Chapter <i>557 </i>


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    “Stop spacing out and eat,” Edward urged me.


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    Hisrge hand reached over, cing a piece of beef on my te. “What’s done is done. Dwelling on it won’t help. We need to focus on finding a solution.”


    His deep voice, heavy as the lowest piano note, resonated through me.


    That was exactly what I was trying to do—figure out how to fix this mess.


    “Guess I’ll have to trek through every sacred mountain and temple, praying the universe stops ying tricks on me and hoping the Chambeins show some mercy and leave me alone,” I said, self–deprecating as I poked at my food.


    Edward let out augh, looking at me with a mix of amusement and disbelief. “After all these years, you still believe in that stuff?”


    “Me? Am I really that old?” I froze at his words, my hand instinctively reaching up to touch my face.


    In my previous life, I’d stared into the mirror countless times, watching as my once fair face became clouded by resentment, like a wilted rose–pale and lifeless.


    Edward’srge hand reached out, gently holding my fingers. “No, you’re beautiful.”


    The heat from his palm was like a jolt of electricity, and I pulled my hand back on reflex.


    Edward looked at me with a bit of audacity in his


    eyes.


    My cheeks burned under his heated gaze. I hadn’t even started eating, but I just wanted to bolt.


    So, I set down my fork and stood up. “Mr. Jennings, I want to go home.”


    Edward paused for a moment, then gave his hand a little p, looking both helpless and indulgent. “Alright, I’ll stop messing with you. Come on, let’s eat.”


    Once he promised to stop teasing, I finally sat back down and started eating again.


    15:12 Mon, Sep 8 B..


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    It was little things like this that made me realize Edward could actually be pretty reasonable.


    “Ryan’s been put under house arrest by my grandfather,” Edward suddenly said.


    I looked up at him, startled. “What happened?”


    “He met up with Fionast night and they ended up arguing,” Edward said, raising an eyebrow. “They’re not even married yet and already fighting? That’s really out of line.”


    My hands trembled, the color draining from my face as I stared nkly at the food on my te, my gaze frozen.


    Edward’s eyes flickered as he watched my reaction. “Fiona’s an idiot, and Ryan lost his temper over you. Victoria, you really are impossible to ignore.”


    I set down my fork again and stood up.


    Edward’s hand closed around my wrist, stopping me. “I’m just trying to be upfront with you, so you’ll know what to do if something like this happens again.”


    I looked down at him, only to find him staring right back at me. Our eyes met, and the air between us crackled with a tension that made my heart race.


    Snapping out of it, I shook off his hand and sat back down. “If you really want to help me, then stop saying things that get under my skin.”


    “Alright, let me break it down for you. Fiona is the youngest in her family, with two older brothers, She’s never had to suffer for anything, so she’s blunt and has a fiery temper. That’s why, even though the Chambeins kept reminding her to stay calm, she still couldn’t hold it together and came to see you,” Edward said, his voice slow and steady.


    I stared at him, dumbfounded. He nced at me and went on, “The Chambeins are a proud bunch. Fiona stirring up drama like that was a real blow to their pride. She and Ryan got into a fight, she ran home bawling, and got chewed out by her folks,”


    My breathing grew shallow, my fingers twisting together nervously.


    15:12 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 8 <b>G </b>


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    “The Chambeins will want to keep up appearances, so they won’te looking for trouble. As long as you don’t see Ryan again, and don’t make it look like you’re trying to snatch him from them, they probably won’t give you a hard time,” Edward said, his voice gentler as he saw how rattled I was. “I’ll make sure they don’t give you any trouble, either.”


    I looked up and met his eyes.


    His gaze was almost obsessed. “Your eyes look just like amber floating in water. They’re gorgeous.”


    I blinked. He always says stuff like this at the worst possible time.


    ‘I swear, he’s going to give me a heart attack,‘ I thought.


    “Edward, if I get married, will the Chambeins finally stop bothering me?” I took a deep breath. Love can beplicated, or it can be simple. Letting go of everything means burying those feelings for good, so nothing else will stir up


    trouble.


    Edward stiffened, staring at me in disbelief.


    I calmed myself down, speaking with a bit more determination. “You told me before to just find someone to marry, even if it’s just for show. That still works, right?”


    Edward’s eyes darkened, like the depths of an ancient pool. He nodded. “Yeah. It still works.”


    Hearing that, I said bitterly, “Looks like I can’t escape marriage, even though I promised myself I’d never get married again.”


    Edward’s brows knitted together, his face growing darker. His voice came out husky as he asked, “Who are you thinking of marrying?”


    I set down my fork and got up, going to stand by the window. Outside the thick curtains, there was a row of sprawling banyan trees.


    They were lush and bursting with life.


    If they can survive this freezing winter, next year their leaves will be even greener.