44. He's Panicked

"Tara, why are you back?"

Since Dorothy dropped out, Chloe and Cassidy had moved back into the dorm.

Lately, the original drawing work for

Bond of Love

had finished, and they had a few days of vacation. It was rare that they didn't have to go to the company constantly; even without classes, they could stay in the school dorm.

Watching Tara return dragging her suitcase, both were surprised: "You're not living with Killian anymore?"

Tara shook her head, put the suitcase under her bed, climbed up, and closed the curtains.

"Wait, what's the situation?"

Chloe whispered to Cassidy: "Why do I feel like Tara's eyes are swollen?"

Cassidy frowned slightly and didn't speak. Instead, she climbed up the bed, yanked open the curtains Tara had just closed, and forcibly turned her body around from the wall.

"Tara, did you and Killian have a fight?" Her tone was worried.

Tara opened her eyes helplessly and said expressionlessly: "No."

"It's written all over your face, and you still say no."

Cassidy frowned: "Seriously, did he bully you?"

"Really, no."

After speaking, Tara closed her eyes tiredly and said dismissively: "I'm so sleepy, I'm not talking to you."

Cassidy refused to let her go, rubbing her cheeks: "Don't sleep. Tell us clearly so we can see what's going on. What if you, this dummy, got taken advantage of?"

Tara was forced to open her eyes again. Knowing she couldn't avoid it, she simply said: "I feel like Killian doesn't like me."

Before, while she was pursuing him, she didn't actually like him, so she didn't care whether he liked her or not.

But humans are greedy. Now that she had fallen for him bit by bit, she hoped he could like her just as much, or even a little bit more.

But Killian's various attitudes and behaviors told her that he might just find it novel. Since she was willing to pursue him, he was just experiencing the feeling of being in a relationship; of course, it wouldn't go too deep.

He would be obedient to her, but he wouldn't truly give his heart.

Previously, she could manage not to care, but now she couldn't.

So if it wasn't mutual, it was better not to be together.

Of course, she didn't want to restrain him anymore.

Even though life might fall back into various chaotic states from now on.

She would just have to endure it. As long as she didn't die, it would be fine.

"He doesn't like you?" Cassidy's tone was surprised.

"No way. Counting the days you pursued him, your relationship has been in the works for at least two months, right?"

Cassidy found it hard to believe. "My dear daughter, you're so cute, so beautiful, and so talented. So many people want to chase you but can't. Even if Killian were a stone, he should have been moved by now, right?"

Her words praised Tara at every turn, but also proved Tara's uselessness.

Pursuing someone for so long and still failing to touch their heart, even doing so many embarrassing things out of self-indulgence.

The more Tara thought about it, the more she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. "Anyway, he just doesn't like me."

After saying that, she gloomily turned her face and body away, refusing to continue the conversation.

Seeing this, Cassidy looked at Chloe below and shrugged helplessly.

Chloe frowned and mouthed to her:

What do we do?

After a moment's consideration, Cassidy simply closed Tara's curtains again, then went down and led Chloe out of the dorm, giving her a quiet space.

Once it was quiet, Tara, who hadn't slept well last night, soon fell asleep.

"You thought of a way?"

Walking on the school track, Chloe asked Cassidy.

Cassidy sneered: "Isn't it simple? Killian doesn't know how to cherish her, but plenty of people are waiting to take his place!"

"The best way to heal a broken heart is to cover it with another relationship."

"There are so many handsome guys in our school who want to chase Tara. Why not just arrange an even better one for her?"

Chloe nodded: "Makes sense. But in terms of looks, probably no one can top Killian. Will Tara even be interested?"

"If we can't find one on campus, we can find one off-campus, right?"

Cassidy curled her lips. "I actually happen to know one. His character, family background, and looks are all excellent—not inferior to Killian at all. A perfect match for my dear daughter!"

Chloe was intrigued: "Really? So what exactly do you plan to do?"

Cassidy hooked her arm around Chloe's shoulder and leaned in: "That friend of mine just happened to open a new hot spring hotel. He's invited me several times. I'll organize a gathering tonight and we'll take Tara along..."

The two of them spent a long time planning carefully. When they returned to the dormitory building, they saw many girls standing outside.

They all seemed to be chatting amongst themselves, looking very busy, but their gazes couldn't help but steal glances in a certain direction.

Chloe and Cassidy also looked toward where the girls were frequently peeking.

When they saw that familiar, refined figure, both were stunned.

That person was none other than Killian.

He was leaning against a sycamore tree, holding flowers in one hand and his other hand in his pocket. His long, sharp phoenix eyes were staring unblinkingly at the female dormitory entrance, his handsome face looking gloomy.

He was like a perfectly crafted masterpiece of a statue—handsome and eye-catching—but his aura was exceptionally forbidding.

Technically, he was now the boss of both Chloe and Cassidy.

Usually, they were quite intimidated by him and wanted to take a detour whenever they saw him; it was the same now.

Neither of them showed any of the arrogance they had on the track just now when they were calling him a "stupid idiot who doesn't know how to cherish her." They lowered their heads, silently minimizing their presence as they hurried into the dormitory.

"Stop."

The familiar magnetic voice rang out from behind. Chloe and Cassidy’s scalps felt numb. They pretended not to hear and ran inside with large strides.

Killian: "..."

He knit his brows and checked his phone again.

The messages he sent remained unanswered; the numerous calls he made were still not picked up.

His mind was now entirely filled with her aggrieved, crying appearance from last night, and that sentence: [I don't want to like you anymore].

At that moment, he finally understood how stupid he had been.

She was bright, passionate, and direct, but also sensitive, lacked security, and longed for a response.

And he, thinking he was respecting her, always maintained that distance—it was basically pushing her away with his own hands.

It was only natural that she would be heartbroken.

"Hot spring party?"

In Dorm 105, Tara was slumped listlessly on the desk and was about to refuse: "I don't want to—"

"No, you do!" Cassidy interrupted her, saying seriously: "It's a free membership card, only for today. Use it or lose it; don't waste it."

Chloe also persuaded her: "Yeah, Tara, let's go together. Soaking in a hot spring is very comfortable and can get rid of fatigue. Look how heavy your dark circles are; maybe they'll get better if you go soak."

"And there's lots of other good food and fun things there. Go experience it, and all your worries will disappear."

Eliminate fatigue, resolve worries.

Tara was indeed a little moved.

Killian had smoked six times today and hadn't even eaten yet.

She didn't want to think about him, but everything about him was always lingering.

Taking this chance to distract herself would be good.

With that thought, she nodded: "Okay."