Chapter 988

He was already delivering himself to her doorstep; how could she not succeed? But Aaron knew he couldn’t give her such an easy answer. She only dared to say such bold words now because she was drunk. Once she sobered up tomorrow, she would turn into an ostrich again, burying her head in the sand.

For her to say something like this meant her heart had already wavered. She was just holding back, still hesitant, still unwilling to take that final step forward.

“You’ve had too much to drink. I’m your Uncle Aaron,” Aaron said, deliberately keeping his expression stern.

Lena chuckled. “Oh, now you remember you’re my Uncle Aaron? But when you confessed to me, why didn’t you remember it then?”

She was bringing up old accounts now. He couldn’t tell if she was truly drunk or deliberately testing him. But regardless, he couldn’t let her win so easily. If he did, she would just run away again the moment she faced any difficulty.

“I realized my mistake, so I corrected it in time,” Aaron said lightly.

Lena stiffened. Those two words hit her like a slap. So… he was saying he never truly liked her? That it was just a moment of confusion? Was that why he had so quickly moved on to looking for a girlfriend after confessing to her?

“So, what you’re saying is… I have no chance at all?” Lena’s voice was soft, tinged with grievance and reluctance.

Aaron lowered his gaze, meeting her dazed, misty eyes. “You’re drunk.”

“I am not,” she snapped, her voice rising slightly.

“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be saying these things. When I confessed to you, you acted like I was some kind of plague and ran away,” he murmured.

“I did not run away! You’re not some kind of monster—I was just… just…” Lena struggled to explain, but the words wouldn’t come.

She stared at him for a long moment before asking, “Do you really like Xandra?”

“She’s a good girl—positive and courageous.”

It wasn’t a direct answer, but it was still an answer. Lena had never heard him praise any other woman before. The fact that he was willing to say this about Xandra meant that he approved of her. Images of Xandra’s gentle and polite demeanor flashed through Lena’s mind. Even she found her likable—how could Aaron not?

Maybe… his so-called ‘liking’ for her had been a mistake. After all, she was the woman who had been by his side the longest.

Suddenly, Lena didn’t feel like talking anymore. She didn’t even want to stay in his arms. She pushed against him, struggling to get down.

But Aaron didn’t let go. Instead, his voice turned cold. “What are you doing?”

“Put me down,” she said, pushing at him. “You have a girlfriend. Carrying another woman like this in public—have you even considered how she’d feel if she saw this?”

Aaron caught the sourness in her tone. The corner of his lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained serious.

“What woman?” he asked. “You call me Uncle Aaron. I’m your elder.”

“Bullshit elder! You’re only a few years older than me,” she huffed.

“Watch your mouth. Enough nonsense, I’m taking you home,” Aaron said, holding her securely as he continued walking.

Lena struggled a few more times before giving up and going silent. When she first realized he had feelings for her, she was afraid and avoided him. Now that she was willing to chase him, he was the one ignoring her.

So it was true—when a man loves you, you’re everything to him. But when he doesn’t, you’re nothing. Why was it so easy for men to turn their feelings on and off like a switch? And why was it impossible for women to do the same?

She was a doctor. She understood every bone and muscle in the human body. But no one had ever taught her how to understand a man’s heart.

Suddenly, something cold touched her face. She ignored it at first, thinking it was just her imagination. But then… the chill spread, drop by drop. Instinctively, she reached up to wipe her face. Her fingertips came away wet. She was… crying?