Chapter 348 Don’t You Want Me Anymore?
Grandma Carey acknowledged that Kenny seemed like a man of good character and integrity. But after everything that had happened, she felt that trusting yourself trumped trusting anyone else. As long as she lived, she was determined to do everything in her power to shield her only granddaughter from life’s storms and offer a sanctuary for Thalassa whenever she needed.
Grandma Carey struck up a conversation with Kenny, and to her surprise, his breadth of knowledge was impressive. They grew more animated, while Thalassa became increasingly lost in the discussion. She sat aside and munched through half a fruit platter.
Then, she got the call she’d been waiting for from work. "You two keep talking. I’ll step out and take this call," Thalassa said, dropping her fork and hastily making an exit from the snooze-inducing scene.
She supposed this was human diversity... her mind was apparently only cut out for shrewd business dealings.
Thalassa found a quiet spot to take the call. After about ten minutes, she resolved the issue and hung up, ready to head back. Lunchtime was looming.
Kenny had made lunch plans for them, and Thalassa had informed the hospital that she'd be taking Grandma Carey out. She glanced at the time, figuring that it was about time to end their academic discourse.
She couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as she thought about how much her grandmother adored Kenny. Grandma must have sung his praises countless times throughout the morning.
But as Thalassa turned around, her smile froze, and a strange sense of dread replaced her bubbling excitement. "Why are you here?" Thalassa stumbled back a couple of steps and quickly glanced around. "This is a crowded place. I can just call out and have a bunch of people here in no time. Don’t start any trouble, Chris."
Chris didn’t look too good. The only expression he could muster upon seeing Thalassa was one of alarm, and it seemed to cut him deeply.
A thought flashed through his mind. It was an absurd thought, but he couldn’t ignore it. She didn't love him anymore. Then, almost immediately, he denied it. Impossible! She had loved him all those years. How could she stop now?
"Don't be afraid of me." Chris spoke, his voice carrying an unfamiliar plea. "I was drunk last time, Thalassa. Believe me, I’m more hurt about that night than you, I love you so much..."
"Chris, what the hell do you want?" Thalassa’s brows furrowed. A sudden realization sparked anger in her expression. "Are you here because of that whole ordeal with Crystal Robbins’ grandmother, trying to bother mine?"
Chris hurried to deny it. "No, no. I just remembered they said today is the old lady’s birthday, so…"
"I told you to stay away from my grandmother!" Thalassa’s voice dropped, hissing in anger.
Chris looked hurt and confused. "Thalassa, I don't love Crystal Robbins."
Disgust flickered in Thalassa's eyes.
"So if I call off my engagement to Crystal Robbins, will you forgive my mom?" Chris ventured.
Thalassa was taken aback.
When he saw her soften slightly, Chris hurriedly upped the ante. "I've realized that nothing is as important as you. If you're willing, we can go get our marriage license right now!"
Thalassa looked at Chris. She had thought about marrying him for years. In fact, she had even concocted reasons to move out of her parents’ house, fully expecting that one day their union would be a reality. The long-anticipated dream was now within easy reach. However, her heart remained utterly still. At that moment, Thalassa was completely certain about one thing: she didn't love Chris at all anymore.
"Chris, ever since we split, it seems we've always been arguing about one thing or another. We’ve never really talked," Thalassa said, her anger and hostility gone. "Let's take this chance to have a calm and honest conversation."
"Okay," Chris nodded, choking back tears.
"I initiated our relationship, and that was probably why I was the one who tried to make it work." Thalassa's eyes were downcast. "There's been so much hurt I never shared with you."
"That won't happen anymore," Chris said, tears streaming down his face.
Lately, he felt like he had caught a sickness that just wouldn't heal. As time went on, Thalassa, who he thought he could forget, seemed to have rooted herself deep within him. The pain was there when he missed her, with every breath he took. It was constant.
"What?" Thalassa finally looked at Chris, her voice filled with resignation. "But I don't love you anymore."
"That's impossible!" Chris instinctively rejected the notion.
"I used to think it was impossible too, even after we first broke up. I thought my love for you was so deep that I would never get over it," Thalassa said. She suddenly thought of someone else and broke into a smile. "But it seems the good Lord wouldn't let me waste my life on someone like you, so he sent Kenny to rescue me."
At the mention of Kenny's name, Chris froze in place.
"After marrying Kenny, I understand what it feels like to be respected. He supports everything I do, good or bad. And he doesn't mind my past with you."
"That's just the honeymoon phase," Chris managed to say.
"Sure, I know it's just the beginning. But the start I have with him can’t compare to the one I had with you," Thalassa retorted mercilessly. "Besides, even if he changes later, the respect and care Kenny has shown me all this time will last me a lifetime."
One can only know what is good by understanding what is not. Even if it didn’t last with Kenny, she felt it was worth it.
"Don’t you want me anymore?"
Chris looked at her, his tears now a raging torrent.
"I don’t,” Thalassa said earnestly.
"Please don't disturb me or my family from now on. As for your engagement to Miss Robbins, it's none of my business. Whatever decision you make is entirely up to you."
"Mrs. Walker?"
Kenny's voice carried over from nearby.
"I'm here," Thalassa called out.
Then she looked Chris in the eye one last time. "That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself."
With that, she skirted around Chris and ran toward the source of Kenny's voice.
Chris remained where he was, a new kind of agony gripping his chest. He clutched at his heart and slowly sank to his knees, his cries muffled by the effort to keep quiet.
Kenny stood in the hallway, watching as Thalassa ran toward him and reached out for his hand.
"Did you finish talking to Grandma?" Thalassa asked, gripping his hand.
"The nurse came to check her sugar and blood pressure," Kenny answered. "You were gone for a while, so I came to check on you."
"Chris was here," Thalassa said.
Kenny wasn't surprised.
"I made things crystal clear with him. I don't think he'll bother me anymore," Thalassa said, a sense of relief washing over her.
"How did you handle it?" Kenny inquired, studying her.
Thalassa glanced at him. Some things had been easy to say to Chris but felt entirely different when she was sharing them with Kenny.
"You know, the old heart-and-mind approach," she said with a chuckle.
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