Wrong Love, Final Goodbye: She'll Never Look Back-Chapter 306: Bought the Apartment Below Hers
"What are you doing?" Tanya asked smoothly, her eyes sparkling, holding a gentle smile.
In fact, she wasn’t much different from the eighteen-year-old Tanya.
The only difference was that now she finally saw him.
Being with her, anything would be good.
Declan drove Tanya back to Phoenix Court, all the servants had left the house; it was just the two of them.
"How about watching a movie?" Declan asked.
Tanya blinked, "Why not go to the cinema? It’s more atmospheric."
Declan heard this, raised an eyebrow slightly, and conceded helplessly close to her, "Ms. Sinclair, I want to be with you, not because I truly love watching movies."
Tanya: "..."
Her face felt a bit hot, she gave an "oh," and moved to the sofa, turning on the TV to start selecting a movie.
Declan went to prepare some snacks and fruits.
Tanya inadvertently looked back and saw Declan cutting fruit, his sleeves casually rolled to his elbows, the fruit knife hitting the cutting board with a crisp and rhythmic sound.
For some reason, every time Tanya saw Declan doing something so skillfully, she felt a little distressed. It was as if she was seeing him as a teenager again, with his golden hair in the greasy back kitchen, busy and silent.
She knew part of his past, knew he had endured a lot of hardships,
but what about the part she didn’t know?
The snacks and fruits served were all Tanya’s favorites.
She had also chosen her movie, a classic horror film.
As the specter crawled out during the opening of the movie, Declan instinctively looked at Tanya, and sure enough, her face was buried in her hands, leaving only a small gap.
Clumsy, yet loves to play.
He was contemplating whether to change it, and just then, his phone vibrated.
Declan glanced down; it was a message he had sent Zion while nervously picking up Tanya earlier, asking where to go for a first date.
After all, Zion’s dating history could fill a book series.
But at that time, Zion was busy and hadn’t seen the message; he responded now.
Zion Monroe: [Brother Pierce, are you and Sister Tanya starting to date? Haha, listen to me, take her to see a horror movie! When she gets scared, you just protect her! Pull her into your arms with your magnetic bubble voice and tell her: Baby, I’m here!]
Declan: "..."
He must have been out of his mind to ask Zion Monroe.
Declan threw the phone aside.
The movie kept playing, and the person beside him was curled up from the fright of the images, appearing... very huggable.
As soon as the thought arose, the next second, the curled-up Tanya bumped into his arms. She didn’t look at him but adjusted herself to a comfortable position, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
Declan’s body stiffened slightly, and his arms enfolding her didn’t dare to use force.
It was like holding a kitten.
Soft, fragrant.
Also, a fragile beautiful dream, that with even a little more strength, he’d wake up.
After a long while, Declan lowered his head and gently kissed the top of her head.
Most of the movie, he spent watching her.
He toyed with her fingers as if they were the most fascinating playthings, rubbing each one, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"Are you going home tonight?" Declan asked softly, his lazy, magnetic voice inducing a subtle itch upon entering the ears.
Tanya hadn’t had time to answer when her phone rang; it was Caden calling.
Declan wisely let go, allowing her to answer the call.
"Caden?"
"Mom, when are you coming back?"
"I’ll be heading back now. Baby, if you’re tired, just go to sleep. Don’t wait for mom."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a void beside her; Declan got up and fetched her shoes.
He knelt on one knee beside her, head lowered, serving her as she put on her shoes.
Declan’s hands were beautiful, distinct as jade, holding her ankle.
Tanya’s heart skipped a beat.
She hung up the phone, looking at Declan in front of her.
He wore a grey cashmere sweater, his actions as gentle and calm as he was.
Tanya couldn’t help but reach out to touch his head, "So good."
For some reason, a surge of bittersweet emotion arose in her heart.
Perhaps when people are happy, they become fearful.
Tanya reached out, cupping Declan’s face, kissing him.
"Caden is very smart and sensible. I think he will like you too."
How could Declan not understand the deeper meaning in her words? In the depths of his dark eyes, a silent current surged.
His princess, placing him in her future.
When Declan dropped off Tanya at home, a big and little one were coming out of the front door.
It was Caden accompanying Aunt Tawny to take out the trash.
And the four of them just bumped into each other.
"Oh my, is this Mr. Pierce?" Aunt Tawny noticed first how the two of them were holding hands and how Declan held Tanya’s bag with the other hand.
Aunt Tawny was even more satisfied.
Vincent never carried bags for his wife before!
Knowing how to carry bags means being a good man!
Tanya blushed a little, letting go of his hand.
"Caden, this is Uncle Pierce, you’ve met before."
Declan crouched down, eye level with Caden, "Hello, Caden. Nice to see you again."
He extended his hand.
Caden’s little face was serious as he reached out and shook his hand.
He turned to Tanya and said, "Mom, you and Aunt Tawny go back first. I need to have a chat with Mr. Pierce!"
