I pulled up the thick curtain and saw three of them sitting on the sofa looking up.
Alan Hoyle seemed to drink a little too much. With reddened eyes, he waved, âHoney, youâre here.â
Olive Steele walked closer and was dragged into his arms. He was reeked of wine. On the table, there were a few empty bottles of wine. They were of high qualities and high concentration of alcohol. People got drunk easier on mulled wine and she didnât know how much he drank. She was not allowed to drink and he got wasted here instead. How selfish.
She got up a little embarrassed. This man definitely did it on purpose. She stared at him and pinched him on the waist. When he put on a silly smile, her heart softened. He sat down next to him and caught a glimpse of Ivy Aldington. He was looking another way.
Perhaps, she was greedy. She didnât want to lose anyone. However, she broke Ivy Aldingtonâs heart and she didnât know how to deal with it.
Dave Chou groaned, âLook at your face. You look like as if we bullied him.â
âThatâs possible.â She didnât know what they were talking about. She always felt weird for her own man to sit down and drink with a man who liked her and a man who was hostile to him. Even more bizarre, Dave Chou paid for the drinks.
She wanted to listen what they were talking about, but she felt that it was embarrassing for her to be here. She gave up and gave them space instead.
Dave Chou laughed, âIâm not chasing you. Did you offend you?â
Dave Chou wasnât, but the man on the opposite probably was. What was in his heart?
Olive Steele couldnât think of an answer. Finally, she remembered the purpose of her coming in here, âXenia is drunk in the bar. Why are you flirting here? Arenât you afraid another man will take her away?â
âWhy didnât you say it earlier?â Dave Chou glared at her and rushed out.
It seemed that his concern for Xenia Boswell was genuine.
After Dave Chou left, the atmosphere in the room became really awkward. Olive Steele didnât know what to say. Alan Hoyle was silent. Ivy Aldington was looking at her. He wasnât just staring, he was looking at her and it made her very uncomfortable.
âWell, itâs getting late. You drink enough. Letâs go home.â
âOlive, can I talk to you alone?â Ivy Aldington asked slowly as if afraid of her rejection.
Before Olive Steele could open her mouth, Alan Hoyleâs put his arms around Olive Steeleâs shoulder and held it possessively, âWhat is it that Mr. Aldington wants to say to my wife that cannot be said in front of me?â
âThis is a private matter between me and Olive.â Ivy Aldington couldnât hide his anger.
Alan Hoyle smiled and kissed Olive Steeleâs hair, âHoney, Iâll be waiting for you outside. You have to drive tonight. Iâm drunk.â
He turned from an unreasonable man into a reasonable one. Olive Steele could only watch him leave in confusion.
Ivy Aldington sighed, âHe loves you very much.â
Olive Steele smiled lightly, âIndeed. I donât think I can find another man who loves and understands me better than him.â
âOlive, if you will, I can love you just like he does, even more. He may be better than me, but I have something he doesnât. You donât have to worry about people come destroying you anymore. I can tell you everything about me if you like.â he could also give up everything that would bring them turmoil and uneasiness.
As long as she was willing.
But, she said, âIvy, Iâm sorry. I canât accept your feelings.â
âOlive, I really want to know. If Alan doesnât come back to you and if I continue to insist, will you give me a chance?â
âNo.â Olive Steele shook her head.
Honestly, she couldnât answer this question. If Alan Hoyle didnât come back, he would marry Ophelia Meyer and had children with her. After a few years, perhaps due to her parentsâ expectation and in order to give Annie a safe home, she would choose to marry a man who was willing to accept both of her and Annie.
In everyoneâs mind, Ivy Aldington was the most suitable person to do that. Olive Steele was not without a thought. If he was single at that time, it would be him. She knew that it was unfair for him, but she thought that she could be nice by being more than friends, but less than lovers with him.
However, these were nothing but what-ifs. She could only bury that idea deep down in her heart. She didnât want to give him false hope on his unrequited love.
Ivy Aldington was silent for a moment. He smiled bitterly, âI know. Thank you for giving me the answer.â
âIvy, Iâm sorry.â she didnât know what to say.
âDonât say that. Feelings cannot be forced. I donât force you to accept it, but please donât force me to give up.â
âIvyâ¦â
Was he saying that he was going to burden her with it?