No Mercy, No Forgiveness

Chapter231

Only one dumpling spot existed in West Side of Small Town, its popularity so fierce that queues snaked out the door daily.

Maureen arrived and immediately took a queue ticket before finding a seat.

She hadn’t sat long when a figure in a black coat stood before her.

“Reenie.”

Maureen looked up into Gareth’s devilishly handsome face.

“Gareth, what are you doing here?”

“Didn’t you have Zoe call me about the amazing dumplings here?” Gareth asked.

Maureen choked on her words.

Only then did she realize Zoe’s dumpling craving was just a ploy to set her up with Gareth.

She couldn’t bring herself to admit she’d never said such a thing.

“Right, my memory’s terrible.” Maureen glanced at the long line. “I’ll treat you later.”

“Okay.” Gareth agreed softly, his eyes tender.

He knew exactly what Zoe was scheming and decided to play along.

The diner overflowed with people, forcing Maureen and Gareth to wait on the curb.

Maureen rubbed her freezing hands. “This place was packed when I was little. Never thought it’d stay this busy after all these years.”

Gareth stripped off his leather gloves, seized her icy fingers, and tucked them inside his coat.

The sudden intimacy froze Maureen in place before she tried pulling away.

Gareth held her hand firmly: “I remember when we were kids, your hands were always this cold, and you loved pressing them against my face.”

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he spoke, he lifted

to the diner, spotting Gareth and

“Are we here?”

asked as the

“Mm.”

“Take me to Reenie.”

silent, making

“What’s wrong?”

Geoffrey frowned.

Wayne answered:

he’d addressed her as Mrs. Sutton, now using her given

informed Geoffrey

instantly,

“What are they doing?”

each other,” Wayne’s gaze

lovers.

”

Outside the dumpling shop.

pulled her hand back from Gareth’s face: “I didn’t know better as a kid.” Back then, she hadn’t grasped the concept of boundaries between boys and

like a younger brother, always bringing him treats whenever

now, staring at this towering figure a head taller than her, his sharp

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girl would dare

distant demeanor, a flicker

so proper around me now,

Maureen would sneak him clothes, blankets, and food to keep him warm and fed,

frozen or starved to death long before anyone

just pushes people away.” Her own past immaturity–failing

regretted deeply why he hadn’t taken Maureen with him when he left Small Town

before she got

before she married Geoffrey, she wouldn’t be so

Gareth moved closer to Maureen

“Reenie, let’s…” be together.