When Left

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When she left, He went crazy

Chapter 176: Who Are You Afraid of Misunderstanding?

Despite the soft carpet in the hallway, the sharp pain from my tailbone’s collision with the floor cut through the fog in my mind,

The person who brought me up here was Christopher.

I had actually mistook someone else for him.

Sensing my resistance, Christopher halted, a ser forming as light framed his silhouette. “So, you’ve decided to stick with him? Waiting for him to marry Bella Harris so you can play the bridesmaid?”

Jerry’s sharp tongue didn’t miss a beat. “Are you talking about yourself?”

His long strides brought Jerry swiftly to my side. He lifted sardonic smile at Christopher. “Mr. Valence, tal

care.

Christopher’s fists tightened, visible tremors betr

om the floor, his grip firm yet gentle, and directed a won’t be seeing you out.”

his restraint. “Focus on Bella Harris. Hope Royston is mine.”

Jerry’s voice was calm. “She has never belonged to anyone. She belongs to herself.”

Christopher’s glare turned icy as he extended his hand toward me, adopting perhaps the most subservient stance of his life. “Come on, stop causing trouble. You and he won’t work out. Come home with me.”

yone

“No matter what happens between me and him, or else, it’s none of your business.” Though my head throbbed, my voice was firm. “You and I parted ways long ago. Don’t say things that could easily be misunderstood.”

Christopher’s rage surged dangerously, his tone dropping ominously low. “Who are you afraid of misunderstanding?”

His cold gaze flitting to Jerry, Christopher hissed, “Afraid of him

him, don’t use him to provoke me.”

A laugh bubbled up inside me. “Why can’t I fall for him?”

Hope Royston, don’t tell me you’ve really fallen for

Fueled by alcohol or sheer defiance, I grabbed Jerry’s collar, rose onto my toes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Drunk though I was, a heartbeat pounded in my ears. I couldn’t tell if it

Jerry’s or my own.

I looked back at Christopher. “Now, do you believe it?”

Christopher’s face darkened with fury. Before he could react, Jerry pulled me into his arms, his gaze steady on Christopher.

“Hope can’t hold her liquor,” Jerry said, his tone carrying a subtle challenge despite the apology. “Sorry for the embarrassment, Mr. Valence.”

The intimacy of my name on his lips made me pause.

Christopher’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked, anger nearly consuming him. He spat through gritted

Chapter 176: Who Are You Afraid of Misunderstanding?

teeth, “Mr. Hammer, are you sure you want to steal someone’s love?”

“Steal?” Jerry laughed nonchalantly. “Who she chooses is her decision. It’s not for me to steal. However, Mr. Valence, use whatever means you wish. Don’t hold back.”

“Remember what you said today!” Christopher’s expression twisted into something sinister. “Don’t regret it.”

With that, his gaze swept over me, filled with a mix of pain and unyielding confidence.

Then, he turned and strode away.

I knew Christopher’s ruthless tactics too well and didn’t want him dragging the innocent into his schemes. I moved to follow him, but Jerry seized the back of my collar and hauled me into the room.

My head spun, my steps faltered, and when Jerry tossed me onto the sofa, pain flared in my tailbone, making me wince. “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Jerry’s lips smirked, but his eyes were frigid, his tone cuttingly severe. “Why were you chasing after him? Regretting your words? Playing hard to get but failing?”

My heart ached suddenly and sharply, like an unexpected stab. I pointed toward the door. “Get out!”

Jerry mocked, “Hope Royston, who coddled you into having such a bad temper? Can’t you speak reasonably?”

“And you?” I shot back, glaring. “What right do you have to criticize me? Where’s your fiancée? Why aren’t you with

her? Why do you even have the time to bother with me?”

“Even when you’re drunk, your wordscut deep,” Jerry said with a mix of exasperation and amusement, then let out a low laugh. He half-squatted in front of me, his voice softening. “Alright, I rushed things. I didn’t speak to you properly.

That’s my fault.”

