Chapter 121 Tears
I turned around and saw Brad standing just a few steps away, smiling slightly.
After days of no contact, unanswered calls, and ignored Facebook messages, I thought we were done. But here he was. Our eyes met, and my mix of hurt and suspicion clashed with his cautious look. The easy understanding we once had was gone.
What had happened between us?
We'd only been apart for a few days.
Just three days ago, he brought me my favorite candy!
In those three days, my feelings had changed a lot.
I stopped, unsure whether to casually greet him or demand an explanation.
He stepped closer, breaking the silence with his deep voice, "You sang great, and your guitar playing was awesome. Really impressive."
He smiled as he complimented me.
In his bright eyes, I saw a small reflection of myself.
I wanted to hold his hand and share everything that happened while he was away. But then, I remembered a photo from his News Feed—two hands clasped together, and the way he looked at the girl beside him.
The joy from my performance, the excitement of seeing him, all vanished.
I suddenly felt calm.
Brad had found someone he cared about deeply. Should I, like with Daniel, step back to avoid misunderstandings?
Running into him must have been a coincidence. With someone he loved, Brad wouldn't seek me out. He was responsible and wouldn't cause misunderstandings.
My mood sank further.
The light was too dim for Brad to notice my change. He raised his hand to ruffle my hair.
I didn't know where I found the courage, but I swatted his hand away and stepped back.
Brad's hand froze, and his smile turned cold.
A sound snapped me back to reality, and I realized what I'd done.
Even if Brad had hurt me, he'd always cared for me. I should at least respect him.
Pushing his hand away must have hurt him deeply.
I couldn't meet his eyes. I looked down, kicking at imaginary stones, forcing a smile, "Thanks, Brad. I have some painting to do, so I'll be going now."
I ran past him and kept going.
Seeing Brad again after three days, I fled. I wanted an explanation so badly, but when we met, I couldn't say a word.
I felt so useless.
I didn't see Brad's face when I ran, but hearing him call my name with frustration made me stop.
His footsteps got closer, but I didn't dare turn around.
The urge to know the truth surged again.
"Brad, is that girl going to be my future sister-in-law? She's really pretty. Congrats. I really have to go now." My voice cracked at the end.
After walking a bit, I felt something cool on my face. I wiped it and realized I was crying.
Had Brad become so important that I'd cry over his broken promise?
I stumbled back to the apartment, my headache worsening.
Zoe was at the entrance, her eyes blazing with anger.
I sighed helplessly.
"Jane, I trusted you. You said you had nothing to do with Daniel, but then you held hands with him, flaunting it. Where's your shame?" Zoe's sharp words hit me before I could speak.
I wanted to calmly explain there was nothing between Daniel and me, and she had no reason to be jealous.
But the disappointments, the frustration of being misunderstood, the exhaustion from days of busyness, and Zoe's baseless accusations pushed me to my limit.
At that moment, I didn't realize Brad's blow was the hardest to take.
I snapped, "Zoe, watch your words. I've never wronged anyone. You don't need to come at me like that. If you want the truth, ask Daniel. Don't cause trouble for no reason. If you keep this up, don't blame me for being rude."
I was furious, my face cold.
If it weren't for my desire to maintain my artistic demeanor and the good upbringing from Ronan and Helen, I would've slapped her to vent my frustration.
But I wasn't like her; I couldn't curse people without regard.
Trying to resolve this conflict with Zoe civilly seemed impossible.
Every time I faced off with Zoe, I blamed Daniel. If it weren't for his actions, I wouldn't be repeatedly framed by her and forced to prove my innocence.
Daniel was the real culprit.
Zoe shouted, "The whole school saw it, but you still won't admit it. Doing something and not owning up to it—you're shameless."
My anger flared instantly.
Shameless was a blatant insult. I prided myself on integrity. How dare Zoe use such humiliating words? Did she really think I was easy to bully?
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