Chapter 400: I Don’t Want a Secondhand Man

Easton still hadn’t given up on the idea of getting back together. But with his status and resources, he had no shortage of women willing to marry him. All he had to do was say the word, and they’d be lining up. Even if he didn’t want any of those women, he could take his time, meet someone new, and remarry eventually. He didn’t have to hang himself from the tree that was her.

“If you teach me how to ask, I’ll learn,” Easton said seriously. Sure, he’d never begged anyone for anything before. But if begging Ellis would change her mind, he’d do it.

Ellis just stared at him like he’d been struck by lightning. She could hardly keep a straight face. Was she losing her mind, or was Easton completely insane? Maybe the whole world was. Did he seriously just say that if she taught him how to beg, he’d do it?

She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. “And why the hell would I do that? You’ve already been annoying enough, messing up my life like some obsessive stalker. You think I’ve got nothing better to do than teach you how to pester me more efficiently?” Not that begging would help anyway.

After what she went through with Easton, she had permanent PTSD. The man was used goods. There was no way in hell she’d take back something that had already belonged to Victoria. That would be betraying herself. And everyone would laugh in her face.

“You used to chase after me too, remember?” Easton reminded her. “I never gave you crap for it.”

Her chest tightened. Yeah, he never called her desperate, but that didn’t mean he had the right to do the same thing now. She clenched her fists to stop herself from snapping and decided to just lay it out.

“I’m not taking you back—not just because of everything you’ve done, but because I think you’re disgusting.” Her words were clear and sharp. “You know what that means, right? When I say I think you’re gross?”

Easton stiffened. Yeah, he knew what that meant. He’d been insulted enough times to understand.

“I never cheated on you with Victoria,” he said quickly.

“Doesn’t matter. Whether or not you slept with her, you—” she hesitated. Even though she wasn’t some naive little girl and they’d been together countless times, saying this out loud still made her cringe. “You were engaged to her. That’s a fact.”

“That engagement was before I met you. My grandfather arranged it. I didn’t know back then that I’d end up marrying you.” He meant it as an explanation, but she wasn’t having it.

Ellis crossed her arms, eyes full of contempt. “I said you’re secondhand, and I meant it.”

Easton’s face darkened. “That’s just an excuse.”

“It’s a reason,” she corrected. “Used is used. I don’t want anything secondhand. Wanting to marry you back then was a moment…” She paused, then added, “Before you, I’d never even dated anyone. Never had a guy in my life.”

Easton fell completely silent.

And contrary to what Ellis assumed, he wasn’t suddenly enlightened or aware of his shortcomings. No, Easton was just kicking himself for ever thinking love didn’t matter, and for letting his grandfather dictate so much of his life.

“Get out.”

He still didn’t say anything, so she bent down, shoved the gift bag onto the ground between them, and slammed the door in his face.

Right on cue, Maya returned from work and spotted Easton outside the door. By now, it was nothing new. Seeing her best friend’s ex lurking around had become totally normal. She walked up, used her fingerprint to unlock the door, and asked casually, “Looking for Ellis again, Mr. Hudson?”

“Already talked to her,” Easton replied.

Maya smiled awkwardly and turned back to open the door.

“Wait.” Easton stopped her, and she instantly regretted it. God, was he seriously trying to make her his delivery girl again? There was the damn bag, the same one as before. Maya recognized it immediately.

“Could you take this in for me?” Easton said, holding it out.

Yup. Just as she’d thought. Maya didn’t even reach for it. “Mr. Hudson, you’re wasting your time. Ellis isn’t going to take it, and I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of this.” And to be clear, the “stuck in the middle” thing? Total exaggeration. She had no problem standing by Ellis—she just didn’t want to waste her time being Easton’s unpaid courier, especially since Ellis would just end up giving it back anyway.