"Why would you think that I'm using her to annoy you?" Zayn questioned.
Carla's heart sank. "So you're dating her for real."
"You seem disappointed, " Zayn pointed out, delighted by the despondent trace in her voice.
"What does that have to do with me?" Carla snarled. "You can be with whoever you want to be!"
"What if I tell you that we're not dating?" Zayn softened his voice as he stepped closer to her. "What if I say that I never had any women other than you? Will you come back to me?"
Carla froze. Her heart was in turmoil when she heard those words from him.
She never thought that Zayn would say such things to her anymore; she thought he had already let go of her.
"That's a no, then."
Zayn waited for a long time, but he heard nothing from Carla. Disheartened, he turned to leave.
"Zayn, " Carla called out for him again.
He stopped, cocking his head to the side and waiting for her to speak.
"If you don't like Nella, then stop using her, " Carla told him in a serious tone. "Don't be like me. Don't make a mistake so major it's unsalvageable."
"What do you mean by that?" Zayn furrowed his brows. "What mistake have you made?"
"I had agreed to marry Lucas due to various external factors back then." Carla was overwhelmed with regret every time she thought about it. "Lucas used to be so cheerful and optimistic, but now…"
"Do you mean that you agreed to marry Lucas not because of love?" Zayn asked, eager. "What about later on? Did you grow any feelings for him?"
"I've always thought of him as my best friend."
"But, you and him—"
Those words nearly escaped his lips.
Zayn did not wish to broach the topic, yet he could not help but think about that particular scene whenever Lucas was mentioned. It was like a thorn in his heart, and it had grown roots in there.
Carla's lips parted, about to explain, but at that moment, Zayn's phone rang. She instinctively looked over and saw that it was a call from Nella.
In an instant, she snapped back to reality. It was then she recalled that neither of them could go back to what they used to be.
Someone knocked on the door again, and Benard's voice could be heard. "Mr. Giblo, I have news to report to you."
Zayn did not pick up the call. Instead, he walked toward the door and opened it before heading out.
"Ms. Lierger, we shall excuse ourselves now."
Benard bowed at Carla before closing the door. Then, he held onto Zayn as they hastily left.
Meanwhile, Carla stood in the room alone, filled with all kinds of emotions.
She had probed him for so long, but her efforts were fruitless; she still knew not if there was something amiss with him.
Although her instincts told her that something was indeed wrong with his eyes, his behavior stated otherwise. It made Carla question herself and wonder if she was overthinking everything.
Furthermore, their complicated relationship only worsened her mood.
He had denied dating Nella. She knew Zayn well. Even if he was extremely far from a flawless man, there was one good point about him—he was honest.
If they were really dating, then he would not have lied to her about it.
Maybe Nella is courting him, she thought, and he didn't give her any obvious rejections. That must be it.
Nevertheless, genuine feelings were bound to grow romantically between Nella and Zayn.
Even if Zayn did not fall for her now, it did not mean that he would not do so in the future.
The very thought of that tightened her chest, and she reminded herself not to dwell on it anymore. We can't go back to how it is. It ended a long time ago.
Be firm. Be clear with him. Stay away from him.
Share
