Gilbert reached out his right hand and gently stroked Haisley's head. "Is that what's bothering you?" Gilbert inquired. Haisley nodded her head. "How could he be so stupid to say something outrageous like that, G?" she asked, her anger exploding instantly. "Because he loves you, H." "Yes, but that doesn't mean he should hurt himself like that. Are there no other girls out there he could like? Many women would fall in love with him. He's handsome, he has a clear future, and more than that, he's a gentle and kind-hearted man. So why does he have to do all this, G?" she asked passionately. "The same question goes for you, H," Gilbert replied softly, not accusingly. "Why are you still holding on to Nathan when you know he likes your sister, he never notices you, and often behaves rudely, hurting you?" "Because I'm stupid and blind," Haisley replied softly. "Same goes for Dean, he's stupid and blind too. He's clueless," Gilbert replied mockingly this time. "But I'm trying to avoid a
Laurent, the owner of the café, was Gilbert's acquaintance. Gilbert was the one who got the job for Haisley from this forty-year-old man. Haisley didn't know what Gilbert said to him, but one thing was clear—Gilbert approached him with a face full of pleas, hands clasped in front of his face. Laurent then looked at Haisley and approached her. "Gilbert said he needed you. Is that true?" he asked. Haisley nodded her head. "He's not going to kidnap you, is he, Haisley?" he asked again with a probing look. Haisley chuckled, seeing Gilbert roll his eyes behind the man. But then, she nodded her head. "No, Sir. My parents are coming, and I need to greet them," Haisley replied politely. She still felt stiff around him even though he had told her to address him by his first name, as Gilbert and other employees usually did. "Go ahead. I won't deduct your pay because you've been working very diligently all this time," he said, which was met with an enthusiastic nod from Haisley. She bid farew
"At first, I thought Gilbert brought his girlfriend, considering your haircut..." The girl touched the end of Haisley's hair. "Since when did you cut it?" She teased. Haisley was about to answer, but Loretta quickly pulled her body. "Oh, Haisley, I really missed you," she said with a wide smile on her face. Haisley hugged her back and smiled. "How have you been?" Loretta asked again. She looked at Haisley, holding her face with her soft and fragrant hands. "You look thinner than I remember, or is it because of your new haircut? Is your college life that challenging?" she asked again. Haisley shook her head. "Not too much," she answered honestly. Because indeed, her college life wasn't that challenging; it was forgetting her love for Nathan that made it difficult. "Why did you guys come here?" Gilbert repeated the same question. Loretta shrugged. "I came to your house and heard from Nathan that you were picking up your parents. I didn't want to be seen as a disrespectful potential d
Mrs. Monica deliberately let Haisley sit on her right, and her husband sat on her left. Unwilling to let Haisley sit close to Nathan, Gilbert ended up sitting on Haisley's right, so Loretta sat on Gilbert's right and Nathan sat on his 'future wife's' right. "The waiter gave each person a menu. Mr. Samuel seemed engrossed in his own menu choice. So did Gilbert. 'Haisley, dear. What would you like to eat?' Mrs. Monica asked, lowering the menu from her face. "Haisley looked at the menu confused. She then looked at Gilbert for advice, which didn't escape Nathan's notice; he then made a decision that made people turn to look at him. Gilbert ignored his sister and pointed to a menu item for Haisley, which she nodded at. Everyone had stated their orders, only Loretta hadn't. "'I'm on a diet,' the girl said shyly. 'I'll just have a salad,' she said, closing the menu and handing it back to the waiter. "'Dessert?' the waiter asked. The girl shook her head again. "'You know, your youth shou
Mrs. Monica shook her head. 'When a man still clings to his partner and looks for other women out there, it's not because he has a reason to stay. They use the word 'bored' as a substitute for 'going to come back.' Because in the end, when his boredom disappears, he will return to where he truly belongs. 'And honestly, he doesn't want to leave. He wants to gain benefits for himself. Never mind that he hurts the woman accompanying him. Because why? Because he's a bastard. And in the end, the woman who becomes his outlet is often called cheap. 'And even cheaper, if the woman who becomes the mistress begs to hold on. Even now, the homewrecker is worse than the official wife. They act as if they are queens and the official wives are parasites. But in reality, it's the opposite. 'So Haisley, if a man hurts you, leave! Don't be a cheap woman begging for his love. Out there, there will be a superhero waiting for you. A man riding his white horse, waiting for the princess to return to her
Reluctantly, Haisley lifted her head, looking at him just as sharply. "It's none of your business when or why I cut my hair. Seeking attention?" Haisley snorted in annoyance. "Yes, I deliberately seek attention. I even intend to beautify myself and improve my appearance so that I can look sexier and attract many men's attention here. "Do you remember what your mother said earlier, that I should date many men? Well, I will do it. Then after that, you will call me a cheap woman. And you know, I don't mind hearing that. So now, let go of my hand. I want to sleep," Haisley snapped, yanking her hand away, but Nathan's grip was tight, making it not easy for Haisley to break free. "Nathan!" Haisley growled in frustration. "What about Dean?" he asked, his mouth tightly closed. "Are you planning to date many men behind his back? Are you planning to betray him?" he accused, angrily. Haisley lifted the corner of her mouth. "I've told you my affairs have nothing to do with you," she hissed. "
They stood in the passenger arrival area. Haisley seemed unwilling to stray far from Gilbert. The petite girl didn't mind being in Gilbert's embrace, occasionally looking up and smiling at her younger brother, but she didn't even glance at Nathan. This only served to infuriate him further. Why did he feel like an ignored airport pillar to her several times over? Nathan was still gazing at the girl when he heard a familiar loud voice, and a tall, slim, beautiful woman with long hair dyed dark brown and ombre with golden strands enveloping Haisley's small frame almost caused her to fall backward if Gilbert hadn't quickly steadied her by the waist. The woman's scolding was ear-piercing. Nathan averted his gaze and saw his father approaching, pulling two suitcases with both hands. The nearly sixty-year-old man came closer, and Nathan greeted him with a hug, patting his back gently. "How are you, Pa?" he said. "Good, very good," his father replied softly, in stark contrast to his wife
"Mom, don't teach other people's children to be cheap women," Nathan said in a disapproving tone. But his mother responded to his words with another lengthy speech about women, about obedience to God, parents, and infidelity. "What's wrong with being cheap anyway? After all, it's not you who's at a loss." Indeed, it wasn't her who would suffer the consequences, but Haisley's future husband. He would be left with the pieces in the end. Then his mother proceeded to talk to Loretta, but with sensitive content that left the girl flustered. And Nathan knew, whatever Loretta's response, his mother would counter it with other statements. Fortunately, his father intervened in the conversation, preventing the sensitive discussion from continuing further. In the end, Nathan escorted Loretta back to her apartment. Loretta remained silent throughout the journey, just like when they were heading to the airport. But this time, Nathan knew that the girl seemed sadder than before. "Is there somet