Chapter 1580


    How was she supposed to exin to ric that it wasn''t about losing love?


    Her feelings for him hadn''t diminished one bit.


    It was just that life, with all its harsh realities, demanded they keep their distance.


    She said, "The bouquet is nice, but I don''t fancy the smell of flowers during dinner. It overshadows the aroma of the meal. I prefer the scent of a


    hearty stew or a freshly baked pie, something more... down-to-earth."


    She managed a tight-lipped smile, maintaining a facade of politeness.


    With that, she stepped outside, gently closing the door behind her, leaving ric and his flowers out in the cold.


    ric''s hand, outstretched with the bouquet, paused mid-air for a moment. But he quickly recovered, setting the flowers down at the doorstep and


    following her, saying, "I know love can''t fill our bellies. I know I was too much of a dreamer before, not cut out for the daily grind. But I''ve cut ties with


    the Falconer family. I''m just a regr guy now, ready to deal with the nitty-gritty of daily life, including groceries and bills."


    She nced back at him with a smile, stepping into the elevator without a word.


    ric followed her in.


    The elevator ride was surprisinglyfortable, without a hint of awkwardness.


    "Speaking of, does Spencer live in this building too?" ric suddenly asked about Spencer.


    "Yeah, what about it?" she responded.


    "And here I was, thinking you two were an item, seeing how seamlessly you both acted in front of me. Spencer always seems to being home


    with groceries at the same time as you. I used to think you were married. Now that I know you''re not, what am I supposed to think?" ric asked with


    a hint of jest in his tone, though it was clear he was probing for more.


    He had no real right to be using her of anything.


    "You catch on pretty fast,” she said with augh.


    Although ric was usually sharp, he had been surprisingly slow on the uptake about her having a child.


    He hadn''t suspected a thing, even after spotting baby bottles in her cupboard and the child-like décor in her room.


    She should be thankful that ric hadn''t applied his usual perceptiveness to guessing she had a child.


    "Fast? I''ve been in the dark for quite a while," ric retorted


    As they reached the ground floor, ric offered, "Heading to work? Let me drive you."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She pressed her car key, unlocking her vehicle with a beep, "I can manage on my own. Take care on the road.”


    After exchanging quick goodbyes, she got into her car and drove off.


    Watching Rer leave, ric settled


    into his. own car. It didn''t matter, te


    was patient. He believed he''d


    eventually find a way back into her


    heart. . ~


    -


    Her desk wasn''t far from Thssa''s at work.


    Both were on shift today.


    During a lull, she rolled her chair over to Thssa to dish about her recent encounters with ric.


    Thssa, wide-eyed with surprise, asked, "He knows you and Spencer aren''t married?”


    "Yeah, he found out. And then he


    showed up atmy doorstep,


    confronting:me about why I lied to >


    him. Youshould''ve seen him, acting


    all betrayed like he''d stumbled gpon


    a long-lost lover. I''ve never seen him


    likesthat before..." she recounted, her


    es round with confusioir, Content


    belongs to


    "Maybe, just maybe, he''s genuinely fallen for you? Wants to be with you?" Thssa suggested.


    "Come on, we''re talking about ric,


    the yboy, nat Lysander, the loyal.


    ric, seriously in love with one


    woman? ‘Sonnds like a fairy tale to: ~


    me. He chases after any woman.


    that cajches his eye, enjoys the thrill


    of the''chase, and then moves on


    onae he''s bored. He''s got amillion


    Ways to woo a woman, but when it


    comes to breaking up, it''s always the


    same straightforward, no-nonsense


    approach.”