Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 333

"Neil, can we just drop this argument, please?" I didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"You can't have any contact with Russel Dawson. That's my bottom line. Don't you get it?" Neil looked stern, a hint of a crack appearing in his icy demeanor. He was clearly pissed.

This situation had caused a small rift in our previously growing closeness.

The atmosphere in the living room was tense. I stood there while Neil sat on the sofa, neither of us breaking the silence.

After a while, I couldn't stand there any longer. I didn't even say a word to Neil. I turned around to leave. But Neil was quick; he grabbed me before I could make it to the door.

He asked me angrily, "Are you pissed off? Going out to dinner alone with other men and being so stubborn?"

"Neil, stop talking nonsense, okay?" I was really annoyed. "Do you even know how critical the situation was for Chloe Reynolds? Was I supposed to watch her jump off the roof?"

"What does it matter to you if she lives or dies?" Neil still held his ground.

"Neil, do you have to be so cold-hearted?" I pulled away from him, trying to control my emotions, and said calmly, "When I saw her, it reminded me of my past. Don't you think we're similar in some ways? I don't want her to repeat my mistakes. Is that a problem?"

Though I tried to keep my composure, Neil noticed something was up. He frowned and asked me, "What do you mean by 'repeat your mistakes'? Have you ever tried to kill yourself?"

I was taken aback and quickly averted my eyes from Neil.

I had indeed contemplated suicide in the past, but that was history. Nobody around me knew about it.

Neil seemed to have found something out, and he asked me again, "Answer me."

"No, I just feel that we both married men who don't love us. I can understand her feelings. Russel is just like you; he's doing to Chloe what you did to me." I quickly regained my composure.

My answer was logical, so Neil couldn't find any fault with it.

He squinted his eyes and leaned in closer to me, "I love you more than you love me now. What are you empathizing with?"

"The pain of the past may fade away, but the scars remain." I looked straight into Neil's eyes and said, "I've always known that although I haven't completely let go of my feelings for you, I can't deny the immense pain you once caused me."

Every time I thought about that pain, it suffocated me.

I didn't even know what I was thinking or should do in that conflicting state of mind.

Neil's eyelashes fluttered slightly, like a butterfly about to take off. His eyes were so dark, deep, and mysterious that I couldn't help but look at him more. In those beautiful eyes, I saw his troubles and heartache. "Yes, I didn't know I would fall in love with you then. I was too arrogant. So, I accept everything you do to me now. I'll do whatever you ask."

I couldn't deny that.