Chapter 9
Because of that little incident, I ended up being a bit late for dinner.
When I got there, Harlan was folding napkins into flowers.
He saw me come in, adjusted the shape with his hands, and presented a napkin rose right in front of me.
“Ta–da! Pretty, right?”
I was stunned.
“It’s beautiful! So intricate–you’re amazing!”
“Sorry I’m late, got held up with something. Were you waiting long?”
When Harlan heard my apology, he looked down and set the napkin rose aside, a flash of loneliness crossing his
eyes.
“It’s fine.”
He paused for a few seconds, then seemed unable to help himself as he added:
“The driver mentioned you ran into some friends?”
[ froze.
After chasing Garrick so obviously for so long.
Harlan wouldn’t even need to ask around to know how desperately I’d pursued Garrick before.
It’s just that during this whole time we’ve been together, neither of us had brought up that topic.
Now that it came up, he… had to be bothered by it, right?
quickly tried to distance myself.
‘That guy and I aren’t friends at all.”
Harlan looked at me, probing gently.
‘So… former friends?”
I thought about it.
‘Not really.”
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Chapter 9
“More like… past criminal record.”
Harlan’s stiff, forced expression cracked and he burst out laughing.
Seeing him smile, I took the opportunity to hand him the tie.
“Being late was just because I couldn’t decide which gift to get you.”
“Think it’ll work?”
Harlan blinked, his eyes instantly lighting up.
“For me?”
I nodded.
He looked like a kid who’d just gotten a price from his teacher–pure joy on his face as he carefully took the gift bag.
He opened the box and ran his fingers over the tie, little stars dancing in his eyes.
“Thank you, Elysia.”
“I love it.”
Realizing something might be off, he looked up at me and asked cautiously.
“Is it okay if I call you that?”
I blinked.
‘Of course!”
Harlan was so happy.
So happy that he immediately reached up and loosened his current tie, pulling it off.
was surprised“Aren’t you going back to the office later?”
He shook his head.
‘No.”
‘I want to wear the one you bought me.”
Then he looked at me with literal stars in his eyes.
‘Would you help me put it on?”
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Chapter 9
I quietly looked at the style of suit he was wearing today.
After struggling with it for a while, I couldn’t help but speak up.
“Of course I’m willing to…”
t
“But a navy suit with a black and white tie… isn’t that gonna look kind of weird?”
Like some kind of performance art.
But Harlan didn’t see any problem with it at all.
Instead, he proudly lifted his chin high.
“That’s exactly the point! When people ask me why my tie looks so special today…”
“I can tell them it’s the tie you gave me.”
“And that you helped me put it on.”
He was lost in his own imagination, bobbing his head, getting more and more proud with each word.
I thought if Harlan had a tail, it would be wagging so hard right now he’d be flying.
Kind of adorable.
But…
Even though we’d been spending so much time together, at the end of the day, we hadn’t actually defined our
relationship.
I hesitated for a moment.
“But helping someone with their tie… isn’t that usually something couples do?”
ou go around telling people that, won’t they get the wrong idea?”
Harlan’s dreamy expression suddenly froze.
He looked down, thinking for a moment, then spoke.
“I told you from the beginning that I wanted to marry you, Elysia.”
“I’d love for people to ‘get the wrong idea‘–except it wouldn’t be wrong.”
“It would be the truth.”
He glanced at me, then quickly looked away like he was afraid of something.
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From My Ex’s Plan B to A Big Shot’s Goddess
50.0
Chapter 9
“What do… you think?”
Harlan’s way of speaking was always so direct–my brain just completely short–circuited.
“I…”
Maybe because I’d spent so long in unrequited love.
In my mind, Harlan and I had only known each other for a short time.
And in such a short time, two people couldn’t possibly establish an intimate relationship.
Even though… in my heart, he already held a very intimate place.
During my long hesitation, Harlan had already quietly looked down.
“It’s okay, Elysia.”
“I’m not trying to pressure you.”
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