Chapter 2: The Day She Started Letting Go

Back then, every time Elias went on a business trip, if he missed either a good morning kiss or a goodnight kiss, I clung to him until he made it up to me.

Sometimes, I honestly felt like a loan shark. If Elias missed one kiss, he had to repay it ten times over.

The first time I said that out loud, the man almost laughed from irritation.

"Nancy," he said, sounding half amused and half exasperated, "do you not think you are being a little unreasonable?"

I blinked innocently, unaware of the problem. Then I cupped his face with both hands and kissed him over and over, completely satisfied.

Moments like that happened often. Eventually, Elias got used to it.

He stopped showing obvious resistance.

However, when I remembered the way he subtly dodged my kiss the night before, my chest tightened. He probably never wanted any of it in the first place.

I waved my hands in panic and quickly said, "No need."

After speaking, I lowered my head again and quietly added, with little confidence,

"We do not need good morning kisses or goodnight kisses anymore."

Elias stared at me without moving, and his eyes darkened little by little.

After a long moment, he finally spoke in a flat tone that sounded strangely stubborn.

"Fine. Whatever you want."

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

However, sadness still crept into my chest.

He really did see those things as a burden.

After I washed up, I found that Elias had already made breakfast.

He always moved faster than I did.

Once he finished eating, he sat there watching me without blinking.

I quietly sped up my eating. Elias frowned slightly and said in a calm voice, "No rush."

I nodded with my cheeks puffed full of food.

Ten minutes later, Elias was getting ready to drive me to work like usual. It was already getting late.

The floating comments appeared again, bouncing excitedly across my vision.

[If I remember right, today's the day the male and female leads meet, isn't it?]

[Yep. The female lead started working at the male lead's company today. She's capable, socially smart, and most importantly, she knows boundaries.]

[That's why the male lead feels relaxed around her.]

[Once he meets someone like the female lead, he'll definitely dump the clingy side character without hesitation.]

My eyes dimmed.

That day was the day he met her.

A heavy feeling settled in my chest, and the air around me suddenly felt thin.

When Elias saw me standing there blankly, he finally reminded me, "Get in the car."

I did not move.

"You should go. I will get to work myself."

Instead of leaving, Elias shut the car door and walked toward me with long strides. His sharp gaze swept over me.

"You are upset," he said with certainty. "Because I avoided your goodnight kiss last night, right?"

I looked up at him blankly. "No."

How could I be upset?

Those comments had made me realize how clingy I really was.

I only wanted to change.

Elias clearly did not believe me. He stepped closer and pressed the issue.

"Then why will you not let me drive you to work?"

My eyes flickered nervously. I hid the real reason and answered in a guilty tone.

"I think ... maybe we should give each other some personal space."

Elias froze for a second, as if he had not expected me to say that.

He finally stopped questioning me. "Fine. I will pick you up after work."

He did not wait for my answer.

After saying that, Elias got back in the car and drove away.

I could not focus on anything the entire day.

The comments kept saying Elias had driven the female lead home instead, and that there was no way he would come pick me up.

They even mocked me for being hopeful.

So when I arrived outside the company after work, nervous and uneasy, I did not see his familiar car anywhere.

Before that, Elias always arrived at least ten minutes early to pick me up. I stared at the empty stretch of road, lost in thought.

Then a clear, cool voice sounded behind me.

"Nancy? What are you doing standing here? Cannot get a ride?"

"Actually, that makes sense. It is rush hour right now. Do not bother squeezing onto the subway. I can take you home on my motorcycle."

I turned around.

A young man stood behind me, dressed in flashy clothes with a motorcycle helmet tucked under his arm.

He had only started working at the company two days earlier.