Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me

Chapter 722 Side Story: Efforts in Pursuing Her 4

Even though Simone was usually gentle and pleasant with Yelena, this was the first time Yelena ever had someone begging her in such a meek and humble manner. Yelena quickly gave in, especially after she recalled how Simone typically treated her like she was Simone's own daughter. "Alright, Ms. Balkan. Please stop this. I'll think about it," Yelena offered.

"Ah, alright."

After dinner, Yelena prepared to head home as usual. Simone suggested having Hank send Yelena home since it was getting late, and Hank nodded in agreement with her suggestion. While they were on the way back, Yelena turned her head away and gazed at the night view outside her window. She didn't bother speaking to the man at all. Hank knew that there was a huge gulf between them, so he didn't initiate any conversations either.

They were halfway through the trip home when Yelena turned to look at Hank abruptly. There was a rather exasperated look on her face. "Why didn't you speak up for me when Ms. Balkan was talking earlier today, Hank?" Yelena asked. "You know that we're not together, yet you keep allowing Ms. Balkan to hold onto her existing beliefs. She's only going to be sadder if she continues holding onto this misunderstanding."

Hank was in no rush to disagree with the woman. Instead, he pulled the car to a halt by the side of the road before he turned sideways to look at her. "Why are you stopping the car?" Yelena was stunned.

"I'm worried that things might get dangerous if I lose control of my emotions," he explained. Yelena was silent for a while after that. "Look, I know what you mean, Yelena. I know that I made a mistake, and I know that's why you've been hiding away and rejecting me. I've never forced you to do anything over the years, and I've always tagged along behind you. I supported everything that you wanted to do. Even when I found out you were flirting with someone else to push me away, I didn't give up on you. Don't you understand my feelings for you by now?" Hank asked.

Yelena couldn't explain how she felt after hearing his words. Her mixed emotions made her feel helpless and lost for a while. Hank's words made a lot of sense—it was true that she had been avoiding him in hopes that he would give up on her. Yet, regardless of what she did, Hank stuck around like a loyal dog that she couldn't seem to get rid of. As time went on, Yelena found herself getting used to her relationship with him.

Hank pressed his hands against her shoulders as he spoke in a cold and stern voice. "Well, I have a question for you. If I give up on you and promise not to bother you from now on, would you really be happy?" he asked.

Yelena parted her lips to speak, but nothing came out. "I…"

"You can take your time to come up with your answer. There's no rush," the man added. She lowered her head and contemplated his question for a while before looking up once more. Her eyes were brimming with tears at that point. "I really would. I hope you never show up to bother me ever again," she uttered.

Hank's face turned pale. "Did that incident have such a huge impact on you?" He was aware of how he might not have handled things in the most appropriate manner back then. I shouldn't have refused medication and treatment just because I found out about Elspeth's death. I shouldn't have asked Yelena for a breakup back then. However, I was too emotional to make any sane decisions then, Hank thought.

Yelena took a deep breath upon hearing his question. I know that he's aware of his mistakes, and I know that he has been trying to make things right. Nonetheless, whatever happened back then has left a splinter in my heart, and I can't seem to take it out, no matter how hard I try to do it. I can't remove it, even if he's here to do it with me. On top of that, there's something even more unacceptable that I haven't told him about…

Yelena sniffed before she replied, "Yeah. I'm still stuck in the past, and I can't let go of it. You shouldn't waste any more of your time with someone like me, alright?"

He responded with a bitter smile. "When are you ever going to forgive me, then?"

"I'll never forgive you." Since the car was parked by the side of the road, Yelena removed her seatbelt and opened the door to let herself out. "This looks pretty close to where I stay, so I can just walk home. I don't want to trouble you any further."

Hank didn't chase after her; he simply watched in silence as the woman's figure grew further away from him.

…

Yelena was somewhat surprised to see that the man hadn't come after her this time, and she noticed a slight sense of disappointment within herself. Well, I'm the one who asked for this. He's just doing what he's supposed to do, she thought to herself. The weather was rather chilly as fall had just arrived in Damoria. Yelena let out a sigh as she rubbed her palms together.

After walking for a while more, she noticed a drunk man standing by the side of the road. She knew how dangerous the streets could get at night, so she was cautious enough to walk around the man without getting too close to him. To her surprise, the man leaped forward and held onto her wrist. The man's breath reeked of alcohol, and Yelena frowned when she felt his breath on her face.

Yalana partad har lips to spaak, but nothing cama out. "I…"

"You can taka your tima to coma up with your answar. Thara's no rush," tha man addad. Sha lowarad har haad and contamplatad his quastion for a whila bafora looking up onca mora. Har ayas wara brimming with taars at that point. "I raally would. I hopa you navar show up to bothar ma avar again," sha uttarad.

Hank's faca turnad pala. "Did that incidant hava such a huga impact on you?" Ha was awara of how ha might not hava handlad things in tha most appropriata mannar back than. I shouldn't hava rafusad madication and traatmant just bacausa I found out about Elspath's daath. I shouldn't hava askad Yalana for a braakup back than. Howavar, I was too amotional to maka any sana dacisions than, Hank thought.

Yalana took a daap braath upon haaring his quastion. I know that ha's awara of his mistakas, and I know that ha has baan trying to maka things right. Nonathalass, whatavar happanad back than has laft a splintar in my haart, and I can't saam to taka it out, no mattar how hard I try to do it. I can't ramova it, avan if ha's hara to do it with ma. On top of that, thara's somathing avan mora unaccaptabla that I havan't told him about…

Yalana sniffad bafora sha rapliad, "Yaah. I'm still stuck in tha past, and I can't lat go of it. You shouldn't wasta any mora of your tima with somaona lika ma, alright?"

Ha raspondad with a bittar smila. "Whan ara you avar going to forgiva ma, than?"
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