Chapter 416
I stared at Soren, a rush of happiness filling me. He was the first person, besides my family, to care so deeply about me. It was precisely because of his deep care that I was so reluctant to pull him into this mess.
Before I could even suggest breaking up, though, he spoke first. “No, please don’t say that. If you leave me, I’ll abandon everything to get you back. I’ll ignore whatever values my family has tried to impose on me. I’ll discard the duties and responsibilities they’ve burdened me with. I will throw all of that away to be with you.”
His words were as gentle as ever, but their content stunned ine.
My eyes widened. “Are you crazy? You’d throw away your reputation and future for love?!”
“I could. I’ve always obeyed their wishes. I do whatever they want, and I do it to the best of my abilities.
“You’re the exception. You’re the only thing I’ve ever fought for on my own terms. You’re something I worked toward because I wanted it.
“If they can’t support that, then this will be the first time I fight for myself,” he replied.
He flashed me a smile.
I felt a grimness settle over me. “Soren, this is terrible. I’d look down on you if you did that. I’ll do everything I can to leave you. I’ll make sure you can’t even come near me.
“Life is more than just love! There’s so much more to it–things just as rewarding, things that make life worth living. I have my grandmother, my aunt, my company, my coworkers, my best friend, and my other friends. And I love them all, too, even if my love for them is different. That doesn’t change the fact that they need and deserve my time and attention.
“Things are different for you. You’re a modern–day aristocrat. You have a powerful family, and you have duties and responsibilities.
“Yes, you’ve handled all of that well throughout your life. But you also have more people to love–not just me, your girlfriend, but your family, your friends, your employees, and even the people of this country. You’re bigger than just an average man.
“If you give all of that up for me, even if your family doesn’t blame me, I’ll blame myself. I’d think I doomed the entire country by distracting you from what you should be doing!” I blurted out.
A shiver ran through me as I processed my own words.
I had never once imagined that someone like me–just a weed flower–would be close to someone of noble
stature.
If he were to give up his pedestal and prestige just to fall into the mud with me, then what did I have left?
Why hadn’t I just gotten some random, ordinary guy–another weed flower like me–instead of trying to measure up to a noble?
I hadn’t really known what I liked about Soren until now. But after hearing him say he would give everything up for me, I realized what I truly felt.
It was “Soren as a hero.” I loved superheroes, and he was close to that.
My love was mixed with vanity.
Soren stared at me without blinking.
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 416
I began to feel embarrassed. Did he find my words empty, like meaningless platitudes? Did I sound like a fool?
Well, it didn’t matter. This was how I truly felt, anyway.
“Look, you should eat now. I have to leave later–I’ve got things to do. Please, just think about what I said,” I added, turning to head upstairs to pack my things.
Soren sat silently in his chair.
By the time I stepped out of the elevator with my suitcases he was already waiting outside.
