Stay Around You Now And Forever novel (Hunter Jackson) novel Chapter 202

She was sitting at the far end corner beside the window at the eighth floor of the JH Restaurant, wearing a cold shoulder slip dress, elegant and modest like before. Aryan could not help but give her a second glance when he walked towards her. He only retrieved his glance when she noticed him. "I can't believe it's really you. Raphael.” Nina waved, gesturing him to sit opposite her. The corner of her lips curved into a dazzling smile. "I almost couldn't recognize you when I saw you today. I never expect my former teammate has now become my enemy.”

Aryan did not utter a word. His slightly long hair had covered half of his face. He did not look very energetic and he had the aura of a performance artist with his slightly long stubble. Yet he was still cleaner compared to the ordinary performance artists. Nina stared at his face and her smile faded. She asked with a whisper, "Why did you leave?”

Aryan still did not speak a word and Nina was exceptionally patient in her behavior that she even poured him a cup of tea herself. "Since you're unwilling to mention the past, then fine, we'll only eat for today.” She gestured to a waiter and the waiter quickly brought the dishes she had ordered over. "They're all your favorites, please help yourself.” She was gentle, even for the whole night. Yet Aryan glanced at the dishes being pushed towards him and felt slightly bitter.

"So you enjoy drinking wine at night? I've specially brought this wine from home and do have a try.” Nina poured the wine and filled half of the glass and pushed the wine glass towards him. "Try it. You'll love it.” Aryan seemed to be blank of what he should do or say, he lifted the glass and gulped it down. "Nobody drinks so wildly like you. You're not appreciating my treasure.” She smiled yet she did not feel offended about that and even picked some dish for him using chopsticks.

Aryan completed his meal and did not speak a word until the end. That whole bottle of wine had all basically entered his stomach too. His drinking capacity was not really good and he became slightly drunk after finishing the whole bottle of red wine. And the girl in front of him looked especially attractive. Her rosy lips, sparkling teeth and gentle smile had fully overlapped with that person deep in his mind. He rubbed the part between his eyebrows. Although he was a bit dizzy, he was not drunk. He took the last sip of wine and put down the glass, which also marked the end of the meal tonight.

As he was about to greet goodbye, Nina shot her hand out and grasped his hand which was put on the desk. "Raphael, do come back and help me. You belong to me after all, why do you want to help others going against me?” His fingers curled towards his palm subconsciously. Her hand was warm and soft. Her gentle grasp gave him a sense of being surrounded by warmth and he who was used to loneliness was moved all of a sudden.

Back then, he had wanted to hold her hand, yet she rejected him ruthlessly. There would always be plenty of brilliant men by her side and his shadow never existed among them. Aryan wanted to jerk his hand out but Nina tightened her grasp. "My days did not go well after you left. None of my project has succeeded for the whole year.” She felt aggrieved and teared up as soon as her nose felt sour. "You knew I can't be without you, and you clearly knew all the success I've achieved in the past was due to your unspoken support behind my back.” She moved closer to him and pulled his hand closer to her heart. "Raphael, please come back to me. I beg you.” Her tear flowed down her cheek and seemed to accidentally fall on the back of his hand. It was chilly, and the chillness diffused straight into his heart.

Aryan had no idea when had he left the restaurant and when had he entered a room with her. She watched the perfect girl before him, and the goddess in his heart taking off her clothing one after the other in front of him. She slowly exposed her naked body in his line of sight. His breaths turned irregular and heavy, and he did not know when he had extended his hands.

"Raphael, I'll dedicate myself to you. After today, I'm all yours. Could you come back to me?” Aryan froze and his arms were inexplicably stiff. He was hugging her in a daze, hugging the body he longed for like a dream. If it was a dream, he hoped he would not wake up from it ever. Let it forever be as it was. Yet a thorn was stuck in his heart. And it was an extremely long thorn. He trembled and his heart experienced series of stabbing pain whenever he thought of that. "Why did you…be with him?” He finally asked with a coarse voice. It was the only sentence he spoke tonight.

Nina was startled. She did not expect him to still remember that and it turned out he really left her team, or even disappeared from it due to that. "Raphael, it's all my fault. I apologize. I promise I'll never do the same thing again in the future.” She put her arms around his neck and breathed beside his ear. "He threatened me back then, that if I don't be with him, he'll harm my team. He even threatened to ruin your hands.” She pouted and her thin lips swept across his ear, making him tightening his muscles. "You're the soul of our team and the irreplaceable part of me. What should I do if your hands were truly ruined by him?”

"You did that…for me?” Aryan clenched his fists. His breaths were still quick and heavy.

"Certainly. Everything I did was to protect you. Do you still not trust me?” She clung to him and suddenly pushed him down, pressing against him. "Raphael, it's already pointless to talk about these any longer. There's no one by my side and the place would always be yours forever.” She ran her fingers on his face and he felt a rush of dizziness. She lowered her head and landed her kiss on his cheek. "Raphael, I'm yours, and would always be yours!”

"Nina…”

"You're finally willing to call my name now?” She smiled. Her face was inexplicably beguiling and nice-looking. "Raphael, could we start all over again? Leave Emily Gale that ugly beast and come back to me. Let's…start all over again.”

…

Emily felt a surge of uneasiness. No matter she was reading comics or writing scripts, she failed to gain peace of mind. "Is it alright to let Aryan leave by himself?” Sally was anxious since he nearly got run over by a car at night and now he insisted to leave alone. She could not read his mind and she felt insecure all in all. "It's going to be fine.” Joe consoled her. "This place is so near to school. If anything happens, we'll know.” Yet Sally still felt something was wrong and she glanced at Emily. "Emi, I think he's behaving a little weird tonight. What do you think?”

"I have no idea.” Emily let go her mouse and looked towards her. As she was about to say something, her phone's message ringtone rang. She took her phone and tapped the message alert, and she was startled. Sally became nervous at once and asked, "Emi, could it be that Aryan…” Emily nodded and looked at them. "Aryan says he wants to leave our club.”