Chapter 12
This realization hit like lightning, instantly shattering all his desire, leaving only endless panic and self–loathing.
He shoved the girl away hard, and as she stared in shock, he irritably grabbed the bedside glass and drank deeply, voice hoarse: “Get out!“[]
The girl left cursing him out.]
In the empty suite, Ryan collapsed on the sofa, arm covering his eyes, heart pounding–not from desire, but from a nearly desperate realization—|
He might actually… be falling for her.
Not just obsession with her body.[]
Back home, Blake and Harper became campus’s most dazzling couple.
Wherever they went, they were the center of attention. Harper clung to his arm, smiling sweetly, basking in envious stares.[]
But only Blake knew that beneath this “perfect” relationship, cracks were silently spreading.[]
He found it increasingly hard to focus on being with Harper.[]
On dates, he’d look at Harper’s perfectly beautiful profile while his thoughts drifted to distant London, wondering what was happening there.
Reports of Ryan getting rejected again would spark hidden satisfaction, followed immediately by deeper irritation–Ryan was still there, still bothering her.[]
“Blake?” Harper shook his arm, pouting unhappily: “Are you even listening to me?! I said that new necklace is gorgeous–let’s go look at it this weekend, okay?“[]
Blake snapped back, hiding his impatience with a flat tone: “Sure.“[]
“What’s WRONG with you lately?!” Harper sensed his frequent distraction and coldness, her eyes welling up pitifully. “You’re always spacing out, being all cold to me… don’t you love me anymore? Got what you wanted and don’t care now?“[]
Here we go again.]]
Blake felt that familiar wave of exhaustion.[]
Before, seeing her tears would make him tenderly pull her close, patiently coax her, fulfill her every wish.[]
But now, watching her calculated tears and hearing her same complaints, he felt nothing–even a hint of unspeakable… annoyance.
1
He forced surface calm, mechanically soothing: “No, don’t think like that. I’m just busy taking over the family business–lots going on at work. I’m tired.“[]
“Work shouldn’t make you ignore me!” Harper persisted. “I’M your girlfriend! You weren Nike this before! You used to be so patient with me! Now even shopping with me feels like a chore…“]
Her demands increasingly sounded like unreasonable whining. Her tears no longer stirred his sympathy but made him want to escape.[]
He discovered he couldn’t love Harper with the same wholehearted devotion as before.[]
That love he’d pursued for over a decade tasted strangely bland and hollow once he actually had it.[]
He felt like he was playing the perfect boyfriend, going through the motions of dates, gifts, and comfort, but his heart was a wasteland.[]
The final break came during an ordinary dinner date {]
The restaurant’s foie gras tasted slightly different. Harper took one bite, frowned delicately, put down her fork, voice spoiled: “Blake, this foie gras is off! It’s definitely not fresh airfreighted! Make them replace u
Blake tried it and didn’t think it was bad. “Seems fine tet’s just eat it.“}
“I dont WANT to just eat it!” Harper raised her voice, drawing stores. “You know I’m picky! How can I eat this garbage? And this restaurant is loud and tacky! Lets go somewhere elser“}
Blake looked at that face full of dissatisfaction and petulance, and months of accumulated irritation, boredom, and that ever present emptiness peaked in this
moment
He datuned down his fork with a harsh clatter!
Then looked up with ice cold eyes, sharp and impatient in a way he never shown Harper, voice suppressing fury “Harper, can you PLEASE, act like an adult?||
Chapter 12
Harper was shocked by his sudden scolding, staring in disbelief as tears instantly filled her eyes: “You… you’re yelling at me? Over this tiny thing you’re yelling at me? Blake, you…“[]
“This isn’t tiny!” Blake cut her off, voice cold and hard. “You’re ALWAYS being unreasonable! It’s just food–if you don’t like it, order something else. One outfit you don’t like gets thrown away, one little inconvenience and you throw a fit! When will you grow the hell up?!“]
Harper was completely stunned, hurt and anger mixing until she said the wrong thing: “I’m being unreasonable? Blake! You didn’t think I was unreasonable when you were chasing me! Now that you got me you think I’m annoying, right? You’re still thinking about that slut Madison, aren’t you?! After all those disgusting photos of her…”
“SHUT UP!” Hearing that name, Blake exploded like a stepped–on cat, shooting up from his chair, face terrifying.[]
They had a massive fight in the restaurant, ending badly.]
Blake stormed out, leaving Harper crying alone.
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