Chapter 6: Longing
1166 Words
Sam silently parked the car at a certain location and turned off the engine.
He gazed at Luna.
Her exquisite countenance, delicate figure, even the subtle furrow of her brow, elicited a tremor from within.
So many years had passed, yet she remained as beautiful as memory had held her, perhaps even more radiant now, in full bloom.
However, she appeared more fragile than before, evoking an increased sense of compassion.
Without hesitation, he firmly took hold of Luna's hand.
"What I desire, can't you see it in me?"
There was a hint of hoarseness in Sam's voice.
They were both adults now.
Luna was of the same age as he was.
At thirty-two, having experienced marriage and motherhood, she was no longer the hazy-eyed adolescent, nor did she need to conceal her thoughts.
"Why should I go to that kindergarten, where only the child of an acquaintance attends? Whom would I seek there? Luna, do you not comprehend?"
Her hand was tightly clasped by him.
A delicate and velvety touch.
Luna gritted her teeth, suppressing her fear, yet her desire to pull her hand away persisted.
The more she pulled, the tighter Sam held on.
"What are you evading? You're divorced now, a free woman. Whether your husband is alive or dead, I do not care. He has no bearing on you now."
Despite having previously investigated everything Luna had just spoken, hearing it directly from her satisfied him.
Finally, Luna was willing to lift her head and look at him, her eyes shimmering with tears and entreating, "Sam, we are impossible."
Who was Sam? A prominent figure in his industry, a billionaire in the eyes of others, and a young and accomplished CEO.
And she, a common divorced woman with a child.
She didn't want to be someone's lover, much less a clandestine one.
Sam had an inkling from the moment he first met her, even if she habitually tried to evade it.
Until he articulately expressed the expectation, leaving her no room for evasion.
"What's impossible? A man and a woman being together—what's impossible about that?"
Appearing as though he hadn't grasped her meaning, Sam asked coldly.
"...I won't be someone's lover."
Luna uttered through clenched teeth.
Sam's grip on her hand tightened.
In truth, he had not yet discerned his own feelings towards Luna.
A woman he hadn't seen for so long, someone who had long disappeared as a memory, had unexpectedly intruded into his life, piquing his interest. He was certain he wanted her, yet he didn't know where the summit lay.
"I hadn't planned for you to be a lover."
This statement slipped out before passing through any conscious thought.
Sam paused for a moment, then, with a smoother tone, continued, "I hadn't planned for you to be a lover. We're to be in a normal relationship. You and I, we are to be boyfriend and girlfriend."
Luna was taken aback, yet she kept her head down.
She had to admit that over the years of hardship, her spirit had gradually aged.
Perhaps at twenty, she could have heedlessly accepted his request and enjoyed her youth.
But now she was married and had a child.
She couldn't ignore the potential consequences.
"Let's not. We're truly not suited."
Luna seized his other hand and attempted to free herself.
Sam's heart sank.
She had rejected him again.
"Over these years, what happened between you and Jody Mills? I recall you were quite fond of her back then."
Luna's question broke Sam's train of thought.
Jody Mills, the heiress.
Her family had driven Luna away for Jody Mills, and since then, Luna had disappeared without a trace.
At the same time
He did indeed feel a certain fondness for Jody.
A radiant girl, with a generous smile, prompted his attention.
However, this fondness didn't extend to romantic feelings.
Over the years, everyone believed he was interested in Jody, but Sam knew better.
He harboured no desire for her.
He could interact with her as a friend, and be loyal to her, but nothing more.
Seeing Jody, his body felt no unusual stirrings.
Yet after all these years, of encountering Luna again, his body was in constant turmoil.
Every cell clamoured for her.
"She—she's doing well, studying abroad."
After pondering for a moment, Sam replied.
Luna chuckled softly, "That's good. Your relationship must be quite good. Think about her. If you were with me, where would she stand?"
These people all belong to Jody.
Including her husband.
Luna didn't want to seize, nor did she dare to seize.
"Sam, if you have other requests, I can try to fulfill them; however, in this respect, let's not speak of it. It would be uncomfortable for everyone. I am a widow; I can't play love games with others. With your high status, you need to safeguard your own tranquility."
Gazing at the night outside, Luna spoke softly, "Could you take us back, please? If it's inconvenient, we can take a taxi."
Luna glanced at the sleeping Kiki in the back seat as she spoke.
Parting ways.
During the latter part of the journey, Sam didn't utter a word to Luna.
There was a deep melancholy in his countenance.
Luna knew she owed him.
But how could she repay him?
In that regard, she only wanted to resist.
She didn't want to repay, nor did she want to think about it.
Yes, she was a woman of ill repute.
Someone had resolved a crisis for her, and she was grateful.
But what he sought, she couldn't provide, so all she could do was play the rogue.
After that evening, Sam didn't contact Luna again.
They remained friends in their contacts but continued to interact as if they were strangers.
Luna continued to delve into her nail art business.
In these past few days, she had secured two deals, one for 200 yuan and another for 300 yuan, earning 500 yuan in three days.
The amount wasn't substantial, but wealth accumulated slowly, and Luna was in no rush.
She didn't know what Sam had said to the people at the kindergarten, but the teachers had become more attentive to Kiki.
Once the child who bullied her had transferred, Kiki regained her former happiness.
Life was fine as it was, and Luna harboured no grand aspirations.
But she had not realized that as a single woman, without friends or family, living in a large house with a young daughter, and possessing a means of transport, she was a significant temptation in the eyes of others.
Moreover, Luna had a strikingly beautiful face.
What she perceived as calm waters was, in reality, a surging undercurrent.
One day, after having just coaxed Kiki to sleep, a knock sounded outside her door.
For a solitary woman, facing danger meant twice the threat to Luna.
Because she also had a young daughter.
Luna retrieved a knife from the shoe cabinet and called out to the person outside, "Who's there?"
- Writer
