Chapter 2449
“Why are you calling so late? You should be getting some rest.”
Mara was nearly moved to tears, and the fact that Balfour still cared about her well-being only made her choke back sobs behind her hand.
She knew that beneath Balfour’s frosty exterior lay a heart warmer than anyone else’s.
His concern meant he still held a place for her in his heart, and that reassurance settled her spirit.
Mara sniffled, her nose sounding especially clear in the silent night.
“I’m alright, just a bit woozy still. But I couldn’t sleep, you know, not without your answer. Balfour, do you think we can still be friends?”
There was silence on the line.
“Look, I’ve got no ulterior motives, really. After our last talk, I got it. Years have passed, we’ye both changed, life happened. We kept in touch, sure, but in all the days we weren’t there for each other, you found someone else who mattered more. That person is Ivy, isn’t it?”
Mara let out a bitter chuckle. “Even without your answer, I know Ivy is your ‘meant to be.’ Never seen you fall for someone this hard. Heh, if only back then I might’ve…”
Balfour didn’t want to hear any more ‘what ifs.’ The world didn’t run on the hypothetical. Such talk was meaningless, especially since Ivy was by his side now. He couldn’t indulge in ambiguous conversations with another woman behind her back.
“If you keep this up, we really will have to part ways for good. You should know, I answered this call because you said we could maintain a safe distance. If you…”
“I get it! Relax, I called you tonight because I’ve made up my mind. I won’t cling to you anymore. Don’t worry, I have a friend, Olivia, abroad, and as soon as she flies over, I’ll move out to live with her. I won’t be a burden to you, and you can enjoy your life with Ivy without me interfering. Balfour, I’m resolute about this. Do you still need to keep your distance?”
Mara was clearly crying on the other end.
“Don’t overthink it, I’m not trying to push you away.”
Mara cleared her throat, trying to sound mature and understanding.
“I know, but I came back because I was afraid of living alone, and that’s why I stayed at your place. Once Olivia arrives, I can live with her. When I was abroad, it was always just me, no family, but at least she was there. So, for me, it’s not much different. You don’t need to worry.”
Despite her attempt at optimism, there was a touch of loneliness that Balfour couldn’t help but hear in her voice.
