47


    55 vouchers


    But Edward didn’t even seem to hear me, his fiery kiss only growing more relentless as he pressed in closer, refusing to let me escape.


    My mind wentpletely nk, my breath stolen away until my face burned hot and red.


    My fingers, meant to push him away, lost all strength from theck of air–before I knew it, I was gripping his shoulders, clinging to him instead.


    Only after he’d had his fill did Edward finally pull back, taking in my panicked expression. He reached out and gently brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”


    I was speechless. ‘Is he really doing the whole “hurt you then hand you a candy” routine? That’s so old–school.


    “Next time… I’ll ask for your permission first,” he said, smirking devilishly when he saw how breathless and flustered I was.


    “There better not be a next time,” I said, a mix of anger and fear in my voice. “I told you, we can’t take this any further.”


    “Do you hate me?” Edward asked, his gaze suddenly going dark and hollow, like all the stars had vanished from his eyes.


    I froze, my mouth hanging open, but no words came out.


    I used to really hate him. He was like a wild animal–dangerous and unpredictable–always putting me on edge, making me want to run the other way.


    But now… with all these mixed feelings swirling around inside me, I couldn’t even put into words how I felt.


    “You don’t hate me, but you don’t like me either, right?” Edward said, sitting back down with a sense of loneliness, looking off to the side. “You like Ryan. No matter what I do or how much I help you, the only one you care about is him.”


    “Edward, don’tpare yourself to him,” I said. My feelings for Ryan had already been buried by cold logic. This isn’t something that can be fixed just by liking someone–it’s like there’s a whole gxy between us, impossible to cross. If he hadn’t gone out of his way to notice me, I probably wouldn’t even exist in his world.


    Just like right now–if Edward didn’t keep creating chances for us to meet, I wouldn’t even catch a glimpse of


    him.


    How do you even define liking someone<b>, </b>or love, or the brutal truth about social status<b>? </b>


    There aren’t any words for it. If two people are meant to be together, they’ll find each other–no need for any


    extra words.


    But if there’s no chance, love is nothing but a tragedy,


    Edward looked genuinely hurt and just went quiet.


    11:55 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>


    <b>47 </b>


    55 vouchers


    I realized my voice had gotten a little too loud. He’d brought me here to protect me, and yet I was throwing these words at him, making things worse. That was really unfair to him.


    “Why do you always have topare yourself to him? Does it really mean anything?” I asked, my voice softer


    now<b>. </b>


    Edward’s eyes brightened just a bit when he realized I was willing to talk, but then he gave a wry, self–mocking smile. “Maybe I just want to know, you know? Ryan and I are a generation apart, but when we were kids, we actually yed together a lot. I’m nine years older than him, so when he was just starting to figure things out, I was still a kid too. Wepeted over all kinds of stuff, but the first time he called me ‘Uncle Ryan‘ at school, it was like everything just stopped for me.”


    Listening to him, I finally got why Edward, even as the older one, still had that urge to measure himself against his nephew.


    “Sure, it’s normal topete as kids because we’re immature, but if you’re still doing it as an adult… does that mean you’re still not grown up?” I couldn’t help but poke fun at him.


    Edward looked stunned for a second. “Haven’t you ever heard? Boys never really grow up.”


    I gave a dry littleugh. “Oh, I’ve heard that one. And I also know the other saying–‘the only time a man truly behaves is when he’s just a photo on the wall.”


    Edward just stared at me,pletely lost for words.


    “Maybe there’s something twisted in me, or maybe it’s just fate ying games with us–making both Ryan and me run into you at the worst possible time,” Edward said, pausing as his eyes grew icy. “<b>If </b>I really want to defy fate, then I should cut you out of my life—and Ryan’s–for good.”


    A cold shiver shot down my back. ‘Is he saying… I have to die for this?‘ I thought, panic rising inside me.


    “Ed… Edward, please don’t joke about that,” I stammered, my voice trembling, fear gripping me.


    Edward looked down at me like I was beneath him, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “All my life, I’ve hated how fate tries to control me. I’ve always wanted to fight back, but never found a way. And now, with you here, you’ve be the woman both Ryan and I are forced topete for…”


    “I’m not! I didn’t-“I blurted out, jumping to my feet and stumbling backward, panic flooding through me.


    Edward rose too, following me step by step, not letting me get away. “I don’t even know why I like you. I never wanted things to turn into this mess between us.”


    “Go ahead and hate me from now on,” I blurted out, then turned and ran out before he could say another word.


    But before I could get away, Edward’s hand shot out, yanking me back and pinning me against a pir.


    He stared at me <b>as </b><b>if </b>he were defying fate itself, his gaze icy and unyielding. Then, in the next moment, his touch turned achingly gentle–he cupped my chin, his hand trembling, and pressed a trembling kiss to my lips. “Victoria, I can’t escape fate… and I just can’t make myself let you go.”


    11:56 Thu, <b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>