Natalie jerked in shock at his severe tone and shied away from his interrogative glare. “What do you mean, Stanley?”
He raised her chin and forced her to look right into his eyes. “Don’t play dumb, Nat. You know what I mean.”
Natalie did not like how Stanley was treating her. An irritated frown spread across her brows, and she pushed him away.
However, Stanley wasn’t going to give her a chance. He increased the pressure and pressed his fingers against her chin, preventing her from moving at all.
“What are you doing? You’re hurting me!” Natalie cried out in pain.
But Stanley was relentless. He moved closer to her, and his exasperated breaths beat against her cheeks. “Why, Nat? Why? Why must it be Shane Thompson? Why can’t it be me?”
Natalie looked up at him in complete shock. “Stanley…”
“I’ve waited for you for five years, Nat. I’ve always thought you’d fall for me one day. I was there by your side, waiting for you to realize how I feel. That’s why I’ve never forced my feelings on you. But what did I get in return? You fell for him just two months after you got back…” Stanley buried his head into her shoulder as he vented.
Natalie’s lips quivered at his confession. Her emotions were a mess, and she did not know how she should respond to Stanley. “I’m so sorry, Stanley. I really have no idea about how you feel towards me.”
All Natalie could do was apologize. She had always taken Stanley as her best friend—nothing more than that.
Besides, she knew Joyce had feelings for Stanley. She would never trade their friendship for a man!
“How would you’ve known? I’ve never told you anything. I thought one day you’d come to realize that I have loved you all this while. I waited for five good years—and all for nothing. You end up falling for Shane. Nat, do you know how much this pains me?” Stanley finally lifted his head and looked at her in anger.
Natalie let out a gasp and bit her lips without another word. She had never seen Stanley like this before. The veins on his temples bulged and pulsated as his indignant glare bored through her.
For a moment, Natalie felt like the man standing before her was a complete stranger. Stanley had always been an elegant and well-mannered young man. She almost couldn’t recognize him in this manner.
“Are you afraid of me?” Stanley asked, toying with a lock of her hair. His tone had softened, yet it was coldly provocative.
A shudder went down Natalie’s spine as his chilly voice echoed in her ears. She forced a smile and replied, “Stanley, can you let me go? You’re drunk.”
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