Lora walked into the restaurant just as her phone rang. When she saw that it was Ryan calling, she picked up and said, "Hello, Ryan." "Lora, where are you? I came to pick you up from work... wanted to take you home," Ryan said on the phone. "ed to make sure you''re safe." "I''m moving with security and I have a bodyguard for a driver. You don''t have to worry about me," Lora replied.


    She looked around the restaurant and saw Jason seated at the table near the window. Their eyes met and Jason smiled before waving at Lora.


    Lora forced a smile and began to approach him, the weight of what she was about to do weighing down on her.


    After her little chat with Adan, Lora had finally made a decision. She couldn''t lie to herself anymore. She was still in love with Ryan.


    "I know... I wanted to ask you out on a date tonight. I know you''re not sure about us-"


    "Can I take a rain check? I''m a bit busy today but we can go tomorrow," Lora suggested.


    There was a pause from the other side of the phone before Ryan''s voice echoed through the speaker.


    "Are you saying you''re willing to go out on a date with me?" He asked, his voiceced with excitement like a child who had been promised his favorite candy.


    Lora smiled and replied, "Of course. I''ll see you tomorrow."


    There was something she needed to sort out before meeting him.


    By the time Lora cut the call, she had arrived at the table. Jason stood up and helped to pull back her chair before going back to his seat.


    The air between the two was awkward. After ordering food and drinks, Jason cleared his throat and said, "I don''t know if I should be happy that you invited me for dinner. Something tells me I won''t like what you will say." Lora gulped, guilt twisting her stomach, knowing she was about to hurt him.


    She nced at Jason and words caught in her throat.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    How was she supposed to say it?


    "Lora?" Jason remarked when Lora kept quiet for some time.


    "Um... Jay, you know I like you very much and I care about you," Lora said, the words feeling like a heavy boulder settling on her shoulders.


    Jason gave a half smile. He nodded and replied, "Yes, I know. You''ve mentioned it so many times."


    Lora let out a sigh, her stomach knotting before she uttered, "I may like and care about you but it''s only as a friend. I''m sorry that I epted to be your girlfriend. The truth was that I thought I would learn to love you... but that''s not how it works." Silence fell over them. The tension in the air was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.


    Lora could see that Jason''s mood had changed and her heart sank to the pits of her stomach.


    Jason looked at her and asked, "So, what are you saying? I told you I''m patient. I''ve never pushed you to fall in love with me quickly... I can wait for you for so many years until you finally fall in love with me."


    Lora sighed before shaking her


    head. "I can''t do this anymore,


    Jason. I''m not in love with you... and


    even though you knew that from the beginning, I''m deeply sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you."


    Looking into Jason''s eyes, she added, "You''re a very good man, Jay. Believe me when I say doing this hurts so much... I honestly shouldn''t have agreed to date you-"


    "Is it because of him? Have you decided to go back to him?" Jason questioned, his jaw tight from anger.


    Lora fell silent, the lump in her throat refusing to go down.


    She replied, "I thought I didn''t love him anymore-"


    Jason scoffed, cutting Lora''s words.


    "You still love him? After everything he did to you? Did you forget all the pain he caused you? How his actions separated your children from their father?" Jason


    questioned, anger flickering through his eyes.


    "I gave you a break to figure things out because hoped you would see that I''m the right man for you. What has that man done to deserve you? Heck, why is everything so easy for him? The only thing that I wanted for myself, he couldn''t help but steal that too......."


    Jason trailed when he realised that he had overspoken.


    Lora was feeling guilty but she furrowed her eyebrows when she heard Jason''sst words.


    She asked, "What do you mean by he stole the only thing you wanted for yourself too? What else did he steal? Did you know Ryan beforeing to the city?"


    Jason hesitated. He grabbed Lora''s hand and said, "I can''t tell you anything right now but Ryan can''t be trusted. He''s not a good man, Lora. Don''t go back to him. He will only hurt you." Lora narrowed her eyes at Jason before pulling her hand out of his hold. He was acting strange and she didn''t like it.


    Looking him in the eyes, she uttered, "I hope you forgive me, Jay. But this is the end for us. I hope you can find a sweet woman who will fall in love with you because you deserve to be loved." With that, Lora got to her feet and left the restaurant, ignoring Jason''s desperate calls.


    She steeled her heart and left without looking back.


    ''I''m so sorry, Jason, but love can''t be forced,'' she mused, her heart filled with guilt.


    ...


    A little whileter...


    Ryan was at his penthouse when he heard the doorbell ring.


    When he opened the door, he was shocked to find Lora standing outside.


    "Lora? What are you doing here?" Ryan asked with an arched eyebrow.


    "I came......" Lora trailed.


    Before Ryan could tell what was happening, Lora got closer and stood on her toes before wrapping her arms around his neck.


    "...to do this," Lora continued before crashing her lips on his in a fiery kiss.