Second Time Around, I Won’t Marry the Don Chapter 10

Second Time Around, I Won’t Marry the Don Chapter 10

Two months later…

College was about to start.

Luna’s engagement still hadn’t been finalized.

But it was time for me to leave.

I went to say goodbye to her one last time.

Mr. and Mrs. Vitale were there too.

This time, Luna didn’t cry.

After I’d walked a short distance, I faintly heard voices behind me.

“Eva was kind to Luna. I wanted to adopt her back then, but Nathan stopped me.”

“Thinking about it now, it’s a good thing we didn’t. We treated her so well, and Luna adored her, yet she never grew close to Nathan or Luna all these years. Now she’s going so far away for college…”

She sighed.

“She’s a good girl.”

“Just… a little too guarded. No matter how much warmth we gave, we could never truly reach her.”

I paused.

Then I smiled.

She was right.

Some bonds simply weren’t meant to be.

An ill-fated relationship forced into existence shouldn’t have been in the first place.

Nathan was waiting by the front gate.

“Luna asked me to see you off.”

I wanted to refuse.

But Nathan never broke a promise to his sister.

I originally thought he would just see me off to the airport.

Instead…

He stayed with me the entire trip.

He boarded the plane with me.

After we landed, he accompanied me through every step of enrollment.

He helped move my luggage and helped me unpack and set up my dorm room.

Whenever my roommates appeared, he’d smile politely behind me.

“Please take good care of her.”

Everyone assumed he was my boyfriend.

I had to explain over and over again.

“He’s just the son of the family my mom works for.”

They looked skeptical.

“That’s it?”

I nodded.

“That’s it.”

“Nothing more.”

“So why’s he doing all this for you?”

I smiled gratefully.

“He’s just a kind person.”

“Or maybe…”

“Or maybe he’s just got nothing better to do.”

Nathan listened in silence from the side.

That night, he finally left on a red-eye flight.

Before leaving, he said,

“I’ve been swamped lately.”

“When things settle down…”

“I’ll come visit.”

I froze.

In my previous life, whenever he had to work overtime or travel…

He always told me in advance.

But now…

There was no reason for him to tell me any of that.

I looked straight at him.

For the first time, I spoke honestly.

“Don’t bother coming.”

Nathan instinctively looked up.

It was as if he already knew what I was going to say.

Time seemed to slow around him.

Panic flashed across his face.

Like he was waiting for a verdict.

I said quietly,

“I don’t want to see you.”

Then I turned and walked away.

Even after I’d gone a long distance…

Nathan was still standing where I’d left him.

Motionless.

Like a statue.

A few days after Nathan left…

James came.

He ran all the way toward me.

Soon he was standing in front of me, breathing hard.

His eyes sparkled.

The little boy who had always stood in front of me to protect me had grown into a tall young man.

This time…

I finally had the chance to look at him properly.

He stood straight and confident.

The childishness had disappeared from his features.

Only a handsome face remained.

It had been years.

The last meeting had been too rushed for nerves to catch up.

Now…

Being so close after so long made me strangely shy.

There was familiarity.

There was awkwardness.

I called softly,

“James?”

He frowned and signed,

“Stick.”

“I’m Scrap.”

Instantly…

I relaxed.

We found a coffee shop and sat down.

We talked for hours.

Well…

Mostly I talked.

James simply watched me with those bright eyes.

As if he’d never get tired of listening.

Whenever I paused, he’d quietly slide a glass of water toward me.

Hours slipped by.

I told him about my life over the years.

I’d never gone hungry.

I’d never lacked clothes.

I told him funny stories about college.

The heart I’d kept locked away for years finally found someone to confide in.

I told him about my future plans.

Using memories from my previous life, I’d invested every dollar I’d earned from part-time jobs.

I’d multiplied my savings several times over in the stock market.

I could support myself now.

I could support James too.

He shook his head repeatedly.

His hands moved quickly.

“Do you think I can’t provide for you?”

“Don’t worry.”

“I have plenty of money now.”