Chapter 81 His Charm Never Failed

Chapter 81 His Charm Never Failed
Milie's POV

The moment Alan shifted to the other table, he didn't look back even once.

He placed his coffee beside the laptop, plugged the charger into the socket near the wall, and immediately buried himself in work.

Typing, reading, crossing out lines in his notebook, and typing again.

For a second, I wondered if he had genuinely forgotten I existed.

Every few minutes, my eyes wandered between three things.

The café entrance, my watch, and Alan.

Nothing changed. The door never opened. Daxton never came. Alan never looked at me.

He sat there as though he had come to the café to finish an assignment and I was simply another customer occupying a nearby table.

I sighed. "Look at him..."

I rested my chin on my palm. "His heart must be hurting too."

"And yet… he doesn't allow it to affect his focus on studies."

I lowered my gaze to my untouched bag and the book inside it. "When will I become serious?"

"Dad needs me."

"Alan believes in me."

"And I'm still waiting for life to magically fix itself."

"No. Nothing is going to change unless I change."

Slowly, I pulled out my notebook and textbook and forced myself to read.

The words blurred. I blinked repeatedly and tried again.

One paragraph, then another, but every few minutes I unconsciously looked toward Alan.

He was making notes now. Underlining something, completely focused.

I smiled faintly. "He really meant it."

He wasn't just telling me to build my future. He was living it.

While searching my bag for a pen, my fingers brushed against my switched-off phone.

"Right. I hadn't turned it on."

The screen lit up, and the wallpaper appeared—me, Sammy, and Daxton.

My lips trembled instantly.

"Please..." I whispered. "Pick up once."

I dialed Daxton. The call ended almost immediately.

I called again, again, and again.

Every single call was rejected until finally his phone switched off.

Fresh tears clouded my vision. I immediately called Sammy.

He picked up before the second ring. 

"Milie..." His voice softened. "My girl... are you okay?"

The question alone shattered me. A sob escaped before I could answer.

"I..." My throat refused to cooperate. "I lost him, Sammy."

"No."

"You didn't."

"You don't understand." Tears rolled freely now. "I feel like everything is over."

"Our trio… Our stupid little world… It'll never be the same again."

"I can't imagine life without you two."

"I can't."

My shoulders began shaking uncontrollably until Alan's arm gently wrapped around me. 

I didn't realize when he quietly walked over and sat beside me. 

His other hand wiped my tears with slow, careful movements.

He didn't interrupt. He simply stayed.

On the other end, Sammy sighed shakily. "Please stop blaming yourself."

"He'll calm down. I promise."

"He just… needs time."

Then I heard muffled banging through the phone.

Sammy had already reached Daxton's room. "Dax!"

"Open the damn door."

"Please."

"She has been waiting for you."

No response.

Another knock.

"Dax!"

I closed my eyes tightly.

"Sammy..." I whispered. "Don't force him, please. Don’t leave him alone."

"He needs you."

"Right now… he only has you."

Alan's arm tightened around me for just a second as though silently agreeing with my words.

Sammy exhaled. "I don't know whose pain hurts more. I wish I could split myself into two people."

"So I could be with both of you."

I shook my head. "No. You stay with him."

"I'll be okay… I promise."

There was another long silence until Sammy spoke again.

"I'm waiting for Aunty to reach."

"Then I'll come."

I smiled weakly.

"Don't worry… Alan's here."

A small laugh escaped him. "I know. And honestly… I don't think anyone could take better care of you than him."

I looked sideways. Alan had heard every word, but he pretended he hadn't.

The call ended. For a few seconds neither of us spoke.

Alan continued absent-mindedly smoothing my hair.

I stared silently at the table. "No lecture?" I asked quietly.

He smiled. "I was waiting for Sammy to do it."

A tiny laugh escaped before I could stop it. "I thought you forgot I existed."

He looked genuinely offended. "I spent three hours searching the city for you."

"I deserve better accusations than that."

I blinked.

"You... searched everywhere?"

"The lake."

"The park."

"The basketball court."

"Three cafés."

"Your college."

"Near Daxton's house."

He counted each place on his fingers. "My bike deserves an award."

I stared at him. "You idiot."

He nodded proudly. "I've been called worse."

Another small laugh escaped me.

"There she is." He pointed dramatically. "My loud Milie."

"I was beginning to miss her."

I rolled my eyes. "My stomach is growling."

"Finally." He stood immediately. "Now we're making progress."

"I'm ordering food."

"Are you eating too?" 

He looked at me. "Obviously."

"If you eat, I eat."

I narrowed my eyes.

"So the hunger strike is officially over?"

"It was never a hunger strike."

"It was emotional blackmail, wasn’t it."

"Yeah." He burst into laughter.

"You are impossible."

"I know. Works every time."

He walked towards the counter before turning back.

"And after food… We're going home."

"What if Daxton comes?"

"Sammy will call. I'll drive you back immediately."

"But until then..." His expression softened. "Your parents don't deserve another reason to worry."

I nodded slowly. "Okay."

He smiled. "Good."

"I like sensible Milie."

I folded my arms. "What if I don't?"

"Too late. I've already approved the upgraded version."

"Huh."

I looked away dramatically. He laughed before gently ruffling my hair.

"Still my favourite headache."

I whined. "Stop being a charmer."

He grinned. "Feel lucky. I use only for you, and it never seems to stop working, isn't it?"

I sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately..."

He laughed, and for the first time that entire day, I did too.