Forsaking the Years of Longing

Chapter 17 I turned back, smiling sweetly. "You're really willing to make so many sacrifices just to achieve your goals, huh?"

"How could this be a sacrifice? Besides, I hope Miss Howard seriously considers my proposal. Caroline, if you place your bet on me, I promise you won't lose." I said nothing, turned, and walked away.

In the middle of the night, just as I had settled in to sleep, loud, insistent knocking woke me up.

It was Jason, drunk.

Of course. In Seattle, there wasn't much he couldn't find out.

Learning my address was only a matter of time.

As soon as I opened the door, his heavy body stumbled in, nearly toppling me over.

"Caroline, you still remember how to come back?"

I barely managed to steady him. Rolling my eyes at his words, I thought to myself-I've only been gone for two months, and he's already talking like this? Peak sarcasm. "Jason! Get up."

The more I pushed him away, the tighter his grip on me became.

The overpowering smell of alcohol was enough to make me want to pass out.

"Caroline, I feel dizzy."

"Then go sleep it off at your own house!"

Reaching my limit, I shoved him onto the floor, letting loose a stream of curses.

Sitting slumped on the ground, he hung his head in dejection.

Only when I told him to leave did he finally look up at me.

His gaze was dark, shadowed - almost pitiful.

"Make me some hangover soup," he said shamelessly, though his voice grew softer toward the end. "You always used to make it for me..." "Get out!"

I didn't bother listening to his mumbling, too irritated to care.

"Why should I leave? So you can be all lovey-dovey with Callan?

Do you think he loves you? He's only

interested because of our

connection he wants to steal you from me and show off! His so- called confession? A joke. He just wants to use your status as the Howard family heiress to crush me, and you're too stupid to see it!"

Smack!

I slapped him hard.

"Are you sober now? If you are, get out."

"Caroline, what are you pretending for? How long are you planning to drag this out with me?"

Maybe the slap really did sober him up, because Jason stopped rambling nonsense. He staggered to his feet, towering over me by a head. The light from behind him casta shadow over me, shrouding me completely.

"T've overlooked the five years you lied to me. Why do you keep causing trouble? Everything in the Moon Villa is gone, I've taken all the blame

online, and yet you still aren't

satisfied? Fine. I'll give you a title. Is

that not enough? Come back, and We'll even discuss engagement plans."

His every word was firm, leaving no room for argument, as if this decision was some great favor he was bestowing upon me.

But before he could say anything more, another slap from me silenced him.