those texts that night, it was a mistake, I swear. I never meant for it to happen..."
I stepped into the elevator.
As I saw his desperate figure rushing toward me, I pressed the close button.
The doors slid shut, shutting out his anxious face and voice.
I went down to the first floor to pick up the diagnosis report.
When I got back to the elevator, I saw Andrew rushing down, only for Sophie, completely hysterical, to grab his arm.
Sophie was shaking with anger and frustration.
She said, "Emma doesn't even know what's really going on yet.
"She's dumping you over just two messages.
"It's bad enough her grandpa kicked me out, now he's telling you to leave too!
"So when they called me ungrateful, you really think you're the exception? You think that insult wasn't meant for you, too?"
Andrew's eyes were clouded with humiliation, struggling to keep his composure.
He snapped, cutting Sophie off, his voice tight with anger and embarrassment.
"Enough. Emma loves me, and Professor Goodwin actually cares about me too!"
Sophie let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Andrew, get real.
"The Goodwins only took you in so you'd be there to cheer up their sad little Emma, just like a dog meant to keep her company.
"Come on, Andrew, after all these years, don't tell me you still don't get it. Nobody knows your place in their family better than you do."
Andrew's face fell, looking utterly defeated and embarrassed.
Sophie suddenly got on her tiptoes and, not caring about anything anymore, pressed her lips to his in a reckless kiss.
Her words came out shaky and desperate, almost crazed.
"Andrew, just admit it," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "We're the only ones who really belong together."