She arched an eyebrow, standing motionless as she observed Norah’s eyes, filled with suppressed sorrow, when
looking at Xavier. In an instant, she understood something she hadn’t anticipated.
She was quite taken aback, never having imagined Norah and Xavier together.
And in her mind, Xavier ought to have been someone Norah looked up to, almost an elder.
Gosh!
Estelle was absolutely stunned!
On the balcony
Norah approached Xavier, a forced smile curving her lips as she made small talk, “It’s been ages since I’ve visited
the restaurant. How has it been holding up?”
Since the last time she was turned down by Xavier, their relationship had grown distant and formal. She was
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsomewhat afraid of encountering him, so much so that she hadn’t set foot in the restaurant.for quite some time.
Xavier turned to her, extinguishing the cigarette in his hand, and nodded faintly, “It’s been alright.”
Norah rested her hands on the railing, her doe-like eyes fixed on Xavier, “You look a bit off – not sleeping well? If
Zachary and the guys are keeping you up too late with their shenanigans, you should tell them off!”
“I’m sleeping just fine; they’re not bothering me,” Xavier’s voice was as raspy and deep as ever, his narrow gaze
fixed on some obscure point in the night, his tone light but distant.
Norah’s grip on the railing tightened as she asked, “My rose bushes and the roses, have they all withered away?”
Xavier nodded, “I was actually going to call you and ask if you wanted me to clear them out.”
Norah looked down, her voice soft, “If they’re an eyesore to you, then go ahead and clear them.”
“Alright, I’ll have Zachary and the guys take care of it in the next few days.”
Feeling a sting in her nose, Norah turned away, not wanting Xavier to see her vulnerability.
“If there’s nothing else, I should head back in!” Xavier said, making a move to return to the hall.
“Xavier!” Norah suddenly called out to him.
Without turning, Xavier’s tone was indifferent, “Something else?”
Norah’s throat tightened, the pain in her heart swelling uncontrollably, “Can I ask why you don’t like me?”
A shadow flickered across Xavier’s stern face, his brows furrowed tightly, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just that I don’t
have a liking for women in general.”
Norah paused, then shook her head in disbelief, “No, I don’t believe that!”
“Believe it or not, that’s all I can tell you,” Xavier turned to face her, “What you feel for me isn’t what you think it is.
You’re young; go find a love that truly belongs to you.”
“So, it really is our age difference you care about?” Hope flickered in Norah’s heart, “If age wasn’t a factor, would
you like me?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmNorah took a step closer, her charming, moist eyes looking up at him stubbornly, “I know what I feel for you. I think
about you at work, I think about you before I sleep, and even in my dreams, it’s you. I’ve read every message from
you hundreds of times, memorized every word you’ve said. I accept everything about you, even when you’re down
and out, I adore it all!”
She held his gaze defiantly, “If this isn’t love, then tell me, what is love?”
Xavier looked at her, surprised, as if he hadn’t expected such depth of feeling from her. He was at a loss, confused,
“What do you like about me?”
Norah’s eyes, wet with unshed tears, fell, “I don’t know. I just do.”
Xavier sighed, wanting to say something to make her give up hope, but as he looked at her, he found it hard to be
so cruel. Jonathan and Estelle were just inside the hall, and the situation seemed all the more absurd to him.
He ran his tongue over his molars, his ruggedly handsome face showing a hint of discomfort.
What should he say to make Norah let go? Yet, seeing the young woman’s heartache, he wondered if he was being
too harsh.