Chapter 169

I looked right into Jonathan’s eyes.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t go after him again.”

Stroking my face, Jonathan sighed, “Elise, that’s not what I meant.”

I shoved his hand away and kept a distance. “No matter how they picked on me or hurt me in the past, I won’t hold a grudge against them anymore.”

I gave him a bitter smile. “Because being with you means everyone gets to step on me.”

Jonathan’s gaze darkened, emotions flickering behind his eyes.

His voice dropped an octave as he asked, “Does being with me feel that awful?”

“Yeah, it does,” I replied flatly. “It’s no different from torment. Everyone knows that I mean nothing to you. I’m just someone with a meaningless title. You could toss me aside anytime.

“Even if they humiliate me, you’ll still let it slide for Alicia’s sake. So really, what was I even hoping for?”

I turned and left. This time, he didn’t follow.

As soon as I stepped out of the office, Gabrielle came rushing over.

“Elise, are you okay?”

Hearing her voice made me swell with emotion again. I grabbed her hand tightly but didn’t say a word.

We exchanged a look, and in each other’s eyes, we saw the same storm of emotion.

“I saw everything,” she finally quavered after a long pause.

“Saw what?”

“Michael and Alicia just left together,” she said.

I pulled her into a hug and patted her back. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t get justice for you.”

“Stop that. You’ve already done enough.” Gabrielle sighed. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, Elise. You weren’t the one at fault.”

She was right. I wasn’t the one who did something wrong, but she had to suffer.

I fell silent, and she leaned quietly against me. Memories of those moments came flooding back, and once again, I was overwhelmed with the same powerless feeling.

I had never hated how vulnerable I was.

After a long silence, Gabrielle suddenly spoke in a teasing tone.

“If I could, I’d wish for you to forget all of it. It’s a shame you forgot your marriage to Jonathan, but not that memory.”

She gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I looked at her, and tears suddenly welled up in my eyes.

“Don’t say things like that. If I forgot everything, maybe I’d forget you too.”

Her face fell. “I just meant the bad memories–not me!”

“But that’s what you just said.”

“Fine, that was a mistake,” she said, pinching my waist. “I just don’t want you remembering someone like Michael.”

It was getting late. After Gabrielle’s words of comfort, my mood finally settled.

We had dinner together outside. Halfway through, she suddenly shot me a worried look and reminded me, “Don’t go after him. I don’t want you fighting for me.”

“Relax. I’m not that reckless girl anymore,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I’ll find another way. I won’t be impulsive.”

Still, Gabrielle looked uneasy. “Michael’s rich, and he’s also close to Alicia. She’ll definitely back him up.”