Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
“You…” Harley looked at Calvert’s rosy cheeks, finding them incredibly beautiful, and suddenly had the urge to tease him.
“What’s the matter? We’re all adults here, there’s nothing to be shy about!” she said, “You can’t possibly tell me you don’t even know how to relieve stress on your own.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Calvert’s face turned even redder, “I… I just… just…”
He just “only” pondered for half a day, but couldn’t come up with what to say next.
Seeing his embarrassed look, Harley was thinking about not teasing him anymore. But when she accidentally glanced at his crotch, she also felt a bit awkward.
Even if she didn’t understand anything else, she knew… he was… reacting!
The doctor did mention that there are still remnants of the medication in his system, making his body more sensitive than usual, and therefore more prone to reactions.
But isn’t this a bit… too fast for him?
It seemed like he noticed her gaze. Calvert’s face turned so red it looked like it was about to bleed. He desperately tugged at the hem of his clothes, trying to use it as a cover.
And from his mouth, came endless apologies, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I… I didn’t mean to!”
“…” Harley was at a loss for words for a moment. It seemed like she should be the one saying sorry, right?
If she hadn’t deliberately teased him with her words just now, he probably wouldn’t be in this physical state!
However, at this moment, his flushed face, paired with those black eyes shimmering with moisture, she found him incredibly attractive, so much so that she couldn’t tear her gaze away.
Seeing Harley silent, Calvert became even more flustered, fearing she was truly angry.
“Harley, you… you can yell at me, or even hit me, whatever you want, I know… I shouldn’t have… I… I really didn’t expect my body to… I… I promise I won’t do it again!” He rambled on incoherently.
Harley stared at Calvert, suddenly asking, “Do you like me?”
Calvert’s body suddenly became incredibly stiff. His eyes, looking at her, were like those of a startled deer, brimming with moisture.
“So you mean, not the kind of liking between friends, but the romantic kind?” Harley asked, being even more straightforward.
Calvert was incredibly nervous, feeling that this answer would impact the future. He thought maybe he should use some excuse to vaguely get by, but he didn’t want to deceive her!
But, after he truly expresses his feelings to her, would he even lose his last bit of hope?!
After all, she’s such a wonderful person, with a great family background, beautiful looks, and a pleasant personality. There are plenty of people who like her. After he told the truth, he was simply rejected by her.
Just… rejection, it’s just that he was rejected a bit earlier than expected. As long as he acts like it’s no big deal and accepts it, he should still be able to continue being her friend, right?
He was wrestling with his feelings. After a while, he finally said, “Yes, I like you. It’s the kind of liking between a man and a woman. I… I know I’m not good enough for you, but… I’m trying. I hope that one day, I can stand by your side. It’s okay if you… reject me. I’m mentally prepared for it. It won’t upset me. So, you can reject me now if you want…”
Calvert hung his head, mumbling incoherently.
“Would you really not be upset if I turned you down?” Harley’s voice rang out.
“No… No, I won’t.” His voice trembled slightly as he responded. Despite the fact that he would be heartbroken, even desperate… But hadn’t he been mentally preparing himself for this over the years?
He was just a kid from a low-income family, with a mother who ran away and a father who was an alcoholic. Even though he had made some progress in the past couple of years, when compared to her, the difference was like night and day.
Between them, there was a world of difference. It was only natural that he would be rejected!
“Really? Well, I’m quite upset then,” Harley said.
Calvert was taken aback, abruptly lifting his head to look at the other person. “You’re upset?” Had he answered something incorrectly again?
“Yeah, it’s pretty sad. You say you like me, but it seems like you wouldn’t be upset if I rejected you. It’s as if your affection for me is just casual, just a nonchalant liking. That’s why you wouldn’t be upset even if you were rejected!” Harley said.
Calvert’s face was a mix of red and white, “No… that’s not it, my feelings for you have never been casual, I just… just…”
He stammered, but his voice got stuck once again.
He just didn’t want to end up not even being able to be friends with her.
“I’m going to ask you one last time, if I reject you, are you really not going to be upset?” Harley asked seriously.
Calvert looked at the person in front of him. This time, he seemed to have made up his mind and answered truthfully, “Yes, and it will be very painful, probably unbearable. But… even so, I… I still want to stay by your side, just to watch you quietly. It’s enough if you can occasionally talk to me. I don’t want to end up as strangers just because I confessed my feelings for you!”
As he continued speaking, his voice choked with emotion. His eyes were incredibly red, as if the mist in them could turn into tears at any moment, ready to flow down his cheeks.
Harley looked at Calvert, feeling a surge of emotions in his heart.
She didn’t dislike Calvert saying he liked her, in fact… she was even somewhat accepting of it.
And now, when he says that he’d be devastated if she rejected him, she might even feel… happy?!
His reddened eyes and slightly trembling body made her feel pity and heartache.
Could it be… she has different feelings for him? Feelings that go beyond friendship, for him…
“Harley, please don’t hate me, okay?” Calvert mumbled, choking back tears.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Harley found his heart suddenly pounding faster.
