He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 11

The kneeling man shook violently when he heard this.

His voice came out hoarse.

“Iris, you’re just trying to mess with me, right? That’s okay. I know you’ve been through so much and you’re mad at me, you hate me.”

“I can stay kneeling here all day until you feel a little better.”

It was like hearing the world’s biggest joke.

I looked at him with cold amusement.

“Cole, don’t you get it? I mean we’re never going to happen. Ever.”

Each sentence was crueler than the last.

“Give up this fantasy. Even if you kneel until next year, I’ll never accept.”

I was calm and cold.

The scene I’d once dreamed of was actually happening, and I felt no joy at all.

Time was so cruel–it had changed a young girl’s most beautiful dream.

“Get up. Stop kneeling. I’ve already rejected you.”

Almost simultaneously, his eyes reddened and his whole body shook.

His eyes filled with red tears as he stared at me, even trying to force a smile.

“Iris, don’t say things you don’t mean. After we’re married, I’ll do everything to make up for this. You can even stab me a few times, take my life if you want, as long as you accept me now, okay?”

He gripped my hand tighter and tighter, like he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.

“I know I was wrong. Give me one more chance, please?”

But I felt nothing.

“Cole, let’s say everything you’re saying is true. But I don’t love you anymore. I don’t want to marry you.”

Before I could finish, I continued.

“If you want to get married, go ahead. Anyone will do, as long as it’s not me. If you really want to know, I could marry anyone too, as long as that person isn’t you.”

These words finally completely destroyed him.

He could barely keep kneeling.

Chapter 11

His grip on my hand just got tighter and tighter.

I pulled free and got out of bed.

“Cole, can I leave now?”

I took one step and he grabbed my wrist again.

Only then did I notice his wrist was burning hot–he seemed to have a fever.

“Don’t go. Think about it more carefully. Really, I can sacrifice everything to marry you.”

“Please say yes, Iris.”

“I was such a bastard before, but I’ll never hurt you again.”

Scalding liquid dripped down where our hands connected.

It wasn’t from me.

In this scene, I couldn’t cry.

I had to repeat myself.

“Cole Nash, are you deaf or something? I said no. Hell no. Got it?”

I tried to pull my hand free.

He was gripping too tightly.

I had to turn back and pry off each of his fingers one by one.

Our hands separated.

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