<b>Chapter </b><b>345</b>
<b>Tears </b><b>welled up </b><b>in </b><b>my </b><b>eyes </b>as <b>a </b><b>mixture </b>of <bughter </b><b>and </b><b>sobs </b>escaped me<b>. </b>I <b>quickly </b>sent <b>her </b><b>my </b><b>location</b>, <b>“</b><b>So</b>, <b>what </b>about your getaway<b>? </b><b>No </b>more <b>chasing </b>the <b>exotic </b>romance<b>?</b>”
<b>“</b><b>Which </b>is more <b>important</b>, <b>a fleeting </b>romance or <b>you</b><b>? </b>I <b>wouldn’t </b><b>dream </b>of <b>letting </b><b>you </b>spend the holidays all <b>by </b>yourself.<b>” </b><b>She </b><b>brushed </b><b>it </b><b>off </b>with <b>a </b><b>giggle</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Besides</b><b>, </b>I’ve heard Vista Town <b>is </b>quite the spot for a romantic encounter.”
“<b>I </b><b>owe </b>you big <b>time</b><b>,</b><b>”</b>
I <b>couldn’t </b>help but chuckle, <b>“</b><b>All </b>I can offer is <b>a </b><b>feast </b>of fun and games, just a <b>small </b>token <b>of my </b>appreciation.”
Truth be told, money was <b>hardly </b><b>a </b>concern between us anymore. It just didn’t matter.
<b>Upon </b>hearing <b>this</b>, she yed along perfectly<b>, </b><b>“</b>Ms. Webster, livingrge<b>! </b>I’ll be right there to soak up some of that generosity<b>.</b>”
The moment Christine arrived, my spirits were instantly lifted.
She stood by the window, admiring the snowy vista of Vista Town, “That news about Gregory, what <b>do </b>you make <b>of </b><b>it</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>
I paused, then said, “What about it? I <b>don’t </b>see why I should bother.”
“Come on, don’t y dumb.” Christine nudged me. “He’s into you, and you’re not exactly locking your heart away from him, are <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>
“There’s some truth to that.”
I curled up <b>on </b>the couch, gesturing <b>a </b>small distance with my fingers and blinking, “Just that sort of feeling where <b>it </b>could be something, but it wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t.”
I was past the stage of letting love run wild.
Once bitten, twice shy.
“That’s good enough.”
Christine nodded and sat down beside me, “He’s waited for Lilliana for years. <b>If </b>you’re not careful<b>, </b>you’ll be asking for heartbreak.*
“I’m aware,” I assured her.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Gregory and I were a long shot.
Unable to hold back, Christine dragged me around the old Vista Town, bustling with tourists celebrating the holiday season. The ce was packed and lively.
Gregory called me, but I missed it.
By the time I tried to call back, he didn’t answer.
Later that night, after changing our outfits<b>, </b>Christine and I headed to the hotel bar.
Both of us were a mix of emotions, especially since Steven‘ was getting married today.
Despite their breakup, we shared the same social circles. My feed was flooded with pictures of Steven’s wedding, a real gut punch.
One drink after another, everything around me started to blur.
Luckily, we were in the safety of the hotel, surrounded by security.
Christine, <b>drowning </b>in her emotions, drank heavily. She leaned <b>in</b><b>, </b>reeking of alcohol, “Are you… are you drunk<b>?</b><b>”</b>
<b>I </b>shook my head vigorously. “No<b>, </b><b>not </b>drunk.”
“Oh… then <b>let’s </b>keep drinking. Here’s to forgetting those damn men!”
“Right!”
After burping, I reassured her, “<b>Don’t </b>worry, Chris, Steven <b>doesn’t </b>deserve you…”
As I tried to stand and hug her, my bnce failed me, and I stumbled towards the <b>floor</b>.
<b>Unexpectedly</b><b>, </b>someone caught me firmly.
I pushed them away, dizzily <b>turning </b>to see who it was. My head was spinning, <b>but </b>I managed <b>to </b>make <b>out </b><b>a </b>face <b>hovering </b>before me.
<b>“</b>Greg… <b>Gregory</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>
The man remained silent.
His expression darkened. Holding me steady, he turned <b>to </b><b>Christine </b>and spoke <b>in </b>a deep voice, “<b>You </b><b>okay</b>?”
Christine waved dismissively, <b>“</b><b>Of </b>course! Mr. Ford, please take her <b>back </b><b>to </b>her room!”
The atmosphere turned even colder!
<b>1/2</b>
<b>Standing </b><b>next </b>to <b>him</b>, I <b>shivered</b>, <b>“</b><b>Gregory</b>, why <b>do </b><b>you </b><b>seem </b>so much like… him <b>today</b>?”
Like <b>who</b>?
Bry… Bryant.
<b>What </b><b>floor</b><b>?</b>”
<b>19</b><b>!</b>
I fumbled <b>for </b>my <b>room </b><b>card </b><b>and </b>handed <b>it </b><b>to </b>him.
As we exited the elevator<b>, </b><b>half</b><b>–</b><b>awake</b><b>, </b>I <b>finally </b><b>reacted</b>, <b>“</b>Why are you here to see me?”
He led me <b>out</b>, <b>“</b>Why <b>can’t </b><b>I </b><b>be</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>
<b>“</b><b>Didn’t </b>you <b>find </b>Lilliana<b>…</b><b>”</b>
Mid<b>–</b>sentence, a sharp gaze caught my attention. I <b>nced </b>over <b>to </b>see a man casually leaning against my room door, causing <b>me </b><b>to </b>freeze in shock!
Gregory<b>?!</b>
If he was <b>Gregory</b><b>, </b>then<b>…</b>
Suddenly feeling a bit more sober, <b>I </b>shook my head and looked closely at the man beside <b>me</b><b>. </b>I abruptly pulled away from him andnded <b>with </b><b>a </b>thud on <b>the </b>floor.