Is this what they call love at first sight?
Once, she had feelings for Lornell, you could even say she loved him deeply. But that affection and love, accumulated over the months of this year, gradually formed into a habit.
After breaking off her engagement with Lornell, she didn’t think she’d fall in love with anyone else anytime soon. After all, it wouldn’t be easy to find another person in this world who could make her heart flutter.
Moreover, that person must be honest and kind, not approaching her deliberately because of her family background, but simply liking her for who she is.
In this vast sea of humanity, what are the odds of us meeting?!
But now, has she encountered it?
“I won’t hate you,” Harley began, “And when you said you liked me, I was actually very happy. But Calvert, I’ve broken off an engagement before, so if I were to start another relationship, I would be more cautious. I don’t want to reject you, but right now, I can’t make any promises to you…”
Calvert listened, his eyes slowly widening, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“Can… Can I still stay by your side, as… as a friend?” Calvert asked, his voice trembling.
“It’s not just friendship,” Harley said. “I want to see what it would be like to be with you. So, can we try to be more than friends first? If it doesn’t work out, we can always go back to being friends.”
At this moment, Calvert held his breath, deeply afraid that he might have misunderstood.
“I know, my proposal is somewhat selfish, only considering myself. So, if it upsets you, feel free to say so. We can think about whether there are other ways for us to get along that suit both of us,” Harley said.
“I… I’m not unhappy, can I really be with you as more than just friends?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, it’s like being in a relationship, but… it’s not official. So technically, you’re not my boyfriend. If in the future, you find someone else you like, you can tell me anytime. There’s no need to feel burdened,” Harley said.
In general, there are no restrictions between the two of them.
No titles, no responsibilities, no demands!
She just wanted to know if what she felt for Calvert was truly love.
However, knowing how he feels about her and still acting this way, it’s a bit selfish.
“I’m willing!” Calvert hastily said, “I won’t love anyone else, the only person I love is you. No matter how you want our relationship to be, I can adapt!”
Harley couldn’t help but chuckle, “What do you mean ‘cooperate’? Just be yourself like you usually are. But… um, we could be a bit more intimate with each other.”
Her smile instantly eased his nerves.
“Also, don’t say things like ‘never again’. Life is long, who can predict the future?” Harley said, “Just like me, I never thought I’d see the day when I’d break off my engagement with Lornell. But in the end, didn’t our engagement still end?”
Calvert pursed his lips, silently saying to himself: But he can’t, in his life, apart from her, he will never love anyone else.
From the moment he fell in love, he was incredibly aware of this fact!
Karen was dumbfounded when she found out that Harley and Calvert were “together”.
“Are you dating Calvert?” she asked in surprise.
“It’s not exactly dating,” Harley explained. “It’s more like we’re hanging out in a dating-like manner, but without the official label of being in a relationship.”
After all, as the heir to the Gu family, if she officially starts dating someone, it would inevitably become big news, and it could even affect the family business.
Unless one day, she’s truly sure that she genuinely likes Calvert, she won’t announce they’re dating. Otherwise, if they start dating now and later she realizes her feelings for Calvert aren’t romantic, breaking up might negatively impact the business.
This would probably be a blow to Calvert, wouldn’t it?
Perhaps he’ll face even more rumors and gossip.
So, all she wants to do now is to test the waters, to figure out what her true feelings are.
“So… there’s no commitment, no responsibility, and no obligation. ‘Being together’ but still able to see other people, right?” Karen asked.
Harley pondered for a moment and said, “To some extent, yes. But personally, I’m not a fan of juggling multiple relationships. If he truly finds someone else he likes, then we can just go back to being regular friends,” Harley stated.
“So, aren’t you guys basically friends with benefits?” Karen said.
“Pfft!” Harley nearly spat out the coffee he was drinking.
What kind of description is this!
“What do you mean by ‘friends with benefits’? What is that!” Harley quickly retorted.
“Hey, if two people are together and they don’t need to take responsibility for each other, isn’t that just friends with benefits?” Karen retorted.
“We’re not in… um, that kind of relationship,” Harley said.
“Are you sure?” Karen looked at Hao You skeptically, “I mean, you’ve seen a lot of handsome guys in the entertainment industry, but Calvert isn’t bad looking either. Plus, I’ve noticed he’s been getting more and more handsome these past two years. Don’t you think he sometimes gives off this isolated yet pitiful vibe?”
“…” Suddenly, in Harley’s mind, the image of that day she went to save Calvert flashed. Calvert’s face was flushed, yet his eyes were misty.
Suddenly, my heart started pounding again.
“I also saw in a magazine that he’s been described by many female netizens as the man they most want to swoon over. It’s impressive that despite his fame, he hasn’t been involved in any scandals, and there’s no talk of him being particularly close to any woman… well, except for you,” Karen added. “So, even if you don’t have any intentions with him now, are you sure it will stay that way in the future?”
Harley looked at Hao You with a hint of embarrassment, “Let’s… just go with the flow in the future.”
“You seem to really like Calvert, don’t you?” Karen said.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.