Scorching Hot

大暑 [8] / [13]

She didn't answer. He waited.

She opened her mouth,

"You would never come back to me, no matter what condition I am in, would you?"

She didn't answer his question, and instead posed one of her own.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You would never love me again, would you?"

He leaned back in his chair,

"I did love you, Violet. But not now."

"Because you're married?"

"How can you be so shameless?"

"Am I shameless?"

"Have you entirely forgotten what you did to me during all of those times when we were still together?"

"Is it shameless to try to regain a person whom I love?”

He was frustrated. Not just because she kept veering the conversation into forbidden territory, but because, by the very nature of the things she was bringing up, he was doubting her narrative of events more and more. This whole thing seemed increasingly to be a morbid ruse to lure him back into her life by playing the victim. He felt like he was definitely being manipulated now, and it was offensive to him. Still, he maintained his composure, and showed no sign that he was on to her. He needed to be sure, but one thing was certain: he no longer trusted anything she had to say.

"Let's stick to the task at hand, Violet," he said, shrugging off her question, "What do you want to do about Ed?"

She was silent, staring at the floor.

"Look," he said,

"If you're not even willing to discuss what you want to do going forward, then I think we're just wasting time here."

He kept his voice even and non-judgmental, but firm. She looked up, and gazed into his eyes. He could tell Violet was still a fascinatingly beautiful woman. But that trait, which once made his heart shake, no longer mattered to him.

"I missed you. Did you ever think about me while we were apart? Maybe when you and Cynthia―"

"Don't say another word.”

Alexander cut her off, struggling to keep his temper in check. He got up, turned around, and, with his back to her, said,

"Let me know when you're ready to discuss this seriously."