Falling in Love With A One-Night Stand

“Did he tell you anything about what he did in Ireland?” Joanna paused for a moment before lowering her head again. She looked upset. “I’m the one who got him in trouble,” Joanna said after a while.

“Joanna, don’t blame yourself. All of that was in the past! You should stop dwelling on the bad memories now that he’s doing great. He’s such a good guy! | would have married him if | wasn’t married,” Anna said. She got completely into character and began talking gibberish. Somehow, she even found it amusing.

Hearing that, Joanna flushed.

“I’ve heard you two met in Ireland. Can you tell me more about it?” Anna changed the topic.

“I went to Ireland at the time to visit my relatives. A friend of mine took me to a pub one day. We had too much to drink, and some hooligans hit on us. Bill was working at that bar that day, and he saved me. We later became friends,” Joanna said, smilingly.

Then she continued, “Bill used to work as a bouncer at the bar, and | often went there with him. Nearly every day, he had to fight to maintain the order and was frequently in danger as a result. | couldn’t stop crying every time while bandaging his wounds. And whenever he smiled at me, | felt as if nothing else mattered.”

“Do you like him?” Anna asked, observing her expression.

Joanna’s eyes widened immediately. She was about to deny it when she was overcome with sadness. She felt nothing was important to her

right now since she would die soon. ‘472 The Tender Side of Him

was stabbed through the stomach several times. When the fight Was over, he thought he was going to die, so he told me he loved me right away. He said that if he had met

She was surprised to hear such a story and had mixed feelings when

that he told me he loved me that day. | was pissed by his attitude and asked him what

their love story, but she still felt sad about what happened between them. Having thought for a while, Anna explained, “I guess he did so because he didn’t want to become a

had the same thought. Of course, she was aware

to England after that and that he wanted to live a peaceful life with me in a village. Then the police arrested the whole gang. But before that happened, there was already an internal conflict in the gang. |

it possible that it’s Ada? Anna couldn’t stop

would happen, so he brought me to England ahead of time. We then lived in a small village. But | got sick just as |

Joanna’s hand in hers, tightening her grip as she touched those thin fingers. As she touched the thin fingers, she subconsciously tightened her grip. “Didn’t your

costs a lot. We don’t have that much money. Bill told me later that he was about to gain

had said too

the way, | saw a woman come to our store looking for him the other day,” Anna said after a

her grip on Anna’s arm. She appeared terrified and nervous. Then she asked sharply, reaching out her right hand and pointing to the back of her left hand, “What? What does she look like? Does she have a tattoo here on the back

guesses were

a faint smile, Anna shook her head and said, “No. The woman Was around twenty years old, and dressed