Chapter 283: Self-Deprecation
She pursed her lips. "Well, if that's the case, it just proves she likes you even less. You didn't scare her off; she couldn't be bothered to reach out before, and now that she's potentially scared, she's even less likely to contact you. How about this? The best thing to do is send her another message and see what she says. I'll help you figure it out."
William Bennett glanced at the time. "It's too early right now; she might still be asleep."
What was more pressing was the meme he had sent last night without thinking it through, which still had him slightly rattled. He was worried Ava might realize his true feelings and that she would dislike him for it.
And, even worse, what if she thought he was taking advantage when she was vulnerable, adding emotional pressure at a time when she was already upset.
"My brother is really considerate, isn't he?" Victoria Bennett sat at the edge of his bed. "How about this? I'll use my phone to call her and see how she feels."
"Now?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm like her sister now. It's perfectly normal to call her early in the morning to ask her out for a meal. Since I'm a girl too, she'll probably be more willing to come out and chat."
William Bennett gently rubbed his nose, a glint of embarrassment in his eyes. "Then you... don't make it too obvious. Don't bring me up directly. Be subtle, or find some topics and mention me casually... like it’s just part of the conversation."
"Got it," Victoria Bennett interrupted him. "I get what you're saying. I'm not that foolish. I won't switch from talking about the weather to suddenly mentioning you. I wouldn't expose you like that."
William Bennett nodded. "Then give it a try. If you do well, I won't leave you shortchanged."
...
Ava Anderson was sound asleep.
Her body shifted slightly, lying on her side, head buried in a man's embrace, her neck resting on his arm.
Since her head was on a pillow, her neck wasn't directly on his arm; there was a gap, allowing Alexander Mitchell's arm the freedom to move if needed.
But he didn't. He had been awake for over an hour, even before the sky was fully light.
Ava lay beside him, sleeping soundly, and for a moment he thought he was dreaming. But as he inhaled her sweet scent, he felt for the first time that reality could be so beautiful.
He watched her for over an hour, as if he could never get enough.
Sometimes, he really thought low of himself.
When Ava was his wife, and he had her all to himself, he was always too busy with various excuses to be by her side, even though she patiently waited for him.
Now that they were divorced, he felt like he had all the time in the world and wished she could always be by his side, but she was not.
No wonder Ava often got mad at him; he was such a fickle man.
He deserved it.
Alexander Mitchell carefully moved closer to her.
His lips were mere fractions of an inch from Ava Anderson's.
Feeling her steady breathing, Alexander found a rare sense of peace. He lifted his hand, gently touching her hair, afraid to apply too much force and wake her, his fingertips lightly caressing her soft strands.
He realized that since their divorce, her sleep seemed more peaceful - indicating that she probably hadn't been happy during their marriage.
Every touch from him back then, she must have found repulsive, resentful.
But as his wife, considering his grandmother’s feelings, she had no choice but to comply.
After all these years, if Ava hadn’t fallen for him, it meant she could never love a man like him. There was no hope left.
