RankNovel"How cyou're here?" Fleming Mercer set his bag down and turned to face
her.
Esmeralda Mercer felt a strange, indescribable awkwardness, mixed with
emotions she didn't dare examine too closely.
"| just brought you a jacket." She held up the coat in her hands, as if she needed to prove she hadn't been
eavesdropping.
Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose, suddenly feeling more out of place than ever-even though, technically, he
was just an outsider.
He barely knew Fleming's fiancée; after all, Fleming never mentioned her. But for her to overhear that
conversation just now... It didn't seem right.
"Alright then, why don't | give you two stalone?" Adrian flashed Esmeralda a friendly smile, doing his
best to seem welcoming before stepping out. He even closed the door gently behind him.
Esmeralda hesitated, remembering that Adrian was closer to Lucy. He'd probably take Lucy's side, if it ever came
to that.
"Okay," she murmured, nodding.
Finally, she walked farther into the room and handed the jacket to Fleming. "Have you settled in here yet?"
She couldn't help hoping Fleming would offer sexplanation for what she'd heard. Something like, "It was just
a joke," or "Don't take it to heart," or even, "You're the one I'm engaged to." Anything, really.
The truth was, she was embarrassingly easy to appease.
Fleming took the jacket from her and walked toward the bathroom, tossing it into the washing machine. "Almost
done," he replied.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
He was always quiet and reserved, rarely wasting words. Explanations, especially, seemed beyond him.
Esmeralda felt a pang of disappointment.
She watched him put her worn clothes into the machine, wondering-Did he find her dirty somehow? Was he
grossed out by her?
Trying not to dwell on it, she mustered up her courage and asked, "Were you talking to Lucy just now?"
Fleming returned, hanging the rest of his clothes in the closet. "Just checking in. Making sure she's alright," he
replied curtly.
His short answer snuffed out the little bit of bravery Esmeralda had managed to gather.
She fiddled with her fingers, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oh... okay."
Her gaze wandered, and she noticed a small jade pendant hanging from Fleming's phone-something she'd never
seen before. It was unique, surprisingly delicate.
Curious, she bent down to touch it. "Didn't know you liked little charms like this."
But before she could get a good look, Fleming abruptly set down the hanger, strode over, and snatched his
phone away from her. "Don't touch that," he said.
Even though his tone wasn't overtly angry, Esmeralda could sense his displeasure. The shift in his demeanor hit
her like a slap-she stared up at him, stunned.
For a moment, she felt like a stranger, someone he refused to let past his walls.
Fleming rubbed his thumb over the jade charm a rare softness flickering in his eyes. Then, catching himself, he
tucked his phone away and looked at her. "I might have to head out for a meeting later, he said. "I probably
won't be able to have dinner with you."
He was, in effect, asking her to leave.
She wasn't stupid-she could tell how important that little jade pendant was to
him. He'd practically panicked when she touched it.
Her mind drifted to the simple
good-luck charm she'd once hung in
his car. He'd discarded it
somewhere, she didn't even know
where it was now. le N ati
pendant pie guarcled's losely, hers
clearly meant nothing to him.
Content The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Esmeralda's throat felt tight.
She stared at him, her voice stiff. "...Alright. That's fine."
Fleming noticed her mood shift. He even guessed what she meant by
uenoc
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
ove
the question about Lucy. But
honestly, he didn't think it Wage
discussigg Whwabié ime
eXpldining something so
insignificant? The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Esmeralda lowered her head and
turned to leave. Distracted ad m
melo]; Ir eiE: hotisetns sharp
eligh of the cheap table until her arm
bumped into it. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
A sudden sting shot up her arm. She looked down to see a thin, fresh cut.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
