The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 42

"First of all, I truly want to... apologize. I'm sorry for my inappropriate behavior recently and for any misunderstandings I might have caused you."

Sloane just looked at her quietly, letting the breeze catch the stray hairs framing her forehead.

"I know that over the years, I might have... relied on Garrison a bit too much," Quinn said, lowering her eyelashes to project an air of fragile introspection. "But I swear, I only see him as family—as one of the closest people I have in this world. Just like his parents, and Grandmother. My own parents passed away early, and the Foster family gave me a second home. I could never forget that kindness, and all I want to do is repay it. I would never dare harbor any inappropriate intentions."

She looked up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "At the award ceremony in Stockholm, I was only by Garrison's side for academic purposes, attending purely as his student. Please, don't misunderstand him, and don't misunderstand me."

She paused, her tone growing even softer, laced with an unconscious, almost possessive intimacy. "In my heart, the Foster family is my home. And Archie... I truly love him as if he were my own nephew. Since you can't always be there for him, I just want to help take care of him so he feels completely loved."

Sloane listened in absolute silence, her face an unreadable mask until Quinn finally finished. Only then did her calm eyes shift slightly.

"Are you done?"

Quinn maintained her earnest facade, nodding, though a faint, eager glint flickered in her eyes as she waited for Sloane's reaction.

Quinn looked up, her brow furrowing slightly. Sloane's gaze was as deep and cold as a winter lake, suddenly making Quinn feel like she was nothing more than a ridiculous clown in Sloane's eyes.

But what right did Sloane have to look at her like that?!

Quinn's lips curled into a faint, sudden smile. All traces of purity and fragility vanished from her eyes, replaced by a dark, provocative malice.

"What right do you have to judge me? Did you forget the shady, underhanded methods you used to trap Garrison in the first place?"