Chapter 18
Hayes stared at her like she was telling fairy tales, eyes bulging: “Len, don’t joke around with me like this!”
“I never did any of that shit! Why should I be blamed for it?”
“Right, the current you hasn’t done it.” Lennox’s voice remained ice–cold. “But I’ve lived through it once.”
“So what’s wrong with cutting my losses now?”
The agony of being hit by that truck seemed to linger in her bones. Remembering that moment of near–death from her past life, Lennox’s hands trembled uncontrollably. She clenched her fists tight, forcing down the panic.
“I won’t go with you. Leave. And don’t come back.”
Her patience was completely exhausted, undisguised irritation in her tone.
But Hayes acted like he hadn’t heard, reaching for her arm again: “Len, you can’t do this to me!”
“You can’t punish me for things I haven’t done!”
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Lucas finally couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward, blocking Lennox protectively with his tall frame: “Didn’t you hear her? Stop harassing
her!”
ΕΠΙ
Both Hayes and Lennox froze. Lennox instinctively reached for Lucas‘ sleeve: “Lucas, you don’t need to-”
“Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to interfere with me and Len?”
Hayes‘ roar drowned out her voice, fury blazing in his eyes.
“Who I am doesn’t matter.” Lucas stood firm. “But Len said she doesn’t like you anymore. Harassing her will only annoy her.”
Fire shot through Hayes‘ chest. He gritted his teeth and shoved Lucas: “Fuck off!”
Lucas wasn’t ready for it. He stumbled back two steps. Seeing this, Lennox quickly reached out to steady him, pulling him toward her.
The distance between them closed instantly. Once Lucas was stable, Lennox turned to Hayes with fire in her own eyes.
“Hayes, I’m telling you one last time–I’m not going back with you! If you keep causing trouble here, I’m calling the police!” ·
Hayes‘ gaze locked onto Lennox’s hand holding Lucas, that exposed wrist so pale and delicate it made his eyes sting.
He completely lost it: “What is he to you? You won’t come back with me because of him, right?”
“Len, it’s only been how long, and you’ve already thrown away our fifteen years to be with someone else?”
“What do you take me for?!”
His words were like hooks, scraping at Lennox’s nerves. Her expression grew uglier by the second. When his last word fell, she slapped him hard across the face.
“Hayes, you’re the one who screwed up. What gives you the right to question me?”
“Who I’m with is none of your damn business!”
“Get out! Get the hell out of my shop!”
15:20
A Billion Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex
HULL 13.6%
Chapter 18
Lennox started pushing him physically. The slap left Hayes stunned, and when he realized what he’d said, his face went deathly pale.
“Len, that’s not what I meant…” He frantically tried to explain, but planted his feet firmly, refusing to leave.
Lennox gritted her teeth and called out: “Lucas!”
Lucas immediately stepped forward, joining her in forcibly pushing Hayes toward the door.
SLAM!
The shop door slammed shut in Hayes‘ face. Then curtains were drawn across the glass window, completely blocking his view.
Hayes stood frozen at the entrance, pale as paper.
In a daze, he remembered the day Lennox had confessed to him.
It was the day after her eighteenth birthday. The girl had cornered him in an alley, chin tilted up as she asked: “Hayes, even though we’re engaged, I still want to know–do you like me?”
Back then, Lennox had been radiant, a little spoiled and domineering, but brighter than she’d ever been.
He’d always known he was supposed to marry Lennox–that was just the arrangement the elders had made. When he protected her, he’d thought it was just fulfilling his engagement duties.
Until that day, looking into her sparkling eyes, he’d clearly heard his own heart racing.
He’d realized that somewhere along the way, this fiery girl had already stolen his soul.
She’d
