Chapter 39

I called out to stop the taxi driver, but he paid me no mind. Flooring the gas pedal, he sped off in a flash.

Seeing the taxi speeding away, I furiously whirled around and glowered at Justin. Argh! I’d finally gotten a taxi at this hour, yet it left because of him! Is he trying to make me walk home in the middle of the night?

“What the hell is your problem, Justin Xenakis? Why did you stop me from getting into the taxi?” I demanded in a near shout.

I glared at him, my gaze blazing with fire.

“I’ll drive you home, Anna. We can talk during the drive.”

Surprisingly, Justin wasn’t pissed off by my outburst. He reached out and took my hand, his gaze tender as he looked at me.

“No, thanks. I don’t need you to drive me home, I would much rather walk. Besides, I’ve already made it clear that there’s nothing to be said between us!” I bellowed, still enraged that he stopped me from getting into the taxi earlier.

“When did you become so stubborn, Anna? You used to be very gentle in the past.”

As my attitude became progressively worse, Justin frowned slightly as he regarded me, his voice colored with a hint of displeasure.

“As you said, it was in the past. Besides, I’m only gentle with my man. You’re no longer that anymore, so why should I still be gentle with you? What right do you have to demand that?” I blurted in a single breath.

At that moment, I found him truly ridiculous. What a f*cking joke! What right does he have to demand gentleness from me when we already broke up?

The instance my words fell, Justin’s expression darkened, and the look in his eyes turned increasingly irate. In truth, I could clearly sense that he was suppressing his rage.

“I know you must hate me right now, so it’s okay. Go ahead if you feel better saying all those things. We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down,” he murmured placidly after a long silence, still keeping his anger in check.

Argh! Why the hell is he still pestering me at this time? We have nothing to do with each other anymore! I’ve set him free to be with Mabel, so why is he still hounding me?

“I don’t hate you, nor do I have anything to say to you. I’m going home.”

Not wanting to have further contact with him, I made to leave by circumventing him. However, he seemed determined to keep me there, for he grabbed my arm from behind just after I had taken two steps forward.

“Anna Garcia, why can’t you talk to me nicely? We were once lovers, after all. Are you planning to talk to me in such an indifferent manner for the rest of our lives?”

Justin’s temper flared when he saw how I continued being cold and hostile no matter how nicely he talked to me. In the past, I was always the one who compromised in everything. Now, however, he was no longer my boyfriend or fiancé, so there was no reason I should consider his feelings.

“As you said, that was once upon a time. We’re strangers now, so please don’t appear before me anymore, okay? Right now, you’re the person I loathe to see most!”

Irritated, I frowned deeply. By then, I was already on the verge of cursing him out. My God, when did he become so annoying?

When I said that, I clearly saw the change in his expression. His face darkened considerably. After all, any man would likely be fuming at my attitude, much less Justin, whom I had always pandered to.

“Anna…”

Just when he was about to speak, my cell phone rang. Fishing out my cell phone, I saw that it was a call from Michael. At once, shock engulfed me. Huh? Why is he suddenly calling me tonight? I thought he’d long since forgotten about me.

In all honesty, I could surmise the reason he was calling me at this hour. I was actually reluctant to pick up the call, but the moment I glimpsed Justin staring at me coldly, I answered it without any hesitation.

“Hello.”

Justin saw that it was a call from Michael, so his gaze was now stained with fury. Meanwhile, I deliberately sweetened my voice when I spoke to Michael.

“Why is your voice different? Are you having a sore throat?”

Michael’s low and alluring voice drifted out of the phone, but his words had me choking up.

Damn him! I was clearly trying to use a sweet voice to talk to him, but he actually thought that I was having a sore throat? Don’t men love coquettish voices? Yet, he asked me such an idiotic question! Seems like his brain is indeed wired differently from other men.

“Ahem… Ah, yes, I was having a bit of a sore throat just now. So, what’s up? Is something the matter?”

I pretended to clear my throat before speaking in my usual voice.

“Have you forgotten the relationship between us? Why else would I be calling you?”

Michael’s sexy voice drifted out of the phone once again. In the blink of an eye, my face flushed bright red. How could I possibly forget the deal I made with him? He must be in need of having his physiological needs sated since he’s calling me at this hour!

I glanced at Justin before averting my gaze when I noticed the outrage written all over his face.

“Um… I’m not home yet, so I might not be able to make it tonight. Is tomorrow night okay?” I negotiated softly with Michael on the other end of the phone.

Good God, I don’t even know how I’m going home now that Justin is still badgering me! Ugh! Why is everything coming at me simultaneously?

The person on the other end of the phone went silent though I could vaguely still hear his soft breathing. Just when I thought that he was irked and wanted to explain myself, his voice rang out again.

“Where are you now? I’ll come and pick you up.”

Upon hearing that he wanted to come over, my heart jolted. I opened my mouth to decline, but then, I bit the bullet and gave him my location when I noticed that Justin didn’t seem inclined to let me leave.

After hanging up the phone, I threw Justin a frosty look over my shoulder before I strode away.

“What exactly is your relationship with Michael Shaw? How did you get acquainted with him?”

Justin’s questioning voice rang out behind me, his tone filled with fury. He marched right up before me and blocked my path, glaring at me hotly.

“I’ve already told you the previous time that Michael is the man who likes me. Didn’t you and Mabel think that no man will like me in this lifetime back at the mall then? Well? Is Michael not a thousand times better than you? He’s more handsome, richer, and has a far brighter future than you! I really ought to thank my lucky stars that you hooked up with Mable. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have found such a perfect man!”