Chapter 7
Hugo choked on his words, staring at me in disbelief.
He didn’t understand why I was treating him like this, but this was exactly how he had treated me before.
I thought he would get the message and back off.
Yet, to my surprise, he didn’t leave.
In fact, he clung to me even more persistently than when he first chased after me.
I let out a sigh. “As expected. What you can’t have is what you want the most. Once you have it, you stop treasuring it, don’t you?”
Hugo froze. “What?”
When he finally processed what I meant, his expression darkened.
“Katherine, how could you think that? When have I ever not cherished you?
“Haven’t I been good enough to you? Tell me, what have I not given you? Where have I not taken you? Just because I stayed by Sophia’s side for a few days, you have to blow it out of proportion like this?”
I didn’t answer his question.
Instead, I shrugged, smiling faintly. “If that’s what you think, then there’s nothing I can do about it. How about this–I’ll agree to get back together with you.”
Hugo’s head snapped up, hope lighting up his eyes.
“But there are conditions. I won’t just have you in my life. I’ll be with my senior from the lab, too. If you fall sick, I won’t visit you. If you want to go somewhere, I won’t go with you. If you and my senior get into a fight, I will always take his side. I’ll marry him instead of you. If I’m in a good mood, I might have fun with you once in a while.”
Hugo’s expression twisted, his brows furrowing so tightly that they nearly knotted together.
“Katherine Blake, don’t push it!”
“Oh? So, you do know what’s too much?” I let out a soft chuckle. “But isn’t this exactly what you did to me?”
Hugo was completely stunned, opening his mouth but failing to say anything.
After a long silence, he finally murmured, “I’m sorry. I really didn’t realize that. You made me feel safe–so I took it for granted that you would always be there.
“I unconsciously started leaning toward Sophia, thinking that as long as I pacified her first, I could come back to you later. I thought there was still time.
“Please, just give me another chance.”
I shook my head, my tone regretful as I said, “It’s too late. Really, it is. I’m grateful to you for teaching me what love is.
“But when I gave my all to love you, you drained every last drop of it.”
Hugo stood frozen. Tears suddenly welled up in his eyes, spilling over uncontrollably.
He had always understood me well. He knew I was quiet by nature; never one to lose my temper.
Even at his most relentless–when he had dragged me out to play the night before an exam, causing me to miss it entirely—I had never been this distant with him.
Speaking to him in this tone was my final, most resolute farewell.
1/2
Chapter 7
+15 Bonus
After a long, heavy silence, Hugo wiped away his tears and nodded. “I understand.”
Then, he turned abruptly and walked away, his back stiff, as if trembling from silent sobs.
Moments after he left, my phone vibrated with an incoming message.
“Katherine, wait for me. I will prove myself to you. Until I agree to this breakup, you are not allowed to get close to any other man!”
I turned on my heel and headed straight back to the lab.
Spotting a senior I was familiar with, Ethan Caldwell, I walked up to him and asked directly, “Ethan, can you do me a favor?”
Then, I took a photo of our hands tightly clasped together.
I posted it to my social media, making sure it was visible to everyone.
The next second, my phone vibrated wildly.
Hugo’s voice came through the speaker, utterly heartbroken. “Katherine Blake! Who the hell is that?”
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