Her reasons sounded logical, calm, and detached.
"Is it not to avoid me?" Casper''s voice suddenly deepened, as if he was holding back some emotion.
Eliza wasn''t one to lie, but sometimes being too blunt didn''t help. really."
"Not
"In a few days, I''ll be heading to Oak Falls for business. Is there anything you''d like me to bring back? Something you need or haven''t had a chance to buy?" He wanted to give her a gift, but worried she might refuse. "Or maybe something you''ve been meaning to get but just haven''t yet?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.
Eliza never liked asking for things.
Especially not from Casper.
"I don''t need anything. If you''reing for work, try not to find me. It''s better we keep our distance to avoid any misunderstandings with your significant other."
She really feared Susan might tag along with Casper to Oak Falls and cause a scene.
Her life revolved around Oak Falls; she dreaded the rumors, the unnecessary misunderstandings. She had her pride.
Silence followed.
It seemed like he was trying to figure out how to exin the engagement.
"Do you... understand a rtionship of mutual benefit, where each party uses the other to their advantage?"
Eliza: ...???
What did he mean?
"I don''t get it."
"What I mean is, my engagement to Susan is just a business move. The Torres family gets what they want, and I get what I want. As for... her liking me, that''s her business, her freedom. I don''t like her, and the engagement will be called off sooner orter." Eliza didn''t understand what a business move was.
She couldn''t even grasp why marriage had to mix with interests.
Mutual use?
It sounded both terrifying and ridiculous.
"Casper, I really don''t understand your lifestyle, and I don''t want to. Just live peacefully with Susan. She likes you, so love her back and stoping to me. We''ve signed the divorce agreement. Once I''m through this busy period, let''s finalize our divorce." The line went silent again.
Eliza: "If there''s nothing else, I''m going to hang up."
Without waiting for his response, she ended the call.
For several days, Eliza busied herself between school and home.
When the weekend arrived, Juan visited her.
Having finished his work back home, he was about to return to France.
He came over today especially to say goodbye.
"So when will you be back?" Eliza asked him.
"I have to report back, so it''s hard to say when I''ll return." His main work was overseas, and it would be a long while before he could visit
al.ne
Falconridge again. "If you miss me, you cane to France. I''ll cover all your expenses."
Eliza shook her head with a smile.
It had been many years since shest traveled abroad.
She had lost interest in it.
"Since leaving the Henderson family, I''ve never been back to France, not even to Southeast Asia." Juan knew she had had a tough few years.
He wanted to encourage her to open up, but he knew advice could sometimes be a burden.
"I''m not saying you must ept Casper. If you meet another good man, you don''t have to close yourself off. Being brave enough to live alone with a child means you have the courage to face a new life."
He always hoped she would find someone to be with.
But Eliza had long given up on that idea. "Living alone with a child is actually quite happy. It''s not as
lonely as you might think. On then et
contrary, without all the trivial
е
matters, it''s fulfilling and joyful."
Juan smiled. He respected and supported all her decisions.
"By the way, you''re now an internationally renowned artist. How about giving me a painting to keep? Someday, it might sell for a big price, Ms. MOMO."
Elizaughed, "In this world, you''re the best at making fun of me."
"Far from it, far from it. In front of Ms. MOMO, how dare I?"
They shared augh, a moment that seemed to transport them back to the happiest days of their childhood...