Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Elspeth’s face turned pale instantly as if she had seen something shocking.

Sensing Elspeth’s grief, Emma chased after Callum and threw her hands around his neck. “Callum… I feel terrible. I’m so scared…”

He didn’t refuse her approach because his eyes were on Elspeth now, his heart thudding from the disappointed look in her eyes.

The hand holding her tightly also made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if he didn’t want her to associate herself with that man.

What is this? he wondered. I don’t have any feelings for her, so why do I feel this way?

Before Callum found an answer to his question, Emma had already started to squirm restlessly in his arms, bringing him back to his senses.

He lowered his head and whispered something to Emma. Elspeth couldn’t make out the words, but she could see his indistinct gentleness through her blurry eyes.

The fact that he no longer loved her made her sadder than anything, but now that he had fallen in love with someone else, she couldn’t do anything about it.

Sucking in a deep breath, she smilingly told Gilbert, “It’s okay. I’m fine now.”

“Sure, you are. You wouldn’t be if I came a second too late.” Gilbert was filled with indignation when he saw her lingering and hurt gaze as she looked at Callum.

Sighing, she tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and mumbled, “Gilbert? I don’t feel so good. Please take me away from here.”

“Where do you want to go?”

Gilbert refused to believe that Elspeth would go back to the Winthrop Residence as though nothing had happened.

She shot a glance at him and forced a smile. “Anywhere but the Winthrop Residence.”

Hearing that, he raised his chin and commented, “I’m glad you know what’s good for you.”

Right after he said that, he pulled the shell-shocked Elspeth out of the banquet hall.

Callum was watching their retreating figures when his grip on Emma gradually tightened.

other hand, was elated as she thought that

to still remember what happened between him and Emma before and to have lingering feelings

“Callum, y-you’re hurting me.”

her arm

to stand still, Emma almost fell to the ground. She only found her footing after she pathetically stumbled

“Callum…”

he had now shifted his gaze to Elspeth.

be leaving, then. I

her face from the corner of his eye before

the resurgence of an old romance as she

Emma put

Callum fall in love with her again

She pretended to act calm when she walked out of the hall, but as soon as she

Gilbert was there to support

Even if he doesn’t like you because he was hurt, you can’t keep being stupidly hopeful. Do you

than to beat her up when she

that. He could only slowly coax her

stubborn for her own good. Gilbert had to break through her psychological defenses one by

and when she raised her head again, there was a faint amusement and relief in her eyes. “Let’s go,

he only let out a small

away from Damoria. I don’t want to stay in

losing this place where only sad memories

right this instant. Where do you feel like going?

decision. Even if he knew that moving away didn’t mean she would actually forget Callum, he

brief moment before she

Blaydal. She could probably feel comforted if

expose her.

at the airport’s exit

a long, long time, she briefly informed Theodore and Margot of her departure to Blaydal. The couple couldn’t help feeling regretful. They knew that all of this happened solely because of Callum’s indifference toward her. They did try to talk her out of it, but they soon decided to accept her decision when

unreadable emotion as she stood at the