Dallas returned faster than she expected, within just two hours.
Pushing the door open, he found her sitting by the window, enjoying the view.
When Averi saw him, she simply asked, "Are you staying for dinner?"
Dallas shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the dining table. He paused for a moment and asked, "You've finished eating?"
"Hmm."
"I'll take you home."
"Okay."
Averi stood up, picked up her coat, and walked out, Dallas silently following behind.
The intact cake and the little purse stood alone on the sideboard, still wrapped, the exaggerated pink bow looking oddly festive in the situation.
The car weaved through the interlacing neon lights, gliding smoothly until it reached the third ring road, where it suddenly came to a halt. The red glow of brake lights rippled like waves, rising and falling in unison.
Averi glanced at the time—9:45 PM, right when the evening rush was starting, and it was a bad time for traffic jams.
No one knew what was happening up ahead, but for fifteen minutes, traffic didn't budge an inch. Tempers flared as someone gave in to road rage, pressing the horn with relentless urgency. One horn led to another, until a chorus of honks filled the air. Even with the barrier of glass, the noise was enough to fray the nerves.
Amidst this cacophony, Dallas spoke, "I'm sorry about what happened today."
Kids' tempers flare quickly but also pass just as fast. By the time he caught up to Denise, most of her anger had dissipated, and her tears were more from feeling embarrassed.
She cried and confessed, recounting all the emotional journey she had been through over the years.
She knew herself that things had reached a point of no return, so what was the point of maintaining any semblance of dignity?
Dallas listened quietly and then earnestly told her that he had always seen her as a sister. If he had done anything to mislead her, he asked for her forgiveness.
The gentler he was, the more desperate Denise became, and the last bit of hope she harbored vanished.
Wiping away her tears, Denise recounted in detail her conversation with Averi.
Averi turned her head to look at his profile, which he noticed. Their gazes met for two seconds before Averi smiled and looked back.
"It's okay."
After a moment of silence, Dallas continued, "Ralph's parents also passed away early. The two of them lived with their grandmother since childhood. Ralph treats Denise like a daughter, usually doing his best to fulfill her wishes. So…"
He didn't finish the sentence, pausing before saying sorry.
Averi nodded.
Whether a girl is treated like a princess is related to wealth, but not entirely. It mostly depends on whether the family is willing to spoil her. Denise was the one who was spoiled, so her temper was inevitably a bit direct.
Averi sighed, her tone softening, "Dallas, you don't have to explain to me."
Outside was chaotic and noisy, but inside the car, it was silent. She rolled down the car window, and a blast of cold air rushed in, hitting her with a sharp chill that made her shiver.
"She's right. I'm not a good person. I took her feelings as a joke." Averi lowered her head, smiling, her exquisite face showing no sign of annoyance, only some admiration. "She's very smart. She should be able to get into J University smoothly."
Dallas gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Averi didn't notice, her laughter becoming lighter and more playful, her eyes dark with a teasing glint, "I think you should listen to your girl."
"Beep—!"
The shrill screech tore through her composed demeanor.
Averi hadn't recovered from the screech when she was thrown back into the seat.
She had no idea how Dallas managed it, but he forced a path through the congested traffic, weaving skillfully past the blaring horns and angry shouts behind them. He veered off the ring road, accelerating down the street until he pulled into an unmarked alley and brought the car to a stop.
The only streetlight was broken, emitting a buzzing sound, flickering every few seconds, as if uneasy.
The flickering light was worse than complete darkness.
Averi couldn't see Dallas's expression, but she could hear the ice in his voice, "Averi, letting you play doesn't mean you can meddle in my affairs."
Long-suppressed emotions finally erupted, the boiling blood that had been churning since he heard Denise say Averi had encouraged her.
He tried to suppress it.
And then?
She told him to listen to his "girl."
Averi's eyelids twitched, sensing the danger, just as she was about to speak, her ears caught a faint sound.
It was the sound of him unbuckling his seatbelt.
She hadn't thought of anything to say yet, but the Dallas people had already pushed themselves over. He didn't even need to look, he firmly grabbed her hand attempting to unfasten the seatbelt with one hand, and wrapped the other hand around her neck.
"If you're done playing your games, don't just throw someone at me. What do you take me for? Do you really think I'd jump at any woman you hand me like a dog?"
In her mind, he came off as so shallow.
Who's to blame? Only himself.
Who let him be so cheap and constantly played with by her.
He was so close that his nose almost touched hers. The sharpness and fierceness in the light colored pupils that she had never seen before left Averi bewildered.
She once again felt the power gap between the two.
If he wants, she is as fragile as glass in his hands, with no room for resistance.
His heart thumped, and Averi seemed to hear the rustling sound of his own blood rushing.
She struggled for a moment, remained motionless, and then said, "I know you're not that kind of person."
What kind of person? She can't even explain it clearly herself, but it's not like this now.
Dallas's taut line suddenly twitched, his lips lifted upwards, and a cold sarcastic roar came over, "Do you know me well?"
Averi couldn't lift herself up in one breath, and nervously broke through the peak, becoming an impulse to die together.
She met his eyes and whispered, "Yes, I understand very well. I know exactly what you're angry about and what you want."
Dallas held her breath and waited for her next message.
There was a flame in his eyes, too straight and too bright for Averi to look at, but she forced herself to approach him and said in the most casual tone, "You want to fuck me."
The palm behind her neck tightened, causing her skin to ache.
You're very unwilling, aren't you? It's okay, it's easy to solve. Dallas, I'll play for you today, you can play as you please."
Dallas' eyes trembled violently, and his pupils suddenly contracted into an invisible spot.
In a way, she does know him well and knows how to completely provoke him.
She used the lightest and most vulgar language to trample on his most secretive intentions.
