In the past, Gareth had always been the one to reject and push Elisa away. Now that she reciprocated,
he found himself inexplicably annoyed. However, he couldn't let Elisa return to the hotel alone in this
critical moment, not when an unknown threat lurked.
Gareth suppressed the annoyance in his heart and hastened his steps to catch up with her. Meanwhile,
Elisa had already settled herself in the driver's seat.
On their way to Hoover Homestead, Gareth had been the one driving. But now, for the journey back,
Elisa insisted on taking the wheel, considering it fair to share the driving duties. She sped off towards
the hotel, and Gareth's gaze remained fixed on the rearview mirror.
Through the mirror, he could clearly see Elisa's expression. Her words, "I have no expectations for love
or marriage anymore..." and her indifferent demeanor replayed in his mind.
The memories stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within Gareth. Simultaneously, a crucial thought
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtcrossed his mind.
He asked Elisa, somewhat out of the blue, "When you say you have no expectations for love or
marriage anymore, does that mean you're planning to remain single forever?"
Gareth's abrupt question caught Elisa off guard. She would have given him a bewildered look if she
weren't behind the wheel. Why ask such a random question now? How untimely and weird!
Elisa pursed her lips but replied, "What can love or marriage bring me? Even if I choose to stay single
forever, I believe I can live a fulfilling life. Mr. Wickam, I decided to give up and return the properties you
gave me during our divorce. So, please don't feel indebted to me."
During this time, their physical contact had been purely accidental. Furthermore, they were both adults
who had already signed the divorce papers.
Through the rearview mirror, Elisa also noticed Gareth's current silence and the gloom that covered his
face. He appeared unhappy, but Elisa couldn't discern any specific reason for his mood. After not
hearing Gareth's response, she broached the topic again during a brief lull in their conversation.
Gazing at Gareth, Elisa spoke composedly, determined to make her intentions clear. "Gareth, let's
establish something today. I genuinely don't wish to discuss these matters with you any longer, now or
in the future. While it's customary to say we can remain in touch if necessary, I also don't want you
actively seeking me out. Do you understand what I mean?"
She understood that after a breakup, many people would propose remaining friends. However, once
she truly loved someone, reverting to a mere friendship after a heart-wrenching experience was
impossible for Elisa. Granted, some individuals could eventually let go despite being deeply in love, but
they were few and far between.
Gareth furrowed his brow in confusion, seeking an explanation, "Why?" he asked.
Maintaining her composure, Elisa calmly responded to his inquiry. "There isn't a specific reason. I just
don't want any further contact with you. As for Grandma... I hope you can personally explain the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsituation to her."
She didn't wanna go to that wedding either. I mean, they were all like, "No divorce allowed!" If she
showed up with Gareth, imagine how people would gossip about it. She didn't need those online trolls
tagging her as some clingy ex after the divorce.
Gareth let out a grunt of agreement, totally getting where Elisa was coming from. He felt the same way.
"Those folks at the wedding? They're not even the real Wickam family. Just some distant relatives of
Grandma. They're a bunch of creeps, really. Some of them even changed their last names to Wickam.
Luckily, they haven't done anything messed up in the name of the family. But still..."
Gareth sneered, his voice dripping with cold contempt.
Elisa didn't bother continuing the conversation. Gareth's response was unwarranted as she wasn't
seeking a detailed explanation from him.