Facade of Love

Chapter 343 The Crushed Confession

Maxwell shot her down with such brutal honesty. Zoe’s voice only grew more wobbly, “I can take care of my own stability and security. Who’s to say who is right for dating or marriage? Isn’t that something you figure out as you go along? You’re rejecting me without even giving it a thought. Is it because there’s someone else you like?”

Zoe’s voice was tentative, almost afraid of the answer.

The air hung heavy for a moment before Maxwell finally said, “No.”

It seemed Zoe picked up on Maxwell’s chill because her voice slowly evened out. “So, it’s just that you don’t like me, plain and simple?”

“That’s not it,” Maxwell’s voice was tinged with a hint of frustration, “You’re great, Zoe. That’s not what I am saying.”

The stairwell went silent for what felt like an eternity but was probably only half a minute. I could not make out the looks on their faces, and I sure did not know what was going down, but it was clear as day that Maxwell had just turned Zoe down. After a long pause, Zoe’s voice echoed, “Thanks for being honest with me. I get it now.”

let out a tiny grunt, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. When I heard footsteps, I

they caught me lurking, I would die of embarrassment. As the footsteps drifted away, I crept out from my

nearly gave me a heart attack. I turned around slowly to find

hey… what are you doing you here?” She was still a bundle of nerves, stepping closer. “You heard

was tripping over myself to apologize, “If I say it was an honest mistake, would you believe me?” She

quick to reassure her, “No way, I wouldn’t do that.

was very brave to me. She rested against the railing, gazing at the snowflakes dancing in the air, and muttered, “Guts? More like foolish,

anyway, though. “Hey, love doesn’t come with a rulebook. You liked

burst out laughing, her eyes crinkling up like little crescents. “Yvette, you’re so old- school with your pep

could not help smiling sheepishly. Comforting really was

343 The Crushed

2/2