The Five Years He Missed Chapter 20

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 20

Dominic had been there the whole time? I was stunned.

But what surprised me even more was…

“Aidan, weren’t you just passing by?” I looked at him suspiciously.
“How did you know Dominic has been following me?”

Aidan froze on the spot. His expression still held its composure, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Relax—I know you’re just looking out for me. It’s not like you have ulterior motives.”

“Aidan, you’re really not that hard to tease…”

Aidan suddenly said, “How do you know I don’t have ulterior motives?”

My mouth hung half open, stuck there. The expression on my face was probably a little ridiculous.

I stared at Aidan, dumbfounded.

His meaning was clear. I just couldn’t believe it.

Back in my university days, I would have thought being admired was perfectly normal. Because back then I was bright and passionate, talented, and had a pretty decent appearance. But now… my once-handsome face was covered in scars, and my heart was just as battered. How could someone as wonderful as Aidan have feelings for me? He had to be joking.

I racked my brain trying to break the suddenly awkward atmosphere, but luckily Aidan changed the subject himself. “Dominic just can’t let go. He’s hoping you’ll turn back around and love him again.”

“What a ridiculous fantasy!” The words burst out of me.

The corner of Aidan’s mouth curved up. “But having him cling to you like this is annoying, and who knows what he might do. Maybe there’s a way to make him give up for good? For instance—you could find someone to pretend to be your boyfriend.”

I followed this line of thought instinctively. “Who would I even ask?”

“Ask me.”

I froze.

The smile in Aidan’s eyes deepened. He leaned in closer, until the tip of his nose nearly touched mine. My eyes grew wider and wider. I could practically hear my own heart pounding.

No—too close… he couldn’t get any closer…

My whole body tensed. I was about to pull back—

Aidan stopped.

The two of us were so close that, seen through the glass door from outside, it would have looked almost like a kiss.

A rustling sound came from outside the door. Then my phone rang.

I sucked in a sharp breath and scrambled backward in a fluster. My thoughts were so scattered I didn’t even check the caller before jabbing the answer button.

“You won’t accept me—is it because you’ve fallen for him?” The voice on the other end was hoarse, tinged with despair. “You think he’s better than me, don’t you?”

It was Dominic.

I sobered instantly and laughed coldly. “Of course. I’d say most men in this world are better than scum like you, Mr. Gambino.”

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then the call disconnected.

Aidan watched my embarrassment with keen interest.

I stood frozen for two seconds. When I realized what I’d just said, my face immediately went red. This face was crisscrossed with scars, but flushed pink like this, it still held a kind of shattered loveliness.

Aidan couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.