Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
“I… I like you too, but not in that way,” Calvert stammered.
“What kind of liking is it then, if not that kind?” the little one asked, puzzled.
“What I mean is… because you’re a child, my affection for you is the kind one has for a child, not the kind… where one wants to make the other their wife,” Calvert carefully explained.
“So, a wife… that’s the same as a spouse, right?” The little one started sorting through her vocabulary.
“Yes, that’s… that’s what I mean,” Calvert responded.
Harley couldn’t help but chuckle. What kind of adult would seriously engage in a question-and- answer session with a 3 or 4-year-old kid like this?
This innocent look of his, it’s really hard to reconcile it with the stern image he usually presents in public.
“Hmm… My daddy really loves his wife, who is my mommy. So, who is Uncle Elledge’s wife that he loves?” Quinn asked curiously.
“Ah, I…”
“If there’s no one else, can I be Uncle Elledge’s wife? That way, Uncle Elledge would like me that way, right?” The little one asked again.
“No, I… I already have someone I like!” blurted out Calvert.
“Who is it?” Quinn asked, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, who is it?” At the same time, Harley was also curiously looking at Calvert.
With such intense stares from both the young and the old, Calvert’s face turned even redder. It was as if he was at a loss, his deep black eyes misty, almost as if he was on the verge of tears.
“Ah, Uncle Elledge, are you about to cry?” Quinn exclaimed in surprise, “Please don’t cry. Is it because the person you like doesn’t like you back? But I’m still a child, I can’t be your wife yet. Mommy said I have to grow up first before I can be someone’s wife. How about letting Aunt Harley be your wife first? When I grow up, I can be your wife then.”
Harley didn’t expect the conversation to turn to him. He couldn’t help but laugh and cry as he pinched the little one’s cheeks, “Do you even know what you’re talking about?”
This little rascal, he sold out his aunt so easily!
“Do you not like Uncle Elledge, Aunt Harley?” The little one blinked those innocent eyes at Harley, “But didn’t you also say that Uncle Elledge looks good when he’s acting in sad scenes?”
Harley felt a wave of embarrassment. This little guy, when it came to selling her out, he sure was straightforward!
“Cough, cough…” Harley looked up, his gaze landing on Calvert.
At this moment, Calvert was clearly more embarrassed than she was. His handsome and aloof face was almost embarrassingly red.
“But Uncle Elledge, you need to be careful. Aunt Harley is planning to tease you. She even said before that seeing you cry makes her want to make you cry even harder! She also mentioned that some people can’t help but tease the ones they like.” The little one continued to tattle.
“Quinn!” Harley immediately covered the little guy’s mouth.
She had no idea before, turns out this kid has such a big mouth!
By the time Harley had dropped Quinn back off at the Hunter family’s place, he felt completely drained.
Usually, this little guy who seems so innocent and cute is acting like a little devil on this journey. He keeps repeating everything she said when they were watching TV shows together, and dumps it all on Calvert.
Harley felt like he had lost all his dignity today.
The only thing that comforted her was that Calvert seemed even more embarrassed and awkward than she was.
When they arrived at the Hunter family’s place, Quinn insisted on inviting Calvert into her home as a guest.
Calvert followed Quinn and Harley into the Hunter family home, where he met the master and mistress of the house, Chandler and Tina.
Calvert had indeed heard of these two. After all, the wedding of the Hunter family and the Stephenson family had caused quite a stir in Emerald City. Moreover, due to an unexpected incident at the wedding, Tina went missing. The city-wide search for Tina had been trending for quite some time.
Although Calvert didn’t care about this news at the time, he had heard others discussing it.
Everyone’s been talking about Chandler’s deep affection for Tina. They even said that Chandler nearly went crazy during the time he was searching for Tina.
If Tina doesn’t come back, Chandler might really go crazy.
Loving someone, loving them so madly, what does it feel like? He wasn’t sure. But now, he understands what it feels like to love someone, to love them with such restraint and patience.
Chandler, as usual, was aloof towards strangers. On the other hand, Tina was very enthusiastic. She greeted Calvert warmly, even asking for his autograph. She even went so far as to pull Calvert in for a photo together.
Naturally, Quinn didn’t want to be left out. He also pestered Calvert for a photo together, and for a hug.
And so, the scene turned into the mother and daughter both vying for Calvert’s attention. Although Calvert was a bit flustered, he still cooperated with the two of them quite well.
Chandler wore a stern expression, turning to Harley beside him, he said, “Why did you bring him here?”
These mother and daughter are now fans of Calvert. Their aesthetic tastes are surprisingly in sync when it comes to Calvert. So much so, that Chandler is very familiar with some of Calvert’s gossip!
Chandler was just relieved that Calvert wasn’t a good singer and didn’t hold any concerts. Otherwise, he feared he might have to buy glow sticks and follow the mother-daughter duo into the venue, waving those glow sticks around!
“Just happened to run into him today, and he found out I was going to pick up Quinn. Since Quinn is a fan of his, we went to pick her up together,” Harley explained, then glanced at Chandler’s perpetually icy face. “Chandler, you’re not jealous, are you? Don’t worry, even if Quinn and Tina are fans of Calvert, their favorite is definitely you. Besides… Tina’s loyalty to her idols… well, it’s limited.”
