Back to Love: A New Beginning
Chapter 55

Chapter 55:.

His hot breath brushed my face. I didn’t expect him to take advantage of me by deliberately twisting my words. I shoved him away and jumped to my feet, awkwardly tucking my hair behind my ears. “Felix and Eric are still downstairs. I’ll go take care of the dishes.” I bent down and began picking up the broken fragments of what used to be a bowl.

“Be careful,” Derek warned, “Use a broom to sweep up the pieces.”

My heart warmed. I fetched the broom and did as he suggested before heading downstairs.

I found Felix and Eric resting on the couch, apparently having just finished eating.

Later, when I came out of the kitchen after cleaning everything up, Eric was on the balcony. But Felix was still in the living room, brooding on the couch.

I walked over and sat down next to him.

“You don’t think I’m good enough for him, do you?” I asked with a smile.

Felix gave the impression of being surprised by my sudden question. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and blinked. After a while, however, he began to smile back at me.

“You must have heard what I said a while ago. Take it as bullshit. I’ve probably lost my mind after everything that’s happened today. Please don’t take it to heart. Honestly, it’s good that he has you with him. We were always afraid he’d keep refusing to get married and die a lonely old man.”

Die a lonely old man? That sounded far-fetched and a bit much.

Derek was a brilliant man, an excellent catch. Women would chase him wherever he went. Why should he end up alone for the rest of his life?

But Felix said no more. He put the cigarette back between his lips and frowned, obviously returning to his musings.

“Are you in love with Louise?” I asked him bluntly.

He narrowed his eyes and didn’t answer right away. I could see the hesitation on his face.

“She called me scum,” he finally said, in a self-deprecating voice. “I’m sure he doesn’t like scum like me.”

I pursed my lips and studied him. “Felix, I know Louise looks tough on the outside, but she’s actually very fragile and insecure. If you’re not in love with her, it’s best to stay friends. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

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He rolled his cigarette in the ashtray and forced a strained smile. “Why, do you also see me as a piece of scum who doesn’t deserve her?”

I instantly shook my head and hurried to explain. “That’s not what I meant at all.”

This time, there was a mocking edge to Felix’s smile.

“I know. I’ve hit on her. She’s the daughter of a rich family, while I’m just a good-for-nothing playboy who runs a nightclub. We’re not the same kind of people.” It was then that I realized I had said something pretty terrible. I tried to explain myself again.

“I’m sorry, Felix. Please don’t misunderstand my intentions. I didn’t mean anything else, really. It’s true that Louise’s family is rich, but you and I both know that she doesn’t let that fact get into her head. She doesn’t even act like an heiress. Her insecurity stems from her father. When his business finally began to prosper, he divorced her mother and married a woman who was only a few years older than Louise. That’s why she’s always so skeptical about love. Still, I believe that a person’s sincere feelings will be able to move her one day.”

Felix said nothing. He finished his cigarette in silence before standing up to grab his coat. “Well, I don’t know if I’m in love with her or not. To be honest, I’m pretty insecure myself. I also want to be honest, but I’m not sure I’m really capable of it. I’m also afraid. But since the odds are against me anyway, I might as well nip it in the bud. Louise is a vibrant and lovely woman. I like her and am honored to be her friend. I might as well stick to my debauched ways.”

It seemed that he had completely given up on Louise, himself. Remorse washed over me. I shouldn’t have said anything to him.

“I’m leaving now,” Felix said. “You should go upstairs and take good care of Derek.”

Eric came in through the balcony just in time and prepared to leave with Felix. “No, wait a minute!” I voiced. Felix stopped in his tracks and slung his coat over his shoulder, but didn’t return my gaze.

“I have something else to say.”

“Go ahead.” He took a deep, impatient breath, acting like a petulant child.

“First of all, I want to tell you that Louise has never been in love, simply because she doesn’t believe in love. She may look mature and sophisticated, but in reality, she’s quite simple and inexperienced.”

I noticed that Felix stiffened at my words. I went on.

“Secondly, although she is good at fighting, she never fights for someone she doesn’t care about.”

Felix turned then, with a slow, almost shy movement. The knot between his eyebrows was relaxing and the corners of his lips curved upward. He looked as if he had just had a sudden epiphany.

“Goodbye.” She slipped an arm around Eric’s shoulder and they both left.

I trudged up the stairs, remembering what Derek had said earlier. I was a little afraid to go into his room, so I quietly made my way to my own.

He had said he was groggy. Maybe he had already fallen asleep.

I made sure that was the case and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

When I finished, I wrapped myself in a bath towel and opened the bathroom door to be met with a distressing sight.

Derek was standing in the doorway, one arm resting on the frame. He was shirtless.

More importantly, he was pleased that he had been waiting for me.

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