Chapter 97: The Differences Between Them
From the moment he met Chloe, Julian knew her emotions were always remarkably stable. No matter how many arguments they had, Chloe never lost her temper to the point of
irrationality. Instead, after cooling down, she would initiate communication, ensuring their issues were resolved promptly. She never made a fuss over trivial matters; their relationship was always like that.
Because of this, Julian often felt that Chloe’s way of handling their relationship was unusually calm, almost unhuman. To him, any normal person might lose their cool in moments of anger or distress. Yet Chloe never did. Regardless of her feelings–anger or sadness–she could articulate her thoughts rationally. Moreover, he could sense that her emotional fluctuations
were never due to him.
Her emotions always stemmed from others, leading him to question whether she truly loved him. Why else would she remain so indifferent and composed, not getting jealous or emotionally affected by what happened between them?
In contrast, Layla was different. Her gaze was always on herself; her emotions would shift because of him. A single word or action from him could lead her to ponder for a long time, giving Julian a strange sense of accomplishment and control. He felt needed and wanted with Layla, a feeling he never experienced with Chloe.
Of course, he knew this sense of need didn’t necessarily equate to affection. He still liked Chloe; her place in his heart remained intact. However, he struggled to accept Chloe’s calm
demeanor.
Whenever Layla looked at him with admiration and adoration, he felt a thrill. He realized how important he was, and with each approach, he couldn’t help but entertain other thoughts, complicating their relationship further.
Julian didn’t deny that, as a man, he craved admiration from women. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get that from Chloe, so he sought it elsewhere.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted from the past to the present. Being with Layla for some time allowed him to gain the emotional value he desired, but something was still missing in their relationship. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what that was.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, his gaze locked onto two figures not far ahead, filled with coldness and anger. He hadn’t expected to run into Chloe and Daniel just by taking a stroll.
Seeing them together made him uneasy, as if something precious to him had been discovered by others. They were chatting and laughing; Chloe appeared genuinely happy. The sight of her smiling face filled him with discomfort. Why did she show such joy with Daniel when she never smiled at him that way?
Standing there, he felt furious, completely oblivious to Layla’s presence behind him. Layla had
Chapter The Difference’s Between Them
just put on a face mask and rushed out when Julian left unexpectedly.
She had wanted to present her best self to Julian, always taking the time to look nice. Even now, she had hurriedly donned a pretty dress to follow him.
Finally catching up, she opened her mouth to ask why he was standing there but halted when she noticed Chloe and Daniel seated nearby. Her expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to calm, masking her confusion as she approached Julian.
“Are you watching Chloe? I had no idea she and Daniel got along so well. Look at them, drinking and chatting so late at night. Their chemistry seems pretty good, don’t you think?”
As Layla spoke, she sensed Julian’s tension growing, but she pretended not to notice and continued, “I thought they might be a couple when I first saw them from a distance. It’s a coincidence to find out it’s Chloe and Daniel. But no matter what, they do seem to match, right?”
“I wonder if Daniel came here for Chloe. Are they on a date, or is one of them pursuing the other?”
Her gaze, filled with admiration and envy, fell on the two, her words seemingly casual but feeling increasingly inappropriate.
Julian’s expression grew colder. He turned to Layla, who quickly covered her mouth, looking innocently at him.
“Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just speculating. But it’s really windy and cold tonight,” she said, laughing, rubbing her arms. In her haste, she had forgotten her shawl.
She hoped Julian would take off his jacket and drape it over her shoulders. However, he seemed oblivious, his focus still fixed on Chloe and Daniel.
Seeing his expression, Layla felt a pang of discomfort. Why was he looking at Chloe like that? They had no connection anymore.
“It’s really cold tonight; we should head back,” she said, putting on a pitiful and innocent look as she subtly tugged at Julian’s sleeve.
Julian glanced down, pulling his arm away without a word, then turned to leave.
