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
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtanymore..." and her indifferent demeanor replayed in his mind.
The memories stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within Gareth. Simultaneously, a crucial thought crossed 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.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMaintaining 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 situation 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.