Ryder laughed out of exasperation. “Since you're saying that the future is uncertain, why are you rejecting me so quickly?”
Kathleen replied helplessly, “That's because I know I won't fall for you. Besides, I don't want you to waste your time because of me. You're already thirty-five years old, aren't you?”
He laughed. “Haha. Am I that old?”
Kathleen flushed.
He looked at her. “Samuel's thirty-
three. We're only two years apart.”
She couldn't help but scoff, “You sound like you want to get together with him.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Kathleen, you can turn me down, but I have the right to continue liking you.”
She was speechless.
He said softly, “I don't think it's painful to wait for someone. I knew you since I was twenty-two. Although my confession this time has failed, I won't give up.”
“You...” She didn’t know what to say anymore.
Could it be that my rejection wasn't straightforward enough?
She had no other choice. “Suit yourself. It's your business, anyway.”
Ryder let out a deep laugh. “You're right. This is my business.”
She had no choice but to say righteously, “Nonetheless, I hope you won’t affect my life.”
He smiled plainly. “You don't look stern at all, although I can see that you're trying to. On the contrary, you look adorable.”
Exasperation was written all over her face. “Is that so? A lot of people are afraid of me in the past, though.”
“How can someone who likes you be afraid of you? In the eyes of someone who likes you, you're adorable,” he replied with a half-smile.
She pursed her lips. “I'll do my best to be more strict next time.”
He laughed. “Toward me?”
She nodded fervently.
Ryder narrowed his eyes at her. “You may not know this, but I like girls who can be both adorable and fierce.”
His kind smile under the gentle moonlight did not look like he was joking at all.
She blushed.
He smiled and hugged her suddenly as he whispered next to her ear, “Good night. I don't regret confessing my feelings to you. Even if you fall in love with someone else and get married to him one day, I won't have any regrets. I know that feelings can't be forced, but at least I've tried.”
After that, he let go of her.
She stood under the tree as she watched him leave with a glint in her eyes.
Just then, she heard some movements near her.
Kathleen asked without looking back, “You've been watching for a long time, haven’t you?”
Samuel murmured with his voice lowered, “I'm just here to see the kids.
I didn’t mean to see that.”
She turned. “Samuel, you're not being honest at all.”
He looked at her dark eyes and muttered in a low voice, “What about you? Are you being honest?”
She frowned.
“Do you dare to admit that you still have feelings for me?” he asked her in his hoarse voice.
She scoffed, “What? You want me to admit that I still have feelings for you? I've already lost my memories! How can I have feelings for you?”
“Kathleen, do you remember when you passed out after saving Desi last time? You kept calling my name. Do you dare to say that you don't remember anything?”
She was stunned and shook her head fervently. “No!”
He mocked, “Do you need to get so worked up?”
Kathleen was enraged. “Can't I explain myself when you've clearly misunderstood me?”
He looked at her coldly.
She snapped, “Eil and Desi are perfectly fine here with me! Don't you forget! I'm their mother! There's no way I'd hurt them! It's late, and they don't need you to worry about them. You can leave now!”
Samuel looked at Kathleen under the moonlight. To him, she looked elegant, fresh, and charming.
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