Kayden froze in his tracks. He looked at Sophie in the eye. In Sophie’s eyes, he saw an unmistakable sincerity, the raw and real feelings.
Such feelings weren’t subtle; they were plain to see. Though Kayden never gave a damn about these romantic entanglements, he wasn’t blind to Sophie’s feelings.
Everything she’d said was, without a doubt, a confession of her love. The words “fall for you” were as direct as they could get.
He looked at her anew as if for the first time. Her captivating eyes, delicate features, and long, flowing hair-everything proved that she was truly a beauty, the kind of woman whose allure only deepened the longer you looked at her. Even without a hint of makeup, she had an effortless elegance. With a little more polish, she would undoubtedly be the kind of girl everyone admired.
Kayden felt a pang of hesitation. He was unwilling to hurt her. He took a deep breath, then exhaled, his chest heavy with the weight of it all.
Seeing him inhale, Sophie felt a lump rise in her throat. Her thumbs nervously twirled, betraying her anxiety.
The air between them hung still, thick with unspoken words. Neither of them moved, only their eyes meeting in a silent exchange.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of quiet, Sophie realized this silence would last forever if she didn’t do anything. She blinked away her nervousness and, with a slight tremor in her voice, said, “I’m being completely honest. I really like you. From the moment I first saw you, I felt something strange, something I couldn’t ignore. There are plenty of guys who chase after me at school, but I don’t care about them. I just care about you!”
Once she had said those first words, the floodgates opened. One confession led to another, each sentence flowing more freely than the last. Sophie had let go of her restraint, speaking from the heart without holding anything back.
In her eyes, Kayden no longer seemed so distant. The imposing figure she once saw him as had softened, and in its place was a man she could finally approach.
It felt freeing to speak her truth. She felt lighter as though a heavy burden had been lifted.
She met his gaze steadily. There was a quiet question lingering in her eyes. She wondered if he would accept her feelings…
Although she had never seriously entertained the idea that Kayden might return her feelings, a small, hopeful part of her couldn’t help but wonder, “What if?”
Suddenly, Kayden raised his hand and gently placed it on her shoulder. The touch sent an electric jolt through her, making her entire body tremble. Her gaze flickered to him, and confusion clouded her eyes. She didn’t know what this gesture meant, but it felt strangely intimate, as though his hand was speaking a language her heart was starting to understand. Sophie couldn’t help thinking, “Could he be… about to kiss me, like in those dramas?”
Her heart raced, faster and faster, and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, so she instinctively lowered her gaze. Her cheeks were flushed with a cocktail of excitement and nerves. Just as her body stiffened with tension, Kayden leaned in, closing the distance.
It was happening! This wasn’t her imagination. He was truly leaning in to kiss her!
Did he like her?
The thought hit her like a lightning strike, leaving her breathless. That was totally unexpected!
This was her first kiss, the very first time a man had moved this close to her with such intent. It felt surreal, like something from a dream.
Her face burned with heat, and her eyes cast downward in a mix of shyness and anticipation. She could feel the proximity. Unable to withstand the intensity of the moment, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the coming kiss.
Five seconds… ten seconds passed.
Kayden didn’t kiss her. Instead, he kept a distance, about a mere ten centimeters away from her.
Sophie slowly opened her eyes, finding his gaze locked onto hers.
Then, with a quiet, almost fatherly tone, Kayden spoke, “Focus on your studies. I believe you’ll meet someone who’s truly deserving of you. And besides, you don’t really understand what it means to like someone yet.”
He had a heavy tone as if he were a mentor or an elder advising a younger person. Sophie’s eyes widened in shock.
What was this? How could he say something like that to her, like she was a child?
“No!” With sudden force, she pushed his hand away. “I’m not a child anymore! Why do you keep treating me like one? You’re not that much older than me! If I’m a child, then you’re just a kid too!” There was a deep frown on her face.
