Chapter 183 183

Chapter 183 183
Aiden chuckled and put his hands on the back of his head. "Don't be like that to your ex-lover, Crescent North... You're hurting my feelings."

I just bit my lower lip and discreetly took out the pepper spray from my bag. I froze when I saw Cherry enter the coffeeshop. She immediately looked in my direction and waved. I just swallowed and nervously put the pepper spray back in my bag.

"Hello, ate... have you been waiting long?" She looked at Aiden. "Hey, Aiden, you're here," Cherry greeted Aiden with a smile.

Aiden smiled at her and nodded. "Hello."

"Are you trying to get back with my sister?" Cherry asked. I wanted to hit her right now.

"Ah, no... I'm just saying my proper goodbyes to her," Aiden replied.

"Oh, is that so? Okay, you guys talk first. I'll just order," Cherry said, then left us.

Aiden just smirked and followed Cherry with his gaze before looking at me. "I didn't notice that that woman looks like you a lot," he said and pointed at Cherry.

My forehead just creased because I didn't know why he suddenly brought that up.

"So... I'll take my leave now. Let's meet again someday... I had a really great time with you, Crescent North." Aiden stood up and fixed his cap. He looked at Cherry's direction one more time before finally leaving.

I felt like I could finally breathe when I no longer felt his presence... I hope this is the last time we'll see each other. I don't think I can handle it if we meet again.

I felt exhausted when I got home. Our conversation with Aiden was short, but it had a strong effect on me. I think I'm still scared even though I can't see him anymore.

I flinched when I opened the door because Luca was the first thing I saw; his face was pale and he looked nervous.

"Crescent, are you okay?! My men told me Aiden went to you... D-Did he do something to you?" He examined me with his eyes. "Damn, I should have just killed that asshole." He held my arm; I could feel his hand shaking.

"I-I'm alright," I just said briefly, then went inside and walked past him.

Luca held my arm and made me face him. I was taken aback because he looks serious... "Are you sure you're alright? Is there really no problem?"

I just smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes... I just need to take a rest. There's no problem."

Luca didn't let go of my arm. "How about me? D-Do you have a problem with me?" he asked in a soft voice.

I was stunned by his question. He really looks bothered; I can't help but feel guilty. He suffered a lot for the past years because of me... I don't want to make him suffer anymore, in any way... not even over a simple thing.

"Luca... Do you still have feelings for me?" I asked in a soft voice.

Luca was obviously taken aback by my question. His eyes widened and his lips parted. "H-Huh?"

"You always say you love me whenever you're drunk... Is that true? Do you still love me, Luca?"

Luca fell silent at my question. I saw how his Adam's apple moved up and down. He seems uneasy and nervous... I just smiled a little because he just made it obvious.

"Why? I made you suffer... There are other women out there who'll be more deserving of your love... Why me? C-Can you tell me?" I asked in a weak voice.

Yes... I'm happy knowing that he still has feelings for me... but I don't deserve it, his love... I don't deserve it at all.

"B-Because you're you, Crescent... It's just you, you're the only one," he mumbled, still not looking at me.

My knees weakened and my heart beats faster, so fast, it feels like it will explode any moment... That's so foolish of him to love me after everything I've done to him... He must be a fool.

I bit my lower lip and held my sling bag tightly. I gathered my courage in my mind before I spoke...

"Luca... Can we please just stay as Vanna's parents?" I asked, it almost came out as a whisper. "Please don't love me anymore..."

Luca was obviously stunned by what I said. I just gave a small smile and stared at him. "You're a good man and a good father. I'm so thankful that you're the one I loved before and the one who became Vanna's father... But I don't want our relationship to go beyond being parents to her. So please, don't love me anymore."

Luca clenched his jaw. "I won't hurt you again... I-I will treat and love you better now. C-Can't you just... give me a chance?" His voice broke.

I looked at him and bit my lower lip. His nose and eyes were already red; he still couldn't look at me. "Just pour all your love into Vanna and yourself, Luca..."

"Why can't you be included? I-Isn't that possible?" he asked, then looked at me.

"Luca... P-Please try to understand... W-We're good like this, just being Vanna's parents. Let's not go beyond that, so things won't get messed up again... because things are already good. Y-You can just redirect your feelings to someone else... To a woman who is more deserving of you. You are too good, Luca. You're too good for me that I don't deserve you at all."

"Don't decide for me. I'm the only one who'll decide whether you're deserving of me or not... and you're more than what I deserve, Crescent."

I was stunned by what he said. I just looked away from his eyes because I was drowning in them... if I look at them for too long, I might completely give in... I don't want to anymore.

"Luca... I don't love you anymore... it's been a long time," I muttered... this is the only card I have.

Luca was silent for a moment before speaking. "Then... I will make you love me again."

I just bit my lower lip and held my arm... "Please don't force me into something I'm not comfortable with... Y-You said you have no other agenda. Please let's remain like this... because to be honest, I don't want to love you again, I don't want to love anyone again... I-I really don't want to anymore, Luca. So please, let's not cross our line. P-Please respect my decision."

I didn't wait for him to answer and immediately walked past him to my room. I felt heavy-hearted when I got inside... I expected to feel this, so I just have to stand by my decision. I don't want to hold on to anything again... I don't want to mess up something that's already good.

For the past few weeks, Luca and I have become formal with each other again, but we no longer hang out on the veranda like before. We've become distant from each other, but everything is normal whenever Vanna is with us. We just don't talk when it's just the two of us.

"Mommy, I'll pray that you'll always be happy," Vanna said with a smile.

I smiled at what she said and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, baby. I'll also pray that my baby will always be happy."

I looked at Luca who was just quietly watching us. He just gave me a faint smile when our eyes met. I just nodded and smiled faintly back at him.

The three of us went out of the gate. We were going to church. We always do that every Sunday. Of course, the awkwardness between Luca and me is still there since that night, but somehow we're improving again... We just don't talk much.

The three of us flinched when a woman greeted us as we opened the gate. Her eyebrow raised when she looked at me, but her face immediately lit up when her gaze landed on Luca.

The woman is beautiful. She has naturally blonde hair and it seems like she's a foreigner. She's wearing an off-shoulder crop top and a fitted skirt paired with killer heels... She's really beautiful, sexy, and stunning... Even I was mesmerized by her.

"Vincenzo, love!"

I just blinked when she slightly pushed me, then ran in Luca's direction. She hugged him, but what made my eyes widen was when she kissed Luca on the lips.

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