NovelOnlineHe'd been keeping a close eye on the school's dynamics, watching with growing satisfaction as Abner becmore isolated. He figured with all the pressure mounting, Shirley would soon give up on Abner. Surely, Mr. Davis would have to step in now.
Mark didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. He hadn't spread rumors; he'd merely stated the facts.
When Shirley's call cthrough, his eyes lit up.
Heading downstairs, he made his way to the coffee shop near his office. It was the spot he and Shirley had agreed on.
Shirley was already there, though she seemed a bit off.
Mark ordered sdesserts and coffee, then smiled at her. "Back from abroad?" Shirley looked up, well aware of Mark's many flaws. Like most men, he was self-centered and exhibited a classic case of machismo.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut she never thought he'd stoop so low.
"Did you leak Abner's family background?" Mark's smile faltered, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.
He suddenly remembered Shirley had caught a glimpse of that ID back in high school. There was no denying it.
"Yes." As soon as he admitted it, Shirley grabbed her coffee and threw it over his head.
"You're a grown man in your twenties, picking on a seventeen-year-old kid. Are you even human? He's in his senior year of high school! Mark, what are you playing at? I thought even with your flaws, you'd never do something like this!" Their argument quickly drew the attention of others in the café, turning it into a public spectacle.
Mark hated losing face, but at that moment, he felt fear.
Releasing those messages, he had felt a rush he couldn't explain, despite his initial regret. It was Abner who had driven them to this point. Without him, he and Shirley might have been engaged by now.
Wiping the coffee from his face, Mark's hand clenched into a fist.
"I'm sorry." His swift apology caught Shirley off guard, but thinking of all the unfair treatment Abner had suffered these past months, she found Mark utterly repulsive.
"Mark, we're done. Don't interfere in my life or Abner's anymore. If you pull another stunt like this, I'll make a scene at yourpany. Let's see if the executives will stand by a successor with such a narrow mind." "So, Abner's more important to you than I am?" "Yes!" Shirley stood up so abruptly she kicked the table.
She wished she could slap him a few more times but couldn't stand the sight of him any longer.
"Don't letsee you again." With that, she stormed out.
Mark hurried after her. "Shirley!" He grabbed her wrist, his voice tinged with panic.
"Yes, I was wrong. But are you sure that kid doesn't have ulterior motives for you?" "Enough! From the day Abner cto our home, you've looked at him through biased lenses." "I'm a man; I know what it means when a man looks at a woman!" Shirley couldn't help but laugh, even now, he was trying to smear Abner.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"You're beyond reason." She shrugged off his grip, only to hear him suddenly choke up.
"Fine, I was wrong. Damn, Shirley, you're heartless. I flirted a little with Jessica, but we had nothing serious, and you sentencedto death. All your talk of love, I see it was alllies. What did our eight years mean to you? Nothing!" The pain hit Shirley hard, leaving her speechless.
How many eight-year periods does one have in life? Seeing Mark now, so different from the boy she remembered from high school, shattered a remaining illusions.
illusions. Deep breaths calmed her as she pulled away from him and drove off.
Mark felt awful, his collar stained with coffee.
When Shirley returned to the hospital, she found Abner propped up in bed, diligently working on test papers.
Despite everything, he was still giving it his all.
"Shirley." His eyes brightened at her return.
Sitting beside him, Shirley noticed his concern over her distressed appearance. She must have confronted Mark. Content Mark. SW vel And by the looks of it, she had made her stance very clear.
A small smile played on his lips, his eyes filled with joy.
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