Didn't know how to:

Laura's Pov.

I watched as he left. I felt bad for lying to him. He did not deserve that.

But it was for the best.

I could feel that what was going on between us was not as innocent as it looked so i had to end it before it became extreme.

I contacted Nora immediately.

"Are we having enough interviewees?"

I asked immediately she answered my call.

"Yeah.Quite a number have applied within a short notice. I guess we may begin the interviews tomorrow."

"Great. Invite those with the best resumes tomorrow."

"Noted boss."

Just i was ending the call, the door was pushed open and my noisy friends came in.

"What's with you and dark eyes Anderson?"

Carol asked immediately she got in. I guessed she might have bumped into him while he was leaving my ward.

"Good evening. Thanks for asking." I replied with a hint of sarcasm. I couldn't have imagined, if today had not happened, that my friends one day would choose gossip over my health. But those were my friends. I loved them just the way they were.

Liz was quiet the whole time, which was unusual. It was as if she was blaming herself again for everything. I was fed up with that already. Why was she continuously blaming herself.

"What's up?"

I asked my recent dumb friend. I hoped she didn't go deaf too.

She was avoiding eye contact with me. I had a bad feeling about that.

"She's leaving the country."

That was Carol.

"How many days?" I asked looking intently at Liz.

Liz looked at me in guilt. That was bad. It was like history was repeating itself. The last time she behaved this way, she was gone for years. I had a feeling that she wouldn't have been back were it not for Ray's death.

"How many years?"

I asked calmly. Carol or Liz might have thought that it was calm before the storm.

If at all they thought that, then, they were wrong. I was already past starting storms...i just wanted that calm. Storms were hard to manage.

"I'm not sure."

She answered finally.

"Okay."

The two of them looked at me as if i had just landed from Mars. What were they expecting from me? To cry? Beg her? Hello no!

I was done caring so much. The more i cared about someone, the more i got hurt. I had decided not to care anymore. Those around me could do anything they wanted, I didn't give a damn.

"Okay? Like you're okay with her leaving?"

Carol asked astonished. She may have been betting on me to persuade Liz to stay. Too bad i had to fail her. I did not have that strength anymore.

"Yeah. I'm cool. We are just here, she can come back anytime she wishes to."

The two exchanged glances. Liz looked reluctant allover sudden.

That was her problem to solve. I was already emotionally exhausted, anything more would drive me crazy. I didn't want my children to end up in the social care because their mother became insane. I wanted to raise them well just as Ray would have wished to.

"I'll be leaving tonight."

That soon?

"It's fine. Take care of yourself."

I swear Carol was silently cursing at me. Her expression looked funny. I felt like laughing but i didn't dare. I did not want add fuel into the fire.

The two lost interest in talking to me and left. I could not blame them though.

I had forgotten the most important thing...to care.

Even as i was bidding my best friend farewell, i couldn't show that i cared. I really wanted to tell her not to go...that i was going to miss her like crazy...that i cared so much for her...that i loved her alot but i could not. I did not know how to. I just wished that someone or something stopped her from leaving because i really wished for her presence in my life.

~~~

Dario's pov:

Sometimes i always wondered why the first person i thought about whenever i was confused was Asher. He had never been helpful. After talking to him, i always ended up more confused. But that was Ash, my best friend. I would never trade him for anyone else. I didn't mind getting more confused anyway as long as it was because of him.

"You were telling me about your love rival." He impatiently reminded me.

So he was impatient.

I could as well tell him the name and watch him drawn in sorrows and envy. Who would have thought that his idol was the one he termed as 'my love rival'.

"Alexander Morgan?"

I asked intentionally.

He gave me a dirty look.

"Do not drag him into your messy love life." He warned.

I was happy.

Finally it was my day to get into his nerves.

The long awaited chance was finally there.

"So you don't want to know about my love rival?"

Ash was getting frustrated. I was sure if given chance, he would have beaten the hell out of me.

"Dario!"

"I was telling you about it just now but you told me not to." I said innocently...as if i was deeply wronged.

"You were talking about Alex..." He paused in realization.

It seemed he had realized what i meant. I gave him a knowing but mocking look.

"No! You must be crazy. You're confused. Alex cannot fight with a loser like you over a woman."

I was enjoying this.

I could relate what i was feeling with, how a child who has always been bullied in school feels when he is given a chance to get even with the bully.

Ash was always getting on my nerve. That was my first chance to get even with him.

"You want proof?"

He nodded quickly as if he was really waiting for me to ask him that.

"Alexander Morgan and Ray William were best friends."

"So?"

"So there is a chance for him to have feelings for Laura. I mean they were very close and Laura is also very hot..."

He gave me a threatening glare. I chuckled while crossing my legs. I had to adjust to a more comfortable position to show my power.

"So i can qualify to be your idol too, Ash."

He gave me a warning glare.

"Imagine having a loser like me as your idol."

I pushed further.

"What should I do to replace 'Alexander the great'?"

I continued.

"You have to start respecting me because i could be better than your idol. That way bowing to me would not be embarrassing later."

"Dario Anderson!"

He roared loudly. It seemed i went too far.

"Yes Ash."

I answered looking at him innocently as if i was not the person who had been frustrating him minutes ago.

He chuckled.

I admit i always loved hearing his chuckles but today i was afraid. A chuckle that came immediately after an angry roar. I regretted frustrating him.

"You know if Alex is your rival you don't have a chance."

He began his taunting remarks.

"What do you have apart from your inheritance?"

"Alex is a CEO and Laura is also a CEO."

"You are younger than Laura so probably she'll choose the most mature one."

"The Andersons and Williams are currently not in good terms."

"And did you say earlier thay you felt as if she was hiding her health issues from you? What if i tell you that she told Alex but did not tell you because you were unwothy."

That one really pierced through my heart. All his taunts made me feel bad but the last one lowered my confidence and esteem. Even after knowing that it was true, i still needed to confirm. Maybe i had a chance to redeem myself and my lost esteem.

"How can you be sure that he knows?"

I asked him. I saw him taking his phone. I knew from Ash that Alex had a habit of posting about issues about his life and that of his friends in his moments. He always posted them as questions.

To my disappointed, even though i expected it, it was true that Alex knew about everything. Just accepting that i had no chance with Laura was hard.

'How can you help your friend who has just miscarried?'

That was what was in his moments.

I just realized that Ash was right.

I had no chance.

Laura saw me as someone not worthy to know about her problems.

To her I was not capable of solving her problems because i had nothing apart from my inheritance.

That was when i decided to re-organize my life. In order to win her over, i had to prove to her that i was worthy.

♥✨♥

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