NovelOnlineChapter 1214: As Cliff led Laney away, she felt mechanical, her movements wooden, as if on autopilot. "Cousin." Just a cousin. The cold designation rang in her ears, taunting her. Two months earlier, he had asked if she wanted to date him. Out of consideration for him, she had kept their relationship from the Hopkins family. Yet, her patience was rewarded by him labeling her merely as a cousin to avoid suspicion.
A bitter laugh escaped Laney, tears streaking her cheeks. For the first time, she resented how easily she cried, angrily wiping away her tears.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCliff escorted her to the car, silent as she wept.
With a mix of defiance and scorn welling up inside her, Laney caught her breath. "Am I really just your cousin?" she asked.
She no longer sobbed aloud, instead suppressing her breakdown, her body trembling. Her gaze bore an intensity Cliff had never seen before. With eyes red and swollen, she asked, "When you kissed and touched me, did you think ofas your cousin then?" Cliff didn't want her to cry in the cold wind. He gently lifted her and placed her in the car.
The usually gentle and compliant girl now resembled a defensive creature, gripping Cliff's collar, her voice tense. "Cliff, answer me!" Her emotions overflowed, her warm tears splashing onto Cliff's face, yet they could not soften his stern expression.
Cliff had braced for this confrontation and was ready to face her anguish. His response was calculated, devoid of warmth. "Yes, in my heart, you have always been my cousin." Laney's face turned ghostly pale. Her tears streamed down uncontrollably as she asked in despair, "Then why did you leadon... Why givehope if you never cared for me..." Cliff pressed his lips together, enduring the pain. He reached out to wipe her tears, his voice cold. "Wasn't this what you wanted, Laney? We're family. How could we ever truly be together?" Laney stared at him, stunned. The face she had adored now seemed alien and cold. So, the affection he had shown was merely to appease her desires. It was merely pity. He had admitted in the hotel room that he couldn't dismiss her easily, so he had relented. His words were indeed true.
Laney felt a profound ache, her disgust for his touch growing. Without a second thought, she turned away, opened the car door, and stepped out.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCliff's expression darkened. "Laney!" He followed her immediately, but just then, another voice called out from behind. "Cliff, there's an emergency with my sister. Cquickly!"
Kira had always been aware of how deeply attached Laney was to Cliff. Wanting to witness the unfold, she intentionally stayed in the car, her eyes fixed on the scene outside.
When Kira saw Cliff running after Laney, she couldn't resistmischievously calling out to him. But to her shock, he didn't even glance back and continued after Laney without hesitation.
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