Harley was telling the truth. Although Tina is a fan of celebrities, her loyalty to them doesn’t last long. She often moves from one star to the next.
In other words, when it comes to being a fan, Tina is quite the fickle one.
Chandler glanced at Harley, “Did you break off your engagement with Lornell because of this man?”
“Cough, cough!” Harley almost choked on his own saliva. Since when did Chandler become such a gossip?
Moreover, Lornell had asked her about this issue before.
Back then, her answer was a firm no, and now, it remains the same – “No, he’s just a friend.”
“So, is that what he thinks too?” Chandler asked.
“What do you mean? Chandler, are you suggesting that he befriended me to take advantage of me and gain better resources?” Harley frowned, “Although at first, Calvert did approach me because I had some resources, everything that followed was due to his own hard work and talent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a sensation in the entertainment industry just by playing a supporting role.”
After all, there’s a saying in this circle, small fame comes from hype, big fame comes from destiny!
After all, even if you have a strong backing and are showered with all kinds of great opportunities, there are still many people who just can’t make it big.
“I’m not sure if he’s been using you to gain resources, but one thing I am sure of is that he doesn’t see you as a friend. The way he looks at you, it’s the way a man looks at a woman. How many friendships between men and women do you think are purely platonic?” Chandler retorted.
Harley was taken aback. Could it be that Chandler was implying… Calvert liked her? Like, in the way a man likes a woman?
Is it possible?
Over the past couple of years, they’ve been just friends, and Calvert has never expressed any romantic feelings for her.
“Chandler, did you… maybe get it wrong?” Harley asked hesitantly.
“All I did was speak my mind. Whether I’m wrong or right, it’s up to you to find out,” Chandler said. “And there’s one more thing, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but Lornell is returning to his home country in a few days!”
Harley was taken aback, “What, he’s going back to his country?”
“Yeah, I guess you’ll be staying in Emerald City for a while. Even though you and him have called off the engagement, there are still some occasions where you might inevitably run into each other.”
“I get it,” Harley said, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. After all, she and Lornell had quite a few mutual acquaintances, and to some extent, they were all part of the same social circle. It was inevitable that they would run into each other from time to time.
In just over two years, she had completely let go of that once hopeless love.
At first, it was her who proposed to break off the engagement, simply because she didn’t want to be trapped in a relationship where she would never get anything in return. And even now, she has no regrets.
When Harley and Calvert left the Hunter family’s place, a faint blush still lingered on Calvert’s face. It seemed that Tina and her daughter had really given him a run for his money.
“Sorry, Tina and her daughter were a bit too enthusiastic, but they really do like you. Tina thinks highly of you. She says you’re bound to make it big in the entertainment industry, and not just as a flash in the pan, but as a lasting star. Tina has always had a knack for spotting talent in celebrities.”
Calvert gave a shy smile.
He yearned for fame, not for its own sake, but so he could stand beside her, worthy of her love.
But… if that day really comes, would he have the courage to pursue her?
In his eyes, she was high above, an existence he needed to look up to.
“And also…” Harley’s voice paused, “I have something to ask you.”
“What’s up?” Calvert asked.
“Do you like me?” she asked.
When these words were spoken, Calvert was taken aback. He stared blankly at Harley, his eyes full of confusion.
“I mean the kind of liking between a man and a woman, not the kind of liking between friends,” she said.
He bit his lip awkwardly, his dark eyes filled with struggle and hesitation.
How should he respond to her? If he tells the truth, then all his feelings over the years will be laid bare before her. What would she think of him then?
Inside the train car, it suddenly became completely quiet.
“Calvert, I want the truth,” Harley’s voice echoed again, like a stone thrown into his heart, causing ripples.
“I…” His mouth was dry, his head bowed, his heart pounding wildly.
His mind went blank. What kind of answer should he give her at a time like this?
“Can’t you answer?” Harley’s voice was asking.
“No, it’s not!” He responded almost subconsciously. After a while, he slowly lifted his head, looking at the person in front of him, his voice trembling slightly as he said, “Yes, I like you. I like you in the way a man likes a woman.”
It was just a short sentence, but she had no idea how much courage it took for him to say it!
Harley stared blankly at the person in front of him, his face flushed red. The unease, affection, and nervousness in his dark eyes were completely undisguised.
At this moment, even if Calvert hadn’t said it, she could feel that he liked her, perhaps even loved her!
But all this while, she’s only ever seen him as a friend, never once considering the possibility of a romantic relationship between them.
“Alright, I got it!” In the end, that’s what she responded with.
Besides this sentence, she suddenly didn’t know what else to say!
Calvert’s eyes gradually dimmed, and the once anxious heart seemed to slowly sink into an unfathomable abyss.
It wasn’t until Harley dropped him off at his residential complex that he got out of the car, looking lost. He managed to squeeze out a smile, “I’m sorry, if my answer earlier upset you, you can pretend you never heard it. Can we… can we still be friends?”
Harley hesitated for a moment, “Let me think about it.”
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.