Tanya: "?"
She was about to say something, but Declan spoke first, "Tanya, I’ll take Caden home later."
Tanya hesitated a bit, and Aunt Tawny pulled her aside quietly, "Ma’am, it’s good to let Caden spend more time with Mr. Pierce and talk. Caden is so smart; he has his own standards. You must trust him; let’s go upstairs first."
In the end, Tanya followed Aunt Tawny upstairs, looking back every few steps.
Caden walked ahead, and Declan took long strides, leisurely following him.
The big and the small one walked to a bench, and just as Caden was about to sit down, Declan took off his coat and laid it on the metal seat.
Caden touched his thin pajama pants, indeed sitting directly on the bench would feel cold and hard.
"Thank you," he said politely, then climbed onto the bench to sit.
"You like my mom, don’t you?" Caden got straight to the point.
Declan sat beside him, legs stretched out, and said lightly, "I love her very much."
Caden frowned slightly; he was too young to fully understand the meaning of love.
But he knew that his dad once said he loved his mom too...
"It seems like adults say they love someone easily, and stop loving just as easily. My dad was like that; he said he loved mom but often made her sad."
Declan asked, "Caden, do you love your mom?"
Caden answered without hesitation, "Of course I do."
"Then what do you think love is?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Caden thought seriously for a while, "I love mom, so I want her to be happy, to smile more, and not to cry secretly. I also want to chase away any bad guys who bully her."
Declan said, "I can do all of that and more."
Caden looked up at him, "Can you promise to love my mom like this for a lifetime?"
Declan tugged at the corner of his mouth and murmured, "I have already loved her like this for a lifetime."
"What do you mean?" Caden scratched his head, not understanding.
Declan didn’t elaborate, he squinted up at the moon, clouds obstructing the moonlight drifted past, and the chilly moonlight fell into his palm.
He spoke slowly, "As long as I live, I will love Tanya each day."
"..."
Well, that answer was perfect.
Caden pressed his lips together, hugging his arms in serious contemplation.
Mom seemed to like this Uncle Pierce too; they were holding hands...
"Okay!" Caden struggled for a bit, slapping his thigh to make a decision, "Then you’re temporarily qualified, whether you can become my stepdad depends on your performance later! Plenty of people are pursuing my mom, and if you make her sad, you’re out! I’ll knock off all your points!"
Declan looked at the little guy’s serious face, clenched his fist, and extended it, "Deal."
Caden also extended his little fist and bumped it against his.
Declan stood up.
"Let’s go, I’ll take you up."
With his tall build and long legs, even at a slowed pace, one of his steps equaled two of Caden’s.
Caden trotted alongside Declan, looking up to ask him, "Oh, tomorrow our school has a parent-child event, do you want to come?"
Declan considered for a moment, then honestly said, "I have some things to handle tomorrow. But since you invited me, I’ll come over after I’m done."
"Alright."
Declan led Caden to the door, and suddenly Caden turned to look back.
He vaguely felt there was someone behind them; Declan’s big hand guided his head to face forward.
Caden: "Uncle Pierce, I feel like there might be..."
Declan casually replied, "Just a stray dog, I’ll deal with it later."
Tanya had been waiting in the living room, and upon hearing the doorbell, she went to open the door immediately.
Declan brought Caden in.
"Mom, I’m back, and I’ve finished talking with Uncle Pierce!"
"What did you talk about?" Tanya couldn’t help but be curious.
Caden exchanged a look with Declan, mysteriously saying, "It’s a secret between men, can’t tell you."
Tanya chuckled, patting her son’s head, "Alright, then mom will respect the secret between you men."
Caden went to his room.
Tanya looked outside to Declan, "Want to come in for a drink of water?"
"No thanks." Though he said this, he didn’t enter nor did he leave, "Walk me to the elevator."
It was only about a dozen meters away.
Tanya closed the door, intending to walk him, but as soon as the door closed, Declan’s tall figure swiftly closed in, holding her face and kissing her. Unlike before’s brief pecks, his kiss this time made Tanya buckle, staggering back, almost hitting the wall. Declan freed a hand to brace her back, gently pressing her against the wall.
He kissed her for quite a while before releasing her.
Tanya’s face reddened, too shy to look at him.
She heard a low, magnetic chuckle above her, making her blush even more.
Declan gently wiped her soft and lustrous lips with his thumb, his voice hoarse, "Go inside, sending me this far is enough."
After Tanya went back inside, Declan’s tenderness vanished completely from his eyes.
He turned but didn’t enter the elevator. Instead, he walked to the corner’s fire escape, where several cigarette butts littered the floor, obviously just smoked.
At the same time, Declan’s phone rang. It was Janne Hayes calling.
"President Pierce, I’ve got new information; Vincent Hawthorne just bought the apartment below Ms. Sinclair’s at twice the market price yesterday!"
Declan’s face showed no expression, and he was already descending the fire escape stairs.
"I know."
