He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 17

Seeing Ryan finally leave, Chloe let out a breath.

She turned to look at the silent Ethan.

“You saw all of that just now. Things with Ryan didn’t exactly end well. That last relationship drained way too much of my energy, so I’m really not planning on starting a new one right now.”

Chloe’s meaning was crystal clear.

But Ethan didn’t back down.

The love he had buried deep in his heart for eight long years, once spoken aloud, was like spilled water that could never be taken back.

“Chloe, I just wanted to tell you how I feel. That’s all. Please don’t feel pressured. If you’re not ready for a relationship, then I’ll wait. As long as, when you are ready to find a partner, you give me a fair chance to compete for your heart.”

Meeting Ethan’s intense, burning gaze, Chloe’s heart skipped a beat.

For the next week, Ryan didn’t show up again.

Chloe slowly began to relax her guard.

In that moment, she was suddenly, strangely grateful for Jessica’s existence, for keeping Ryan firmly tied to her side and far, far away from her.

Meanwhile, her relationship with Ethan had progressed by leaps and bounds.

He would come to pick her up from work every single day.

He would take her to nearby restaurants to try new food, go shopping with her, or take long walks in the park to look at the city lights.

And Paige, for her part, had finally figured out her brother’s long–held feelings.

After the initial shock wore off, she immediately began trying her best to set the two of them up, constantly creating opportunities for them to

be alone together.

Her most common line was, “Chloe, just remember, my brother’s biggest asset is that he comes with me as his built–in dowry!”

Every time she heard that, Chloe couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Just when she had started to believe that Ryan would never come to England looking for her again.

She saw that familiar figure waiting for her downstairs at her office.

The moment Ryan saw her, a desperate light ignited in his eyes.

“Chloe, I’ve already made things crystal clear with Jessica. I’m never, ever going to have anything to do with her again. Let’s get remarried, okay?”

He was so eager, so desperate to distance himself from Jessica.

Hoping beyond hope that Chloe would finally forgive him and give him a chance to make things right.

MAYYANAYOU

Chapter 17

But Chloe walked right past him without so much as a second glance.

And went straight into the building.

Ryan stood frozen, his face a mask of bitter, agonizing disappointment.

He had imagined Chloe would angrily scream at him to leave, or that she would reject him with cold, cutting words.

No matter what, he wouldn’t have given up trying to reconcile with her.

But he never expected Chloe to just ignore him completely, as if he didn’t even exist.

A sharp, needle–like pain pricked at his heart.

Watching Chloe’s retreating back, Ryan grit his teeth and called out.

“Chloe, I’ll wait right here for you, until you’re finally willing to talk to me.”

For several days in a row, Ryan waited downstairs at her office, rain or shine.

He became visibly more haggard and worn down with each passing day.

But for Chloe, it was business as usual. She went to work and came home at the same time every day, consistently treating him as if he were completely invisible.

That afternoon, Chloe felt a strange, unsettling sense of unease, a nagging feeling as if something terrible was about to happen.

Near the end of the workday, she got a text from Ethan.

[My friend is having a party tonight, want to come with me?]

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