Feeling utterly speechless, I silently moved a little further to the side, distancing myself from Linda’s absurd suggestion.
“That’s what you said I’d be interested in?” I asked, my voice heavy with disbelief.
“Yes,” Linda replied, sounding almost smug. “You must be happy to have Ryan back with you, right? But don’t overthink it—he’s only taking on the job as your tutor. There can’t be anything else between you two.”
I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her tone. “You guys are thinking pretty much the same thing, it’s not going to happen,” I said flatly. I grabbed my bag, tired of this pointless conversation, and stood up to leave.
“Wait, why?” Linda grabbed my arm, her voice tinged with desperation. “Ryan’s having a hard time right now, and you know what’s going on with his family!”
“I know,” I replied coolly, “but what does that have to do with me?”
“You can help him!” Linda urged, as if her reasoning made any sense. “Ryan will get worse if he keeps this up!”
I turned my head to look at her, my patience wearing thin. She looked back at me expectantly, as though she believed her request was entirely reasonable.
“What are you looking at me for?” she asked, her face betraying a flicker of uncertainty.
“Do I look like a fool to you?” I finally said, my voice firm and direct. “You and he are two people who love each other, and now you want me to pay to support both of you? How does that make sense?”
My words struck Linda like a whip. She winced, her face paling. Since Ryan and I had broken up for good, he’d been struggling financially, and it seemed he couldn’t even afford to buy her the gifts she had grown accustomed to. Now, she wanted me to step in, so they could continue living in comfort.
It was laughable.
Linda pressed her lips together and muttered, “It’s not like you’re short of money. You gave him hundreds of thousands for his birthday, didn’t you? That little bit of cash is like pocket change to you.”
I couldn’t help but sneer. “Even if I donated all my money to charity, I wouldn’t give it to you.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After I left, the twin Alphas went crazy