Chapter 268
Chapter 268
The evening had fully descended outside, the luminescence of the moon obscured by the heavy cloud cover. Inside their
bedroom, a solitary desk lamp filled the room with dim, comforting light.
Eder’s face was turned away from the lamp, positioned so that the backlit surroundings made his features indistinct and
enigmatic.
Grace felt the intensity of Eder’s gaze, making her heart flutter. Unwinding herself from his hold, she sat up straight, her small
hand delicately tracing his cheek. Her eyes were resolute, sparkling like stars in the dim room.
“I used to believe I could freely let go of my love for you without any reservations. But that time when I almost lost you, I finally
came to terms with the truth. 1 love you, Eder. Just like the depth of your love for me, my love for you is just as profound. And no
matter how many times you ask me in the future, my answer will always be the same. I love you.”
As their eyes locked, tears welled up in both their eyes.
Eder fought back his tears as he pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms trembling faintly. Hearing Grace confess her love for
him stirred up a torrent of emotions inside him. Her words filled a void in his heart, making him feel complete.
Sensing his turmoil. Grace gently patted his back, soothing gestures trying to comfort him.
Their embrace lingered on. It lasted so long that Grace began to think Eder had drifted off to sleep. It was only after a while that
he finally let her go.
“It’s late. You should get some rest.”
“Huh?” Grace was momentarily taken aback. It was only half past nine, and he was suggesting they sleep? Was he back just for
a hug?
While she was still grappling with her confusion, Eder had already retreated under the covers. His behavior was unusual tonight.
Crawling into bed next to him, Grace nestled in his embrace. She attempted to lighten the mood, her voice playfully suggestive.
“We haven’t seen each other in days, and you finally returned tonight.” Don’t you want a massage before bed?”
Eder remained silent with his eyes closed. His expression was calm yet touched by restrained desire. Nevertheless, he did not
respond to her suggestion
The room felt strangely oppressive to Grace.
After days of being apart, he had returned seemingly indifferent. Was he no longer eager of her touch? Had she lost her charm?
As if not believing it, Grace’s little hand under the covers sneaked into his robe again. Her fingers traced the contours of his
abdominal muscles and chest under the covers, causing his breath to hitch.
Under her leasing. Eder’s breathing became noticeably erratic. He frowned slightly and gently held her hands, murmuring softly,
“Be good, stop fooling around, and go to sleep.”
Grace, in response, pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, her cheeks puffed up in a cute display of annoyance. “You didn’t even kiss
me this time, and now you’re rellring to bed this early. Are you turning into a monk, renouncing all worldly desires?” Her words
were pointed, her soft complaints accompanied by a seductive gaze that brazenly tempted him.
Eder closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It was as if he was mustering the strength for a significant decision. When he finally
opened his eyes, his dark gaze had become distant, aloof.
The Malimaire and His Billianzhe Ex mife
“Grace Salen, let’s... break off our engagement.”
The unexpected words hung in the air. Grace was stunned. It took her a moment to process his words. “W-w-what did you say?”
What made it even more unsettling was the formal way he called her name, unlike his usual endearing address. His voice was
steady and calm, yet it carried an unsettling hint of detachment.
Grace’s eyebrows knit together sharply, her body stiffening. She abruptly sat up, her gaze fixed on him, clouded with confusion
and disbelief. “Say that again.”
Eder didn’t sit up. Instead, he nestled further into the covers, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows on his cheeks. “I said,
let’s break up.” His voice was light and distant.
To Grace, it felt like her heart had been sliced with a sharp knife, the pain echoing throughout her body. “Why?” She was
bewildered. Why was he so different since he returned? She couldn’t decipher his thoughts.
“Maybe... I’ve grown tired.” His voice was m uffled, coming from under the blanket, carrying a faint hint of unease.
His response made Grace furious. “Get up right now!” She reached out and grabbed his ear, yanking him upright, the force
pulling him out from the covers. “Eder, look at me and say it again!”
Eder’s features tightened, a wince of pain passing over his face. He averted his gaze, stealing fleeting glances at her. His silence
was deafening in the room.
“Break off the engagement? Break up because you are tired? Are you for real? Speak up!” The last word echoed in the room,
charged with emotion. Grace’s eyes were red, her petite face contorted with anger.
Eder’s heart sank at her outburst, his resolve faltering.
“Yes...
“Nonsense! Look at me and say it!” she retaliated, pinching his chin harshly and forcing him to meet her gaze.
With fury boiling within her, Grace bore her eyes into him. “Eder, think before you answer. This is your last chance. If you
squander it, no matter what excuses you give in the future, I will never forgive you! Never!”
Her chest heaved, and her eyes welled despite her best efforts. Under the dim light, her teary eyes sparkled like stars,
stubbornly refusing to shed a tear.
Her small face, twisted with anger, was a heartbreaking sight. His words had clearly wounded her. Eder was unsettled by her
gaze. He couldn’t bear to see her distressed and in tears.
“Say something! Have you gone mute?”
“I...” Under her piercing gaze, Eder faltered. “I’m not sure. I need to think. I’m tired. I’ll sleep...” Abruptly, he broke free from her
grasp, burying himself in the covers once more, turning his back
towards her
Grace stared at his feigned sleeping figure, her anger bubbling over. He actually needed time to think?
or not?
What was there to deliberate? Whether he wanted to be with her or
Was this how all men were? Once they got what they wanted, they started to take things for granted?
She had never been good at discussing love, and tonight was the first time she had spoken so frankly to him. Was he just going
to drift away?
He did not cherish the opportunity she provided and instead suggested a break-up. He had turned his back on her for the first
time, distancing himself from her as though she was a plague.”
Did he believe he could summon her and dismiss her at will? Did he actually think her fiery temper was easy to manipulate?
The more she pondered, the more incensed she became. Her anger almost consumed her rationality. “Eder! You ungrateful
man!” In her fury, she swung her leg and kicked his firm buttocks.
Caught off guard, Eder let out a m uffled groan as he rolled off the bed and onto the plush carpet. Struggling to prop himself up,
the pain between his brows quickly dissipated.
Grace froze in surprise, her hand instinctively reaching out to assist him, but she pulled back midway. She hadn’t expected
actually to kick him off the bed. The bedroom floor was carpeted, so his fall wouldn’t have been painful. Besides, given his
abhorrcut behavior tonight, she felt a strong urge to lash out at him. A kick was the least he deserved!
With a cold snort, she sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, looking down at him with a sense of superiority. “Get up and
kneel properly.”
Eder tried to support his body with his hands, but his strength failed him. Fearful of Grace noticing his weakness, he copied her
posture, sitting cross legged on the carpet with a look of indifference on his face.
Taken aback, Grace shouted, “Eder, you never listen!”