Chapter 360

Chapter 360:

Howard watched Milly’s slender figure retreat against the light, her silhouette appearing lonely and desolate. A pang of guilt washed over him, making him feel like a terrible person. His eyes stung with emotion as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“I swear, I didn’t mean it that way,” he murmured, his voice heavy with regret.

Milly remained still in his embrace, her voice unwavering. “But you did mean it that way.”

The bitterness in Howard’s throat spread through his entire body, and his eyes began to redden with unshed tears. “Milly, I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice strained with emotion.

Milly looked at him, her beautiful, clear eyes, usually full of life, now as empty and cold as a dead sea. “You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, you’ve done more than enough for me,” she replied, her tone distant. “I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

“You’re not troubling me,” Howard said quickly, desperate to bridge the growing chasm between them. “I just don’t want you to regret this later. I’m afraid that the reason you’re relying on me, or even thinking you like me, is that I’ve always been there for you. But those feelings might not be love.”

Milly’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her voice trembled as she asked, “Do you find me distasteful?”

The question struck Howard like a blow, filling him with a deep sense of guilt. “No,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “How could you even think that? I just want you to be with someone you truly love, someone you deserve.”

Milly’s head dropped, and silent tears began to slip down her cheeks, each one cutting into Howard’s heart. The weight of her sorrow pressed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe. How could he have caused her so much pain?

He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Howard tightened his arms around Milly, as if holding her tightly enough could erase her sadness. “Alright,” he whispered. “I agree to anything you want. Just don’t leave me. Let’s start dating.”

Milly looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes wide with disbelief. “Really?”

“Yes,” Howard said softly, his hand gently wiping away her tears. “Just stop crying, please.”

Milly clung to him, feeling his warmth seep into her, melting the cold that had settled in her bones. But just as she began to feel a sense of comfort, a sudden, sharp pain shot through her, making her wince. Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving her holding onto Howard even tighter, seeking solace in his presence.

Edge Entertainment

After a day of taking it easy, Madisyn refocused and dove back into her work. As she was deeply engrossed, Kevin walked in, carrying a lunchbox.

“Miss Johns,” he said with a cheerful grin, placing the lunchbox on her desk. “I brought you some spare ribs.”

Madisyn glanced at the meal—spare ribs, vegetables, and bread—all looking delicious. Although beautifully arranged, she took a bite and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. “This is really good! It’s not every day you see entertainers who can cook like this. Can you make anything else?”

Kevin’s face lit up with pride. “Absolutely! I can do fish and chips, barbecue, even beef Wellington!”

Madisyn raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “You’re quite the chef, aren’t you?”

“Of course!” Kevin replied, his confidence evident.

Then, with a hopeful glint in his eye, he added, “You should come over to my place sometime and try my cooking. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”

Madisyn smiled at his enthusiasm. “Alright, let me finish this first.”

“Sure thing,” Kevin said, practically glowing with happiness. “And if you have any feedback, just let me know.”

Kevin left the room, clearly pleased with himself, while Madisyn continued to enjoy her meal.

In the practice room, Kevin’s phone buzzed with a message. “It’s so good!” Madisyn had texted.

Kevin’s heart skipped a beat as he quickly typed back, “Would you like to come to my place for a meal?”

Madisyn’s reply was prompt: “Are you sure? I don’t want to impose!”

Kevin didn’t hesitate: “You won’t! It’s nothing.”

Madisyn then replied, “When is a good time?”

“Tonight works for me,” Kevin sent eagerly.

“Alright!” Madisyn agreed. Kevin was thrilled. He sent Madisyn a photo of himself working out, proudly telling her that he was working hard.

He was confident—too confident, perhaps—believing that with his charm and dedication, he could easily win Madisyn’s heart. Andrew might be an impressive and distinguished man, but Kevin was convinced that someone like Andrew probably didn’t have the time or attention to truly care for Madisyn. After all, women needed a thoughtful boyfriend, didn’t they?

Feeling victorious before the battle had even begun, Kevin spun around in excitement, envisioning his success.

In the afternoon, after wrapping up her work at the company, Madisyn checked in on Andrew’s lab. She added contact using Dr. Mia’s account to follow up on the herbs she had been cultivating.

Madisyn messaged, “Belen, how are the herbs coming along?”

Belen replied, “Tomorrow marks a week, but they’re not doing well. You should come and take a look.”

Madisyn frowned at the message. How could that be? If Belen had used her method, the herbs should be flourishing.

She made a mental note to visit the lab to figure out what went wrong.

That evening, Kevin hurried home, eager to prepare for Madisyn’s visit. He bought an array of ingredients, determined to impress her with his culinary skills. While cooking, he sweated profusely, but the dishes were coming together perfectly.

At precisely seven-thirty, the doorbell rang. Kevin’s heart raced with excitement as he rushed to open the door. Seeing Madisyn standing there, he couldn’t hide his delight.

“Miss Johns, you’re here! It must have been a long day for you. Please, come in and relax!”

“Thanks,” Madisyn replied, stepping inside. “Are you cooking?” she asked, curious. She took a quick glance around. The spotless, well-organized space caught her attention—it was unusually neat for a bachelor’s pad.

“Yes,” Kevin said, flashing a confident smile. “Please, make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

Madisyn paused, then added casually, “By the way, I brought a friend with me. Is that okay?”

“Of course!” he responded eagerly. Friends are always welcome.”

But as the words left his mouth, his smile faltered. The sight of the person stepping in behind Madisyn made his heart sink.

“Mr. Klein?”

.

.

.