Villain Ch 152. Facing The Past [Part 3]
Sophia’s brows furrowed in frustration as she glanced at Gilbert. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of annoyance that Gilbert had inadvertently exposed her broken relationship with David. However, she knew she couldn’t blame him since he had no way of knowing the complexities of her past. He had simply spoken his mind without realizing the impact of his words.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Sophia turned her attention back to Allen. “Allen, can we talk?” she requested, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and apprehension. She knew that rekindling their love relationship wouldn’t be easy. She had hurt him deeply, and earning back his trust would require immense effort. 𝐞𝐨𝘃𝐞𝐥.
But seeing the current version of Allen, the transformed and improved version, ignited a glimmer of hope within her. He seemed more confident, taking better care of himself both physically and emotionally. The muscles that were previously absent were now defined, and the intensity in his gaze sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t deny the undeniable attraction she still felt toward him. However, crawling back to him after what she had done made her feel like a despicable woman. Yet, she had nothing to lose now, and this might be her only chance to make things right and be with him again.
“We are talking,” Allen responded curtly, his voice carrying a hint of indifference. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed, based on what Sophia had confessed in the game. She wanted to apologize, to say sorry for the pain she had caused him—a clichéd move that would only serve to give him a throbbing headache. And frankly, he had no interest in hearing it. Especially since Allen knew her best weapon, the one that always managed to manipulate him and bend him to her will. But not anymore. He was determined to break free from that hold, even if it meant being seen as the villain in the real world.
“I mean personally,” Sophia clarified, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and vulnerability.
“Uh, you know what? I’ll wait for Elio and the others at the entrance,” Gilbert interjected, sensing the tension in the air. He quickly made up his mind to step aside and give Allen and Sophia the space they needed. From Allen’s earlier words, Gilbert had begun to piece together the complicated history between the two of them.
“Thank you, Gil,” Sophia expressed her gratitude as Gilbert departed, leaving them alone.
“No problem,” replied Gilbert with a knowing smile before he made his way towards the entrance, leaving the two of them to face their unresolved past.
Sophia hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask, “May we sit?” Her gaze was fixed on Allen, who continued to regard her with cold detachment. She couldn’t quite understand why his icy stare sent shivers down her spine, but it stirred something within her—a flicker of emotions, a rekindling of the love she had once felt for him. “We have to wait for the others, after all.”
“Ten minutes. I’ll give you ten minutes to say what you want before I leave,” Allen stated firmly as he took a seat. Despite his hardened demeanor, he knew that simply walking away wouldn’t resolve anything. It was his own advice that had prompted her to initiate this conversation, to confront the lingering issues that had kept them apart for so long.
“Why? Didn’t you promise to have lunch with the guild?” Sophia objected, her tone carrying a hint of frustration as she took a seat across from Allen.
“I change my mind,” Allen responded firmly, his gaze unwavering. “Besides, I never wanted to join the guild in the first place, and Gilbert never mentioned anything about lunch before,” he explained, feeling the need to clarify his decision.
Sophia couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in her chest as she considered his words. “Is it because of me?” she ventured, her voice tinged with remorse.
A short, mirthless chuckle escaped Allen’s lips. “Obviously,” he scoffed, his tone laced with bitterness. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll join their guild just because you’re not around. I’ve always been a solo player, and I prefer to keep it that way,” he confessed, a hint of stubbornness in his words.
She tried to reassure him once more, her voice tinged with desperation. This time, it wasn’t for the sake of the guild or anyone else, but for herself. If Allen were to join the guild, she would have a legitimate reason to see him, to be a part of his life again.
“What if—” But as the words formed on her lips, ready to spill out, Allen abruptly cut her off with a sharp retort.
“I wouldn’t waste too much time if I were you,” he interjected, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness. There was a firmness in his voice that conveyed his determination to keep his distance. He knew her well, perhaps too well, and he could already anticipate the direction of her thoughts.
Sophia’s heart sank at his words. She had hoped for a different response, a glimmer of openness, but instead, she was met with cold resistance.
“Fine,” she gave up.
Silence settled between them for a moment, the weight of their past lingering in the air. Sophia searched for the right words, her eyes locked on Allen’s hardened expression. “Allen, I know I hurt you deeply,” she began, her voice filled with sincerity. “I never meant to betray your trust. I was lost, confused, and I made a terrible mistake. But please understand that I’ve learned from it, and I’m truly sorry.”
“How can you say that ‘you didn’t mean it’ when you invited him into our apartment? ” he asked in a calm tone yet his every word pierced her heart like a knife. “You weren’t drunk. Neither did he. And now you said you never meant to betray me? Please give me some logic,” he retorted in a cynical tone.