Chapter 143
But Maureen looked up, confused by his words.
Their first real embrace happened years earlier, when he’d rushed through rain–soaked darkness to comfort her after school bullies.
How could he promise it wouldn’t happen again?
She mumbled into his shirt, “That’s when I fell for you. So much.”
Though her words confessed love, Geoffrey sensed something amiss.
When they married, he’d been certain of her love. Now
How did I start liking myself back then?
His confusion remained unresolved when Maureen added, “I thought you were truly wonderful then. I always felt I wasn’t good enough for you, never imagining I’d marry you someday.”
Geoffrey’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
He hadn’t expected to marry this kid either.
When he first met her at ten, she was thin and small, yet wore the brightest smile.
“We can start over now.
“1
Almost involuntarily, Geoffrey murmured.
Maureen gazed deeply into his eyes. “Can we really start over?”
During her time abroad, she’d often dream of Geoffrey regretting everything–begging her to come home, promising to treat her right. Each awakening left her with empty dreams.
Before Geoffrey could respond, the doorbell chimed–room service delivering dinner.
Over the meal, their conversation drifted apart from the topic.
That night, lying together in darkness, Geoffrey naturally pulled her close, whispering,
0.00%
17:36
Chapter143
288 iVouchers
“Reenie.”
Maureen removed her hearing aid, missing his words entirely.
After falling asleep, she had a strange dream where she drifted like a small boat adrift, unsure where to go. When she opened her eyes, Geoffrey was gone. Outside, daylight streamed in as wind gently swayed the white curtains.
Maureen changed clothes and picked up her phone, seeing Katherine’s message about Andrea’s apology.
She also noticed her overseas assistant had arranged compensation.
Closing her phone, Maureen stepped outside to find Geoffrey standing tall beneath a banyan tree. Dressed in a black trench coat, he approached carrying something.
As he drew near, Maureen realized he held two simple breakfast boxes.
Pork Bun Platter–the Small Town specialty Geoffrey once wouldn’t have glanced at.
“Morning. I got breakfast.”
Geoffrey’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “You said you liked the food here, didn’t you?”
He remembered because during those four or five years searching for Maureen, he’d occasionally reread their old chats.
Watching her messages shift from lengthy shares to sparse updates.
Maureen took a moment to respond before nodding. “Yeah.”
When they returned to the room, Geoffrey suddenly stopped and looked at her: “Did you forget something?”
Maureen stared at him in confusion.
He continued with a teasing smile: “We’re married now. Remember how you used to insist on holding hands, hugging, and kissing every single day?”
Maureen listened, then reached out to take Geoffrey’s hand before embracing him and gently kissing his lips.
Just as she meant to pull away, Geoffrey set down his breakfast, cupped the back of her head, and deepened the kiss.
27.08%
17:36 L
Chapter143
:
288 ¡Vouchers
For some reason, though they were sharing the most intimate act, he saw no flicker of emotion in Maureen’s eyes.
Unwilling to accept this, he bit down hard.
Maureen winced in pain, brows furrowing as she tried to push him away, but he gripped her wrist tighter.
She retaliated by sinking her teeth into Geoffrey’s lip until the metallic sweetness of blood filled her mouth.
Geoffrey breathed heavily, cradling her face with his large hands. “Look at me. Say my name again.”
Maureen lifted her gaze to his bleeding lip–a seductive red.
“Geoff.”
Her eyes remained calm and unruffled. This wasn’t the girl who used to adore him anymore.
Geoffrey’s chest constricted violently, the corners of his eyes reddening as he swept Maureen into his arms.
Ignoring her protests, he placed her on the sofa.
“Say it!”
Maureen couldn’t fathom his sudden shifts–gentle one moment, volatile the next.
“Geoff!”
Her flat tone carried not a trace of warmth.
To Geoffrey, it felt like cotton stuffed in his chest, suffocating and inescapable.
Without another word, he carried Maureen back to their room.
When everything was over, breakfast had gone cold.
Geoffrey was about to have someone buy fresh food, but Maureen stopped him.
They reheated it in the room, but the flavor wasn’t the same.
60.11%
17:36 L
:
288 Vouchers
Chapter143
Maureen suddenly understood what Geoffrey meant by “starting over” earlier.
Like this reheated breakfast, some things could never return to their original state.
After breakfast,
Geoffrey drove Maureen to her childhood home with practiced case.
The old brick house stood meticulously maintained–no weeds or fallen leaves–as if still inhabited.
As Maureen stepped out, a neighbor gasped: “Reenie!
Didn’t you pass away?”
Before Maureen could respond, Geoffrey emerged from the driver’s side.
“It’s all a misunderstanding,”
he stated. With that, he strode toward the house.
Maureen wondered how he knew these neighbors.
She offered the auntie a polite smile before following Geoffrey inside. The interior was spotless.
85.64%
17: