An Early Engagement - Chapter 51
*Thud.*
Shirley was caught in an instant. When she turned around, Damian was standing there.
“Let go.”
She twisted and turned, trying to shake off his tight grip, but she couldn’t overpower his strength.
His neatly combed hair was disheveled from chasing after her, and his blue eyes, visible through the strands, gleamed with a sharp light.
“Why did you run away?”
Shirley stared at him in disbelief. Why? She felt like laughing.
“I didn’t run away.”
Even though it was an obvious lie, she didn’t feel the need to hide it. She just wanted to get out of there, no matter what.
“You did run away. The moment our eyes met.”
“Must be your imagination.”
“Then, was it also my imagination that you came here to see me?” His cold tone made Shirley flinch.
“This is new, Shirley. Seeing you come looking for me like this.”
“……”
Before she knew it, Shirley had been backed against the balcony wall. Damian stretched his arm beside her, blocking her escape route, and looked down at her with a relaxed gaze.
“Tell me why you’re here, Shirley.”
“I have nothing to say. You, on the other hand… it seems like you had business with Amy.” At her words, Damian let out a short laugh. His reaction made her anger flare, and the words spilled out uncontrollably.
“You… you’re really terrible. You’re a bad person. Sending me that one piece of paper, and now you’re already with another woman…”
Her words were disjointed, but they were dripping with resentment and anger.
“Hah.”
Damian, who had been listening to Shirley’s grievances, swept the disheveled hair from his forehead.
“I just did what you wanted. Why are you getting angry?”
“I wanted it…?”
“You said to break off the engagement.”
In an instant, his expression turned cold, and Shirley was left stunned.
“That… that was just something I said in the heat of the moment. You know that.”
“Yeah, I figured it was just something you blurted out in anger.”
“……”
“So, did you come here thinking I sent that breakup letter in a fit of anger too?”
“…What?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I meant it. Just like you said, Shirley, we can’t be husband and wife.”
“So, you really did hear everything.”
She had thought it was a dream. Or maybe she had misheard. But it was true.
That day, Damian had overheard the conversation she had with Melissa.
“That conversation, it was just…”
“I know. You two always say what’s on your minds.”
“……”
“So, I know it was your true feelings too.” Damian’s expression was sorrowful as he spoke.
“So, I gave you what you wanted. What’s the problem now?”
The cold words coming from Damian’s mouth made Shirley feel like she was losing her mind.
He was misunderstanding. No, it was true that she had been conflicted at the time, but she had quickly realized it wasn’t what she wanted. Especially now…
“Damian.”
In her desperation, she called his name. At that moment, the sound of people murmuring reached her ears, followed by the footsteps of several others. Shirley grew anxious, knowing the balcony would soon be crowded with people.
If she couldn’t talk to Damian like this…
“This way.”
Damian wrapped his arm around Shirley’s shoulder and pulled her along. He opened the door to one of the rooms lining the hallway and strode inside.
*Thud.*
As the door closed, the room became a perfect sealed space. A world completely cut off from the noisy outside, just the two of them.
And then, a suffocating silence fell.
The two stood there without saying a word, engulfed in a long silence. During that time, Shirley frantically tried to think of something to say to him, but nothing came out properly.
Damian’s heart seemed more tightly closed than she had thought, and finding a way to open it felt hopeless.
“Or, have you changed your mind?”
“……”
“Did you find my body appealing, or something?”
The whispering voice, pressing her against the wall, didn’t sound like Damian at all.
“Like that other man.”
Shirley flinched, and Damian’s lips curled as if amused by her reaction.
“Damian, about that time…”
For a moment, Shirley felt dizzy and took a shallow breath.
The tone in Damian’s voice, chastising her for engaging in risky physical contact with another man while she was engaged, made Shirley’s body stiffen.
“Should I start treating you nicely again, Shirley?”
“……”
“If you want me, prove it.”
“……”
“So, it’s not true after all.”
A look of disappointment flashed across Damian’s face.
“It seems I’m just a comfortable friend to you, nothing more, nothing less. We could never be husband and wife or lovers.”
“No, I, I…”
“Even if we break off the engagement, it won’t be a problem. In fact, it might even be better. You know how many marriage proposals will come flooding in once word gets out that a good match is available.”
“Damian…”
Shirley was deeply shocked by how coldly and realistically Damian was speaking.
“After all, we both have to marry someone eventually. Among the matches the matchmakers suggest, isn’t there at least one person you’d want to live with as a spouse?”
“……”
“It’s the same for me.”
“What?”
Damian turned as if to leave the room.
“Damian!”
Shirley frantically grabbed his arm. Damian stopped, letting her hold onto him, but that was all.
The indifferent gaze he directed at her remained unchanged. It was as cold, dry, and unyielding as if he were looking at a stone.
A terrifying gaze, devoid of any emotion.
