"Evander..."
Evander had always been gentle and courteous, patient and unassuming. Being around him felt natural, easy, never strained. In Elodie's mind, he was like an infinitely patient elder figure, someone who could accept everything about her, offer sound advice when she hit a wall, or step in and help solve her problems at just the right moment.
She had never forgotten how good he had been to her overseas back then. How much he had looked after her.
'But no one is kind without a reason.'
Evander had never hidden what he felt for her back then. Elodie had always known.
She set her utensils down slowly. She hesitated and then decided to speak. "Evander, you've helped me so much. I'm grateful. It's just that I..."
"Don't misunderstand. What I said earlier, I didn't mean anything e
