Chapter 523

Chapter 523 Getting In My Way Of Picking Up Girls

When I heard Ronan’s cocky voice on the line, I could detect his regret over the words he had blurted to me in the hospital previously. Consequently, he was now embarrassed by it.

“I can’t be at the hospital because I’m tied down with something. Janette is having some trouble,” I simply explained, not wanting the awkwardness between us to worsen.

“What happened to her?” Ronan’s curious voice rang out at the mention of Janette’s name. “I’m not at liberty to say, but it certainly isn’t something good.”

I didn’t tell him about the rape, for I was cognizant that the lesser people who knew about it, the better. “Sheesh, despite being friends for such a long time, you actually refuse to tell me. You know, I couldn’t be any more disappointed.”

Much to his dismay, Ronan didn’t expect me to refrain from telling him about it.

“It’s just inappropriate as it relates to a lady’s reputation. Besides, it’s not like you’re interested in her, so why are you being such a busybody? Unless, of course, you intend to pursue her?”

Worried that Ronan would press on with his questions, I quickly changed the topic. Upon hearing my accusation, Ronan anxiously denied it. “Of course not. I’m sure you’re well aware that I only have feelings for you. Moreover, why would I fall for such a rude brat like Janette?”

His words rendered me speechless. Even though I’ve long known of his feelings for me, I had been avoiding the matter ever since. Consequently, I was caught off guard by his sudden confession. At that moment, the atmosphere began to grow awkward.

“Ronan, you know full well that it’s impossible between us. So, don’t ever bring this up again.”

After a momentary silence, I admonished him sternly, for he had always been one to speak without any discretion.

In the past, I would only feel awkward and not be angered at all. But now that I was considered the wife of his cousin, it was no longer appropriate for him to make such suggestive comments.

When my scathing words silenced Ronan, I knew that I had hurt him. Nonetheless, I had to draw the line to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness in the future.

“I understand. I was just pulling your leg. There’s no need to take it so seriously. Besides, I didn’t make any moves over the last two years. So there’s nothing for you to worry about at all.”

When Ronan spoke, his tone was tinged with a rare sense of solemnness. I had almost never heard him talk to me in such a serious manner before.

Feeling guilty upon detecting the disappointment in his voice, I had no idea how to comfort him.

Meanwhile, silence continued to fill the line. Given how talkative he usually was, it was an indication of how devastated he felt.

“Ronan, no matter what, I still thank you for liking me. To me, you truly are an indispensable friend!”

Even though we could never be lovers, he was still someone extremely important to me. Furthermore, I would never forget how much help he had extended to me in the past.

The very next second, Ronan gloated over the line, “I’m well aware of how important I am to you. So, you should show me a better attitude when you speak to me instead of sounding cold all the time.”

Even though his tone sounded casual, it didn’t escape my notice that he was just trying to ease the tension in the air.

“Okay,” I plainly agreed with a curl of my lips.

“All right, if there’s nothing else, I’m ending the call now. Anyway, I’m going out on a date with some pretty girls who have been calling me up non-stop, so I’ll talk to you again. Bye!”

Just as he finished, Ronan ended the call without giving me time to react.

Listening to the call end tone over the line, I sighed in resignation. Obviously, I didn’t believe Ronan when he claimed to be going out to pick up girls.

All this while, he never had a girl by his side, just like Michael. In fact, those not in the know even speculated that he was gay. A philandering playboy of old had now become a paragon of abstinence.

After returning home, I felt the tension within me being released as I lay on my bed and fell asleep. Despite how complicated Janette’s situation was, it was still necessary to get it resolved.

Over the next few days, there was no change in Janette’s condition. She continued to behave just like a puppet. Whenever I brought food over, she would finish it without saying a word to me. Furthermore, she had no intention of returning home still.

At the rate she was going, her family would definitely begin to worry, which was something that concerned me.

I had planned to persuade Janette to go home over the next two days. Unfortunately, Alicia called before I could get to it.

When I saw her name on the caller ID, I was reluctant to pick up, for I had no idea what to say even if I did.

In the end, I still chose to answer on the account that I had already decided to try and forgive her.

“Hello?”

As of then, I had no idea how to address her yet, for I couldn’t bring myself to call her Mom.

“Anna, am I disturbing you by calling?”

Assuming that I would still show her a frosty attitude, she sounded visibly tense.

“No, what is it?” I answered in an indifferent tone.

“I just wanted to ask you if you know where Janette is. I’m beginning to worry since she isn’t picking up my calls. After all, it has been a few days since the last time you found her, but there’s no sign of her yet.”

I could hear the concern in her tone when she mentioned Janette.

“Something happened to her that I hadn’t managed to tell you yet. She might need some time to accept it, hence the refusal to take your calls.”

Given that it was inevitable for Alicia to find out about the rape, I decided to reveal it considering how worried she was.

“Janette is in trouble? What happened to her?” Alicia asked anxiously upon hearing my answer. She clearly cared a lot about Janette.

After relating Janette’s gang-rape incident and how I subsequently found her, Alicia fell into a deathly silence.

When I didn’t hear anything for a long time, I began to worry that she couldn’t take the shock.

“Hello, are you still there?”