30 Days Till I Divorce My Husband novel Chapter 488

Leonora didn’t open her eyes or say anything when Taylor gently kissed her cheek.

After a moment of silence, Taylor rested his chin on Leonora’s shoulder and said softly, “Leonora, I can give you everything but marriage.”

Earlier, while taking out the trash, Taylor had paused for a cigarette, reflecting on what Leonora had said.

Love?

To him, it seemed too elusive. At over thirty, romance seemed less about passion and more about companionship.

Marriage? He had never considered it with Leonora. They didn’t fit the bill.

These thoughts lingered as he returned inside.

Still with her eyes closed, Leonora didn’t know how to respond to Taylor’s delayed answer.

She felt awkward and at a loss for words, mixed with a feeling she couldn’t quite place. She wanted marriage, but she knew deep down that Taylor had never considered it.

More than anyone, she understood their impossibility.

Leonora remained silent, and after a pause, Taylor added, “We’re not suited for marriage.”

His words left Leonora feeling even more speechless, caught between irony and sadness.

Not suited?

She figured he must not see her that way, but she had never fantasized about becoming Mrs. Ferguson. Then again, she knew she wasn’t in the same league as him or Grant. They were never meant to be on the same path.

Swallowing hard, a lump formed in Leonora’s throat, regretting she ever brought it up.

After a long silence, she finally spoke with a calm she didn’t feel, “I was just speaking off the cuff, Taylor. I wasn’t asking for anything, nor did I want to pressure you. Don’t overthink it.”

Before Taylor could reply, she added, “Let’s just sleep. We can talk once I’m discharged.”

This was a hospital, after all. Leonora wanted to maintain some dignity, not wanting to argue and possibly worry his parents. She decided not to dwell on his response, thinking they’d clear the air once she was out.

Yet, the next time she faced Taylor, she couldn’t help but keep her distance, both physically and emotionally.

Leonora didn’t escalate the conversation into an argument. Taylor wrapped his arms around her, relieved but also feeling a bit uneasy.

He could tell Leonora didn’t care about his stance on not being able to offer love or marriage. She seemed indifferent.

Facing away from Taylor, Leonora’s eyes remained closed, her eyelashes quivering with unshed tears.

It wasn’t about Taylor’s answer or his declaration of their incompatibility; it was the hurt of feeling belittled by him.

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Relieved that the conversation had veered away from her non-existent boyfriend, Leonora agreed to consider her mother’s suggestion.

“Alright, then. Rest up; I’ll make us some lunch,” Shania said, heading to the kitchen to prepare a meal, allowing Leonora a moment to breathe a sigh of relief at having navigated through the conversation unscathed.

Leonora mused over her recent resignation, conceding that, technically, Taylor was a colleague and hence she hadn’t really lied.

But recalling Taylor’s remarks from the previous night, how he could offer her anything but marriage, claiming they weren’t suited for such a commitment, Leonora couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle.

At the same time, the resolve to cut ties with him grew stronger, and she braced herself for a potential showdown.

After a lazy afternoon spent napping post-lunch, and a leisurely evening walk around the neighborhood, her phone rang upon her return home.

It was Taylor calling.

The sight of that all-too-familiar number made Leonora’s expression darken, a heaviness settling in her heart.

Eventually, she answered the call, a simple “Hello?” escaping her lips.

From the other end, Taylor’s voice came through, soft and gentle, “Why didn’t you tell me you were discharged?”

He had gone to visit Leonora in her room only to find out she had already left the hospital.

Though visibly upset, Taylor maintained his composure, reaching out to her with a call.