I instinctively asked, “And what’s your punishment?”/

Jerry raised an eyebrow, teasing, “Let you kiss me again?”

It was at that moment I noticed the redness of Jerry’s ears. I shook my head, trying to clear the alcohol-induced fog, and focused on him. “Why are you here?”

He replied, “To give you an explanation.”

I frowned. “Didn’t we already clear things up last night?”

Jerry’s eyes met mine, steady and unwavering. “That was your one-sided conclusion.”

Jerry poured me a glass of water, then sent a message on his phone before continuing.

“I’ve already sent her back to the Harris family. Hope Royston, before I told you last night that I wouldn’t wait for her, I had already made up my mind. You can call me indecisive, but know this: I’ve truly fallen for you. I’m not a two-timer.. Since I like you, I won’t be entangled with anyone else.”

Chapter 176: Who Are You Afraid of Misunderstanding?

1 clenched my hands. “What about Bella Harris?”

“First, let’s confirm if she really is Bella Harris. Jerry’s expression grew serious. All signs point to her being Bella, but Claire and I both believe she isn’t. We’re already doing a paternity test.”

I pursed my lips. What if she is?”

“Before coming to you, I discussed breaking off the engagement with Claire.” Jerry tucked my messy hair behind my ear, his brown eyes penetrating. “Whether she is or not, I will endf the engagement. Hope Royston, can you trust me

this once?”

Jerry’s tone remained nonchalant, but something unspoken lingered in the air.

Christopher had asked me to trust him numerous times as well. Christopher didn’t end up marrying Evelyn either, yet things turned out like this in the end.

Now, Jerry and I had merely spent more time together, and he was caught up in the moment. Once he and Bella spent more time together, those childhood promises and emotions would likely resurface.

I didn’t think I could compete with anyone’s cherished first love. And I would become the sacrificial lamb Elissa had

warned me about.

The doorbell suddenly rang. I thought it was Elissa returning and moved to open the door, but Jerry stopped me. “I’ll get it.”

Jerry walked to the door, thanked the person outside, and returned with a box. Tilting his chin slightly, he said, “Go

take a shower.”

I glanced at the box in Jerry’s hand, understanding dawning slowly, my mind a whirlwind. I instinctively covered my collar with both hands.

“I said, we’ll talk about it later! And, even though I’ve been divorced, Jerry Hammer, I’m not that kind of easy woman.”

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Chapter 176: Who Are You Afraid of Misunderstanding?

I clenched my hands. “What about Bella Harris?”

“First, let’s confirm if she really is Bella Harris.” Jerry’s expression grew serious. “All signs point to her being Bella, but Claire and I both believe she isn’t. We’re already doing a paternity test.”

I pursed my lips. “What if she is?”

“Before coming to you, I discussed breaking off the engagement with Claire.” Jerry tucked my messy hair behind my ear, his brown eyes penetrating. “Whether she is or not, I will endf the engagement. Hope Royston, can you trust me

this once?”

Jerry’s tone remained nonchalant, but something unspoken lingered in the air.

Christopher had asked me to trust him numerous times as well. Christopher didn’t end up marrying Evelyn either, yet things turned out like this in the end.

Now, Jerry and I had merely spent more time together, and he was caught up in the moment. Once he and Bella spent more time together, those childhood promises and emotions would likely resurface.

I didn’t think I could compete with anyone’s cherished first love. And I would become the sacrificial lamb Elissa had warned me about.

The doorbell suddenly rang. I thought it was Elissa returning and moved to open the door, but Jerry stopped me. “I’ll get it.”

Jerry walked to the door, thanked the person outside, and returned with a box. Tilting his chin slightly, he said, “Go take a shower.”

I glanced at the box in Jerry’s hand, understanding dawning slowly, my mind a whirlwind. I instinctively covered my collar with both hands.

“I said, we’ll talk about it later! And, even though I’ve been divorced, Jerry Hammer, I’m not that kind of easy woman.”

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