I Dreamed He’d BEG for My Love in 2 Years—So I Kept My Distance While He Scorned Me Chapter 03

I Dreamed He’d BEG for My Love in 2 Years—So I Kept My Distance While He Scorned Me Chapter 03

After the car left,

I walked slowly down the road alone.

The Thorne Estate was in the suburbs, miles from school.

I walked a long time before finding a bus stop.

It took me forever to figure out the routes.

I was late to my first class by the time I got there.

The bell rang as I walked in.

My teacher looked up from her papers and frowned.

“Elara Voss?”

Her tone turned cold. “We don’t slack off here like your old school. Be late again, and I’m calling your guardians.”

I nodded and said I understood.

Her face softened a little.

“You’re not in Honors Class, but you have a year till the SAT. Study hard, and you might get into a good college. Come to me if you need help.”

I followed her into the classroom and stood at the front.

Then I saw Kael outside the window.

He stood in front of the Honors Class, holding an English dictionary, focused.

Sunlight gilded his edges.

He was still the hardworking, brilliant Kael I remembered.

He just didn’t like me.

I looked away.

The students stared at me with curious, probing eyes.

The teacher told me to introduce myself.

At first, they bombarded me with questions.

About my past. My dad. My mom.

When they realized I wasn’t some secret rich kid or someone’s illegitimate daughter,

they lost all interest.

Life went back to being quiet.

I stuck to Kael’s rules.

I went to school alone. Studied alone. Went home alone.

I knew he didn’t want to see me.

I stayed as invisible as possible.

On Saturdays, I studied at the Community Library.

On weekends, I worked a part-time job at the mall.

But we still had to cross paths sometimes.

When I saw the lights on in the house, I slowed my bike.

Kael stood outside, staring right at me for two full seconds.

I immediately parked my bike outside the villa.

Kael had seen me come home late before.

Before, he’d either mock me or look away coldly.

Never like this — like he saw every secret and was laughing at me.

Through the window, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Thorne in the living room.

Mrs. Thorne spotted me and waved me inside.

I glanced at Kael.

He curled his mouth into a bitter smile.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Wanted what?

I sat next to Mrs. Thorne, confused.

She touched my cheek, her eyes full of pity.

“Elara, be honest. Has Kael been hurting you while we were gone?”

Mr. Thorne sat across from her, his brows knitted tight.

“Elara, don’t be scared. Tell us anything. I’ll fix it.”

I understood immediately. I knew what Kael meant.

I was grateful to them.

I spoke in a tone that was just right — like a gentle complaint.

“Kael never comes down for meals on time. I have to call him a lot.”

I smiled. “But the day the monthly exam results came out, he took me out for a big dinner and bought me a bike.”

Mr. Thorne’s tense shoulders relaxed.

“Don’t wait for him. Eat first. I’ll have your mom make him something later.”

“He bought you a bike?”

Mrs. Thorne studied my face.

I looked down, shy. “I asked him for it.”

Mr. Thorne huffed a laugh.

“Cheap bike. I’ll have my assistant send a nice one tomorrow.”

He finally noticed Kael standing at the door and called him over.

“Why didn’t you ask me for money if you were short?”

Kael glanced at me, then shrugged casually.

“I’ll remember next time.”

That night, Kael cornered me outside my room.

I stayed late in the home theater to avoid him.

It had a huge collection of documentaries — Mrs. Thorne’s prized possessions from when she was young.

I loved it there. It felt safe.

The fullness drowned out the loneliness of living under someone else’s roof.

I finished the documentary and headed downstairs.

Kael was leaning against the wall outside his room, playing a game on his phone.

I blinked in surprise.

I didn’t know Kael played games.

From the sound, he was actually good.

He didn’t look up. The screen light lit up his sharp jawline.

His voice was cold.

“Elara, how long are you going to stare?”

I didn’t panic. I kept my face neutral and walked toward my room.

Right before I reached the door, Kael blocked me with his arm.

“Just because you lied for me in front of mom and dad doesn’t mean I’ll like you more.”

His lips twisted into a faint sneer.

“This act won’t work on me.”

“I’ll never love you. I’ll never marry you.”

I sighed and looked him straight in the eye, sincere.

“I’m sorry I showed up uninvited back then and caused you trouble.”

“But believe me or not, I’ll move out when I turn eighteen. I’ll convince Mr. Thorne to end the engagement. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Kael frowned, staring at me for a long time, like he was judging if I was lying.

I held his gaze, no fear.

He finally scoffed and turned to his door.

Just as he opened it, he glanced back.

“Oh, Elara. Has anyone ever told you you’re really good at lying?”

He meant the lie I told in the living room.

I looked at him and said nothing.

There was no point explaining.

After that, we didn’t mention that night again.

We fell into an unspoken truce.

I felt his attitude shift a little.

At least he didn’t look disgusted anymore.

But I still kept my distance.

I didn’t want more misunderstandings.

We didn’t talk. Didn’t bother each other.

Things were calm.

Until I met Silas.

The genius everyone said was sickly.