Chapter 116 Silent Well Wishes

Chapter 116 Silent Well Wishes

Lester's POV

The living room fell silent for two seconds. Lucas's face remained expressionless, but something dark flickered in his eyes.

Chloe had just come down the stairs. Hearing my words, her tone was cool and direct. "Let's just talk here."

My chest tightened. I'd known for a long time that her heart belonged to Lucas. I'd seen her lose herself over him. Watched her stare blankly at her phone late at night. Witnessed her eyes redden the instant she heard his voice.

But knowing something was one thing. Actually seeing her refuse to leave even the slightest opening for Lucas to misunderstand—that cut deeper than I'd expected.

I forced out a smile. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm just here to say goodbye, not steal you away."

A flash of embarrassment crossed her face. "That's not what I meant."

"I know." I nodded, softening my tone. "Mr. White and I aren't exactly close. There are some things I'd rather not say in front of him."

She didn't respond. She turned to look at Lucas instead.

That small gesture was painfully transparent. She was waiting for his permission.

Lucas glanced at me, then back at her. "Go ahead. I'll wait here."

Only then did Chloe come down the stairs.

"Let's talk outside," I said.

She followed me out.

The evening breeze carried a chill. Tree shadows swayed along the sidewalk. We stood on the front steps. Two silent figures. Neither willing to speak first.

I let out a quiet laugh. "Strange. I'm usually great at small talk, but today I'm at a loss for words."

Chloe asked softly, "Are you being transferred?"

"Yeah." I looked up at her. "Officially reassigned to my original post. Won't be watching over you anymore."

She nodded, offering a faint smile. "That's good."

"The op's wrapped up. Nearly all suspects are in custody. If I keep hanging around here every day, your jealous partner might actually point a gun at me."

That earned a brief press of her lips. Almost a smile. It vanished quickly.

Looking at her, I felt certain: if I didn't say these things now, I'd never get another chance.

"Chloe, you really are an incredible woman."

She froze. Surprise flickered in her eyes.

"Really." I shifted my gaze to the car across the street. "Sometimes I think… if only I'd met you sooner."

Her brow furrowed. "Lester, we've barely known each other."

"I know." I smiled wryly. "Ridiculous, isn't it? One month together, and here I am acting like some tragic side character."

She didn't laugh. She watched me quietly, her expression complicated.

"You probably think I don't really know you. That I have no right to say this. But for me, these moments were enough."

She drew a breath and asked bluntly, "Do you have feelings for me?"

I dropped my gaze. I scuffed my shoe against the step. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask so directly."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." I rubbed the back of my neck. "You didn't do anything wrong."

The evening wind passed between us.

I looked at her, my tone turning serious. "At the end of the day, I was just a cop assigned to protect you. A glorified bodyguard. But you never treated me like some tool doing a job."

She listened quietly.

"You'd check if I'd eaten. Worry whether I was cold sitting in the car all night. Bring me hot coffee. You'd stay up late practicing piano, then remind me not to rely on energy drinks." A faint smile crossed my face. "Little things like that. You've probably forgotten most of them."

Chloe parted her lips. "That was just… my default kindness."

"Just the kindness anyone would show, right?" I finished her thought.

She stopped short. Surprised I'd preempted her excuse.

"I knew you'd say that."

She looked at me. Regret flickered in her eyes. "Lester, I treat everyone that way. I wasn't singling you out."

"I know." A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "I can only blame myself for going twenty-some years without meeting someone as gentle as you."

She fell silent.

I leaned against the railing, looking up at the sky. I deliberately lightened my tone. "Everyone thinks I'm this upbeat, chatty guy who can liven up any room."

"But most of it's an act. In a police station, the moment you show weakness, others worry—and you can barely hold yourself together either."

"I've been used to carrying everything alone since I was a kid. Pick myself up when I fall. Process my own pain. Never expect anyone to accommodate me. After long enough, I convinced myself I didn't need anyone."

I turned to face her. "Until recently. Until these weeks watching over you."

Chloe's fingers curled inward. She said nothing.

"You'd come downstairs in the middle of the night to bring me a blanket. Even though you're scared of the dark yourself, you'd ask if keeping watch alone was boring."

"When you finished practicing, your first question was never whether the assignment was tiring—it was whether I was exhausted, whether I needed to rest earlier."

My smile faded. "Honestly, that feeling was pretty awful."

She looked at me helplessly. "Lester, I just didn't want to be a burden."

"But that was cruel to me." I countered gently. "Like someone handed me a beam of light. Made me see for the first time just how dark and rough my life had been before."

Her lashes trembled. She couldn't find words.

"You don't need to feel guilty." I softened my tone. "I didn't come here to force an answer from you. Or to ruin what you have with Lucas."

Even saying his name made me want to laugh at myself.

"I've seen him lose control over you. Seen his obsession. Seen you lose half your soul over him. Honestly, what you two have—there's no room for anyone else."

Chloe lowered her eyes. Her lashes fluttered gently.

"Your world never had space for a third person. I could see that clearly."

Wind stirred her hair. She brushed it aside. "Lester, you'll meet someone truly right for you."

"Maybe." I shrugged. "But that person won't be you."

Regret pooled in her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't." I looked at her, my voice gentle. "Don't make it a habit to pay for other people's emotions. Whether someone likes you or not was never something you could control. You haven't done anything wrong."

She didn't apologize again. She just nodded softly.

That was enough.

I pulled something from my pocket and held it out.

A delicate silver piano key charm. Warmed from being carried in my hand so long.

She stared. "What is this?"

"Picked it up at a gift shop. I've been meaning to give it to you. Wanted to wait until you were in better spirits. Kept putting it off."

She hesitated. I raised an eyebrow with a smile. "It's nothing expensive. If you don't like it, throw it away. I just wanted you to have it."

Only then did she extend her hand. Her fingertips briefly brushed my palm before withdrawing.

"Thank you." Her voice was barely audible.

Watching the small charm rest in her palm, I felt something inside me ease.

"Alright. Farewell ceremony concluded." I straightened and stepped back. "From now on, I won't bother you anymore."

I turned away. I silently wished them well.