�The truth is,� she continued, �Cecy was inexperienced and very naive emotionally through those years. That�s why she��

�Mom!� Cecilia interrupted her, feeling humiliated. �Didn�t I tell you to stop talking about that?�

Both of these men once loved her deeply, but right now, neither of them wanted her. This came as, without a doubt, a huge blow to a woman like her. If her mother kept on fawning over these men, trying to please them so they�d take her back, she would soon be left without a shred of dignity!

Christopher, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed. He even casually patted Stefan�s shoulder and half-joked, �I�ll leave everything here to you now. I trust that you�ll handle everything well.�

His calm and nonchalant attitude made Stefan seem like the groom who had wrongfully left his bride at the altar, not him.

Stefan wasted no time and asked Cecilia, �Would it be convenient for you if we spoke in private?�

Cecilia bit her lips and nodded almost flirtily. �How could it be inconvenient when it comes to you?�

Stefan then followed Cecilia into the private ward. Once they were both inside, Stefan closed the door.

They were initially standing very close to each other, but when Stefan noticed that Cecilia was trying to get nearer to him, he took a huge step back away from her.

�You fell into the sea and almost drowned,� he said. �I think you�d better lie down and rest.�

This made it awkward for Cecilia, but she then quietly stepped away from him and returned to her bed. Yet when she looked into Stefan�s eyes, she saw that they were gentle and filled with affection.

�So you�re not as cold and heartless as you look!� she observed. �I still mean something to you, and you still care about me, right?�

�Of course I do,� Stefan replied honestly, not trying to deny anything.� You�re still the woman I used to love very much, and you�re one of my few confidantes. I�m not a robot made of steel and iron, so of course, you mean a lot to me, and I definitely do care about you.�

�Used to?� Cecilia smiled bitterly. There was such a painful expression on her face that it was obvious how heartbroken she was. �I�d rather you never loved me at all. That way, I�d never have to endure this agonizing pain of losing you.�

That feeling of being loved was so blissful and perfect that it made it that much more excruciating when she realized that she had lost the love he used to feel for her!

�Not this again!� Stefan thought, helplessly massaging his temples.

He had no idea when the Cecilia Smith he knew, who used to be so level headed, independent, and optimistic, would become so difficult, a person whose mind was filled with nothing but love and romance!

�Let�s not talk about this anymore,� he replied coldly. �Let�s just let go of the past and move on. The more you bring it up, the more you�ll make it awkward between us. We might end up not even able to be friends with each other.�

�So you�re saying there really is no chance for us?� Cecilia asked, unable to take it anymore. With tears in her eyes and having lost most of her self control, she began to raise her voice. �Even if both you and I are not married, even if we�re both single right now, there�s no chance we�d be together again?�

�That�s right!� Stefan answered without any hesitation. Looking straight into Cecilia�s eyes, he attested, JrNovels.com