Memories Of The Night

She only hopes that he won"t trouble her again in the future.

Katrina doesn"t say a word to refute Aaron. She looks out of the window, deep in thought.

Aaron figures that Katrina is thinking about all his kindness to her. After a while, he asks, "Where are you going? I"ll drive you. I still have enough time to accompany you," He smiled after saying those words.

After the break-up yesterday and the long trip to the cemetery today, Katrina is physically and mentally exhausted. She doesn"t have the strength to do anything. All she wants to do is go home and sleep in her bed.

Since Katrina has already gotten into the car, she doesn"t need to be difficult. She doesn"t refuse Aaron"s offer and lets him take her back. "I"m going home," she replies.

Aaron is taken aback by Katrina"s pa.s.siveness. In the past, she would have never let him take her home so easily. Intent on keeping her distance from him, she always avoids him like the plague.

This time, it seems Katrina is taking off her p.r.i.c.kly armor. She transforms from a defensive hedgehog into a docile rabbit. The change makes Aaron happy. A little hope from Aaron"s perspective makes his heart move.

Has she realized that he isn"t her enemy? Is she finally willing to accept him? Would she give him a chance to love her? He wanted to ask her, but he chooses to keep it for himself.

He already told her that he is the only one who can be her man. He is the perfect choice for her. Now, she has finally broken up with her boyfriend, and her att.i.tude towards him has mellowed down. He is very pleased with the way Katrina treated him.

The frustrating events of the past few days seem to be making a turn for the better. It feels like he is a step closer to getting back her trust and love. Though Aaron wanted to say something again, he prevented himself from forcing her.

Half an hour later, the car stops at Katrina"s apartment. Katrina unbuckles her seatbelt, turns to Aaron, and says earnestly, "Aaron, thank you for bringing me home, and thank you for all you"ve done for me in the past few days."

Hearing Katrina"s sincere grat.i.tude makes Aaron feel strange.

This is the first time that he cared so much about a woman, the first time that he went through so much trouble to do all kinds of things for a woman.

Aaron believes that Katrina should appreciate his kindness to her, but when she finally expresses her grat.i.tude, he feels a little embarra.s.sed.

It"s not a big deal.

Katrina is his woman. Everything he did for her is only a matter, of course. It should be gratifying to hear her sincere grat.i.tude and get her recognition.

Before Aaron can reply, Katrina continues, "Aaron, we"re even now. I"ll forget what you did to me in the past, and I"ll try to persuade myself not to hate you anymore. Let"s go our separate ways and never contact each other again."

As soon as she finishes talking, she turns to leave the car.

Aaron is stunned into silence. His previous good mood suddenly turns into a thunderstorm. Are we even? Never contact each other again? What the h.e.l.l?

Is she cutting him off completely? Does she want them to be strangers from now on? Will she pretend that he was never a part of her life?

What"s the point of everything he did for her? Why did he go through all the trouble to move from Hadley to Abbe? What"s the point of all the sleepless nights he had agonizing over her going on dates with another man?

To gain her forgiveness? To get her to stop hating him so they could become strangers?

Absolutely not!

Aaron loves Katrina. Everything he did was to be with her, to make her choose him willingly. How did it suddenly turn out like this?

Katrina"s words make Aaron"s mood drop from cloud nine to the bottom of a valley. His previously relaxed and pleasant face suddenly darkens. The atmosphere in the car becomes tense in an instant.

Aaron grabs Katrina"s arm as she gets out of the car. Gripping her wrist tightly, he gnashed his teeth and growls, "Like h.e.l.l! Katrina, you can"t get rid of me so easily! It"s impossible!"

Katrina always has a way of upsetting Aaron. One blow from her and his good mood vanish in an instant. If she wants to express her grat.i.tude only to even things out between them, he won"t let her.

Now Aaron is angrier than he has ever been, even more upset than when he saw Katrina with Marcellus. Caught up in his emotions, Aaron grips Katrina"s wrist tightly. He is afraid that she will disappear from his life and that he will never have the opportunity to express his intentions again.

Aaron"s strong grip is like a clamp around Katrina"s delicate wrist. Katrina frowns at the pain. "Aaron, let me go. You"re hurting me."

Katrina"s whimpering snaps Aaron back to his senses. Even if he is furious with her, he doesn"t want to hurt her.

He loosens his grip and moves over her to close the half-open door, locking her in the car as he speaks his mind. "We"re even? Katrina, you"ll never be able to cut me off from your life!"

Katrina rubs her sore wrist. There are red marks on her skin.

She doesn"t expect that Aaron would be so determined on this issue that he would persistently refuse to give in. They are worlds apart. It would be better to separate peacefully, return to their respective circles, and live their own lives.

She already told him that she"s going to put all his transgressions against her in the past. She already said that she would stop hating him.

Why won"t he let her go?