“Besides, you’re already the best man I’ve ever met. There’s no one who could possibly be better than you. I like you, and that’s the truth.” Her voice sounded resolute as though she had just sealed the deal, cutting off any further discussion.
With that, she stepped forward again, grabbing Kayden’s arm. She’s wearing a bold, almost petulant expression as if demanding he accept her feelings.
Slightly shaking his head, Kayden gently but firmly removed her hand from his arm. “Enough,” he said. “There’s no future for us. You should go back to school.”
Without another word, he took a deliberate step back, increasing the space between them.
“Is it because of Sariah? She’s already married. I’m younger than her. What on earth does she have that I don’t? Is it just that I’m not as pretty as she is?” she grumbled, and her lips pursed in frustration.
Kayden couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at her words. “Who said I like Sariah? I have a wife.”
Sophie’s brows knitted together in disbelief as though she had just heard the most unbelievable news. She stared blankly at him. “What? You… have a wife?” Her voice trembled slightly with shock.
Without hesitation, Kayden gave a nod and said in a very matter-of-fact way, “Yes, I do. And we’ve been married for three years.”
What the hell!
Sophie shook her head in disbelief, trying to wrap her mind around the revelation.
Kayden was married? This man who seemed so unattainable, so perfect, was already someone else’s husband?!
But… he did not give off the vibe of a married man! Moreover, Sophie always thought that Kayden had an ambiguous relationship with Sariah. So, they’re actually having an extramarital affair…
Shut up! That’s never in the cards! Kayden couldn’t be that kind of man.
He was excellent and refined. A man like him would never do something like that.
It only took a few moments for Sophie to process it, and then it hit her like a bucket of ice-cold water.
This had to be his excuse for rejecting her! He didn’t like her at all. He’d made up this story about a wife to push her away.
And she had to admit, it was a masterfully crafted excuse, one she couldn’t argue with.
But it no longer mattered. After all, when Sophie confessed her love, she hadn’t expected Kayden to reciprocate. She had simply wanted to express her feelings to him. She knew, deep down, that they could never be together.
With that thought, a lump rose in her throat, but she forced herself to breathe deeply and steady her emotions. “Alright, I understand what you’re saying. Honestly, I never expected you to say yes and to be my boyfriend. I just needed to tell you what was in my heart.”
“Because I’m afraid if I don’t say it now, I might never have the chance again.”
“I’m truly happy to spend this day with you, to be able to experience this with you. I’m so glad. At least now I know I didn’t misjudge you, and you are a man who will always stand for what’s right.”
“And… you’re a man worth my week-long wait. I don’t regret my decision.”
Sophie lowered her head. A contented smile lingered on her face, satisfied, yet somehow sorrowful.
The smile seemed to whisper a quiet goodbye to Kayden, and to the love for him that had already been extinguished in her heart.
Her beautiful face slowly darkened with an unspoken sadness, yet Kayden felt nothing, not a flicker of emotion. In his eyes, showing any tenderness now would only cause more harm to her.
“Then…” Sophie’s voice wavered as she forced a faint smile. “Could I ask for one last, silly request before we part ways?”
Kayden didn’t answer, but silently gave her permission to continue.
Sophie’s face flushed with nervousness. “Could I… hug you before we say goodbye?”
She was typical of a student, and her thoughts seemed caught up in the fantasy of a romantic drama. Despite her grace, she seemed almost childlike at this moment.
Kayden opened his mouth to refuse, but before he could say a word, Sophie had already thrown herself into his arms. The suddenness of her movement left him no time to respond, much less reject her request. In the middle of a bustling street, with pedestrians all around, their actions quickly drew the curious stares of passersby.
Kayden, of course, didn’t care in the slightest about the onlookers. He wasn’t bothered by their attention.
The only thought in his mind now was that Sophie was really a bold girl!
“Sophie!” The voice of an old man suddenly sliced through the air, harsh and commanding.