Chapter 533

“Why are you so against swapping digits with me?”

Jeffrey had noticed it alright. Karen wasn’t entirely unyielding, but whenever it came to sharing her

WhatsApp or phone number, she’d turn as rigid as a board!

“You want the truth?” Karen raised an eyebrow.

“Hit me.”

“I just don’t want to be in touch with you, period. I’m scared of you contacting me. Ideally, we’d never

see each other again. And if by some cruel twist of fate, we do bump into each other, let’s just pretend

we’re strangers, okay?”

Karen’s honesty was brutal, but it was exactly what was on her mind!

From the very start, she hadn’t entertained a single thought of having any sort of future with Jeffrey.

It wasn’t just because he was a notorious playboy. It was mostly because he had a thing with Heather!

That woman was vile, and the fact that he could be into her was an instant turn–off for Karen.

As for last night, she truly approached it with the mindset of sampling some exotic fruit‘, no deceit

intended. But who would’ve thought that exotic ‘fruit‘ would come chasing after her!

“Karen, be honest. Didn’t I look out for you in Swevia Country?”

“You did.”

“Didn’t I agree to all your requests in the end?”

“Yes, you did.”

“And I even took you out for dinner on the first day. You would’ve starved otherwise!”

“You’re not wrong there!” Karen nodded without reservation.

Seeing her react this way only puzzled Jeffrey more. “Then why the hell are you so keen on setting

boundaries with me? Can’t we just be friends?”

He wasn’t even pressing for some kind of romantic relationship, was he?

“Nope.” Karen was as succinct as ever.

Jeffrey was left speechless.

“Let me up, will you? This is really uncomfortable!” Karen gasped, feeling the weight of his body on

hers.

Reluctantly, Jeffrey let her go.

As soon as Karen sat up, he grilled her, “Out with it. Why can’t we even be friends?”

“I guess I’m not as enlightened as you. After sharing a bed, I can’t just pretend we’re nothing but

platonic buddies.”

It wasn’t that she was clinging to what happened or that she had feelings for Jeffrey. To Karen, it just

felt weird!

How could they ignore what happened and go back to being chummy, as if they hadn’t been naked and

intimate?

Jeffrey mused for a moment, “We could always be… less than pure friends.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“Tsk, why do you have to make it sound so crude?”

Karen shook her head vehemently, “My mom would kill me if she knew!”

She never dared tell her parents anything about her life outside of home. They probably still thought

she was inexperienced in the boyfriend department.

Jeffrey scoffed, “Got any lamer excuses?”

Even the fear of Mom’s wrath was being used!

Karen chuckled nervously, “I’ve said all there is to say. Can you let me off the hook now, Mr. Turner?”

Jeffrey ran his hand through his hair, visibly flustered, searching for words, “Look… if you have other

thoughts, just spill. Maybe, just maybe, I’d say yes”

Like, wanting to be his girlfriend. Not a one–night stand, not a long–term hook–up, but a girlfriend. The

kind you hold hands with in public.

“Can I really say it?” Karen’s eyes widened in feigned surprise.

Jeffrey let out a silent sigh of relief, “Of course. Go ahead!”

“You sure I can say it?”

“What’s with all the dilly–dallying?”

With a sly grin and hands clasped together, Karen leaned in, “Then could you… maybe not mention

last night to Everett and Dorothy? I don’t want them to know either.”