Naomi asked incredulously, âWhat did you say?â
âDonât you want to go home? Iâve been in Rosaville City for so long, but I havenât seen your parents yet. So, Iâll go back with you tomorrow.â
âI donât think thatâs a good idea.â
Naomi didnât want Culver to go back with her.
She always felt that she and Culver belonged to two different worlds. It irked her to think that she was connected to him in various aspects of life.
Although the Granger family didnât need to be afraid of him, she didnât want her parents to be worried about her.
If she were to bring him back, everyone would think that he was her boyfriend. That would cause a lot of trouble.
Culver frowned as he asked, âWhy do you seem displeased?â
She was stumped by his question.
There was a heavy atmosphere in the corridor.
Naomi shook her head and said, âNo! Weâre friends, so of course Iâm pleased to hear that. Itâs just that itâs my personal affairs, so itâs not very convenient for outsiders to know about it.â
Culver said, âIâm not an outsider.â
His tone had no hesitation.
He acted as if they were extremely close, but to Naomi, he was indeed an outsider.
However, the situation was urgent, so she didnât have much time to think about it.
âYes, you are certainly not an outsider. You are my best friend now. I donât want you to know the distressing incidents that have happened in my family because you are so outstanding, and Iâm afraid that I will feel inferior to be your friend.â
After she had said so, she thought to herself, âEw, thatâs gross!â
She didnât expect that she could say such cloying words. However, she had no choice but to say so as she wanted to blarney him into giving up his idea of following her back home.
Culver was very satisfied to hear that. He answered, âI didnât expect you to care so much about me!â
Naomi was rendered speechless by his smugness.
Naomi thought, âWell, you can think whatever you wish. Anyway, Iâm going home!â
She said, âWait for me here. Letâs head back to Greene City together after Iâve done ironing out my personal affairs.â
âOkay!â Culver listened to her obediently.
Naomi, on the other hand, felt that there was an unwanted tractability in his manner. With his personality, he looked compliant and adorable to Naomi, just like a docile puppy. Suddenly, she felt the urge to pinch his face.
As she thought about it, she stretched out her hand.
When she was a child, she had developed the habit of pinching the faces of the two younger boys around her, Eddison and Benedict.
After they had grown up, she hadnât felt such an urge for a long time.
âWhat do you want to do?â
She heard his voice. Only then did she come back to her senses.
She thought, âOh my God. I must have lost my mind. Why would I let my guard down in front of this pervert? Why would I want to pinch his face? I must have gone crazy!â
She hurriedly withdrew her hand and explained, âItâs not what you think.â
Culver asked with a smile, âHow do you know what Iâm thinking?â
âIâ¦â
âYou want to pinch my face, donât you?â
Naomiâs heart skipped a beat as she said, âNo, I didnât do it on purpose. Iâm just-â
âFeel free to do so!â
Upon hearing his words, Naomiâs jaw dropped. âWhat?â she asked.
âYou can pinch my face! Iâm willing to let you do that.â
As soon as Culver finished talking, he bent over with his face approaching hers. As a result, she felt the caress of his breath on her cheek.
It was undeniable that her heart was palpitating at the moment.
âUm, thereâs no need for that.â
She ran away.
As she went far away, Culver looked at her back intently while trying to rub his own cheeks with his hands.
He was discombobulated. It seemed that she wanted to pinch him just now, but she held back at the last moment. He wondered if there was any problem with his face.
He told himself, âPerhaps I should start using some skincare products.â
â¦
Initially, Naomi thought that her family would be in a state of chaos. After all, she was well aware of Eddisonâs disposition. He was the sort of person who appeared to be carefree on the outside, but he was actually quite the persistent person.
However, she found that she seemed to be mistaken when she came home.
The entire Clearwater Bay was so quiet and serene that she thought there was no one at home.
When she saw Cindy coming out, she quickly asked her about the situation.
Cindy said joyfully, âEverythingâs fine at home. Young Master Eddison is reading in his room, whereas Mrs. Granger went to the Granger Mansion to make some preparations since the wedding will be held there.â
âDidnât Eddison kick up a fuss?â
âNo, he didnât! He has agreed to marry Miss Gellert.â
âI see. Iâll go up and see him!â said Naomi.
â¦
Naomi opened the door of Eddisonâs room, and she saw him sitting on the rattan chair in front of the window. He was holding a book in his hand, but it seemed that he was not reading it at all. He had stopped at the same page for a long time.
Meanwhile, he was spacing out. It was not until Naomi came near to him that he noticed her presence.
Glancing at Naomi, he said indifferently.
âWelcome home.â
After that, he lowered his head and stared blankly at the book.
Naomi sat opposite him. âDonât you have anything to say to me?â she asked.
He replied gloomily, âNo!â
âSeriously? Donât you want to run away?â
Hearing the words ârun awayâ, he raised his head and looked at Naomi.
âNo, I donât!â
âThen, what about that senior of yours? Donât you want to woo her?â
He knitted his brows, and he clenched the book hard with his fingers.
âAs expected, Benedict wonât keep his mouth shut!â
Benedict liked Naomi a lot. As long as Naomi asked him anything, he would tell her everything he knew about Eddison.
âJust tell me whether you want to pursue your own happiness or not. If you want to, I will help you escape!â
Eddison answered with a rueful smile, âPursue my own happiness? Do you think that happiness is something that we can possess once we pursue it?â
âWhy canât we? Itâs pathetic to give up even before you try it.â
Naomi was irritated by his discouragement. As far as she recalled, Eddison had always been very determined. She didnât expect him to be so dispirited this time.
âMake a choice. If you want to get married, Iâll wish you a happy married life. If you donât want to get married, Iâll take you away from here. No matter what, I hope that you will remain optimistic and cheerful. Stop being so depressed!â
âForget it!â said Eddison as he was burying his head in his hands.
âLeave me alone. I will accept my fate.â
Naomi gritted her teeth, saying, âEddison, cheer up! Donât make me look down on you!â
Losing his temper, he retorted, âWhat about you? Youâve been pursuing your happiness. What happened in the end?â
Truth be told, he had blurted that out impetuously. After saying so, he immediately regretted his words.
The past incident between Naomi and Nelson had always been a thorn in her heart. It really pierced her heart for him to bring the matter up.
âIâm sorry.â
Naomi smiled bitterly and said, âYes, youâre right. I shouldnât advise you when I canât even take care of my own love life. Well, I might as well leave you to consider it yourself. Just call me if you need anything.â
Then, she turned around and went out.
Eddison threw the book on the floor in frustration. It was not that he did not want to fight for his happiness. There was no doubt that he would do so if Sierra were to love him too.
However, things had failed to happen as he wished.
â¦
Outside the door, Naomi was wiping her tears from the corner of her eyes.
Her cell phone rang with a call from Culver.
âHow are things going? Do you need my help?â
Naomi replied sullenly, âNo.â
There was a moment of silence. A second later, Culver asked, âAre you crying? Who bullied you? Tell me!â