Love Me The Way I Did

“Maggie, you’re not going back there again, are you?” Luciana asked, desperately wanting to seek a commitment from Margaret. However, she was disappointed with the latter’s response.

“They needed me there.” Margaret’s reply showed her determination. She wasn’t afraid of death or war. What she feared was becoming a coward who couldn’t speak the truth or uphold the integrity of journalism. “Besides, I don’t have any attachments,” she continued.

“Nonsense. Aren’t isabel and I your attachments? Maggie, I’m trying to conceive. If it happens soon, you’ll be a godmother next year.” Luciana knew Margaret’s carefree attitude stemmed from not having a family hersell. A house was just a place to stay, and she had never truly felt a sense of belonging. Therefore, she wasn’t afraid and could go anywhere she wanted.

Luciana secretly hoped that the idea of having a baby might make Margaret feel needed by someone. As long as the latter had a reason to stay, she wouldn’t go back to such a dangerous place.

Margaret only smiled, raised her beer, and cheered, “May you and Zachary have a baby soon.”

Luciana knew that her trick was useless. “Maybe only someone truly connected to Margaret by blood could convince her to stay, she thought.

In an instant, she stopped caring about whom Margaret would end up with. All she wanted was for Margaret to find someone who could get her pregnant and cherish her life in the future.

If Margaret knew what Luciana was thinking then, she would probably cut ties with the latter.

“Well, let’s make it easy. We’re here to have fun. If Zachary finds out that I made you cry, he’ll probably have more reason to stop you from coming to the bar.” Margaret tried to lighten the mood.

“Hey, just remembered something. Do you know that hottie over there?” Luciana pointed diagonally across the room to the other table.

Since they sat down, the handsome man had been looking over occasionally. Sometimes, he would quickly look away; other times, his gaze would linger for a while with his lips slightly curved, giving off a somewhat mischievous vibe. Under the dazzling lights of the bar, he looked like a vampire.

Luciana had turned well-behaved then. Otherwise, the handsome man would surely be her next prey. At present, she could only reluctantly hand over the hottie to Luciana because she was her best friend.

Margaret followed Luciana’s finger and found that the man did look familiar.

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“Maybe we met at the office building.” Margaret’s news agency was located in a commercial building, and there were many ot there. She figured she must have met the man in the elevator one day. Either way, she wasn’t particularly interested.

“Hey. You have a hottie like that over there, and you’re not even paying attention? Are you even a woman?” Luciana looked at Margaretin despise.

“I am a woman, but I’m not boy-crazy,” Margaret rétorted.

Luciana playfully flicked Margaret’s forehead, feeling irked by her indirect accusation of being a flirt. “What’s wrong with appreciating beautiful things? Beauty is everywhere, but not everyone sees it. I’m proud of having eyes that appreciate beauty!’ she thought.

Not one to take a hit without hitting back, Margaret seized the opportunity to retaliate while Luciana was distracted and laughing happily.

Upon seeing the scene, the handsome man chuckled. Margaret turned out to be even more interesting than he had imagined. Prejudice could indeed be harmful. Thinking of her as a boring fringe character had left him frustrated for several days.

Right then, it seemed that their little game was going to be a lot of fun.

Downing a whole glass of alcohol, the handsome man greeted his friends and made his way over to Margaret’s table.

Margaret and Luciana were too busy preparing to take revenge on each other to notice the man’s action. By the time they realized, he had already reached their table and said with a smile, “Ms. Without An Umbrella, we meet again.”

The special address instantly brought Margaret back to the rainy day two days ago when a stranger had offered her an umbrella. At that time, she hadn’t paid much attention to the stranger’s face, but right then, upon looking closely, she realized that Luciana was right-the man was indeed handseme, almost unreal.

“It’s you!” Margaret’s pleasantly surprised tone made the man smile. Thankfully, that rainy day hadn’t been in vain.

He sensed that fate was lending a hand to his plan. Just as he was contemplating how to orchestrate their next meeting, Margaret took the initiative and approached him. Initially, he had questioned if he was mistaken as her attire that night was notably different from her usual

style.

“Thanks for remembering me.” The man didn’t beat around the bush and sat directly beside Margaret.

“How could I forget? Thanks again for two days ago.” Margaret had a good impression of the man in front of her as she believed that anyone who willingly helped a stranger must be a good person.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“You’re welcome. I’m Ethan, and you?” Ethan introduced himself and extended a friendly hand to Margaret. To him, it was a good start.

Margaret shook Ethan’s right hand and replied with a smile, “I am Margaret,”

At that time, Luciana felt like an abandoned toy on the sideline. She quietly observed the interaction between the two and tried to discreetly shrink into the smallest corner of the sofa, wishing she knew how to make herself even smaller.

She had a feeling that the two did not only have a history but would also develop more stories in the future.

As a former admirer who valued appearances, Ethan fit perfectly into Luciana’s criteria. Clifford and Gideon were already dismissed from her considerations, and right then, her stance was firmly on Ethan.

While Margaret and Ethan were deep in conversation and prepared to exchange WhatsApp contacts with each other, Luciana had already envisioned what their future children might look like. She even entertained the idea of becoming in-laws with them to enhance the appearance of the next generation. Her imagination was expansive and had projected 50 years into the future in just a minute.

“I still have friends over there; I should go back to them. Let’s chat another time. It was nice meeting you, Margaret.” Ethan didn’t linger too long; he knew when to stop. As they had just met once, he couldn’t be too enthusiastic, or it would scare Margaret away.

“Okay.” Margaret’s tone was very gentle. Luciana’s intuition told her that they could develop a story.

When Ethan got up and left, he did not forget to nod at Luciana. The latter’s heart skipped a beat for a second; she had no immunity to

handsome guys.

“He’s gone, and you’re still staring?” Luciana asked all of a sudden while quietly leaning onto Margaret. Even in the noisy bar, her action still managed to startle Margaret a little.

“I call it polite seeing-off, Got it?” Margaret retorted.

“Come on. Just say if you’re interested. I won’t tease you. This guy is good; I fully support you in snagging him! But I didn’t expect you to like this type,” Luciana said,

Margaret lacked a sense of security. Luciana had always thought that she would find a mature-looking boyfriend who could give her love and stability.

“Don’t talk nonsense. He’s not my type.” Margaret found Ethan attractive but only in the sense that he seemed like a good person. Being friends was fine, but anything beyond that was a no-go.

Having been single for five years, she felt that it was better to be alone. She wouldn’t have to worry about someone being heartbroken if something happened to her one day.

“Then, he’s your style,” Luciana said.

“I don’t know where my style is, but I do know your style is standing at the door,” Margaret commented.

Luciana glanced at her phone. She was so engrossed in chatting with Margaret that she didn’t notice the messages on her phone and thought no wonder that Zachary had come to get her. It looked like the lovely evening had to come to an end.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.” Luciana stood up and offered to take Margaret home, but the latter shook her head.

Worried about Margaret’s safety, Luciana was about to persuade her a bit more when she looked up and caught a glimpse of Ethan’s face. She flashed a conspiratorial smile. Without saying much, she hugged Margaret, told her to text her when she got home, and then bounced off to Zachary.

Before leaving the bar, Luciana secretly wrote a note and had the attendant deliver it to Ethan,

If it hadn’t been for the note’s content being related to Margaret, Zachary’s jealousy might have overflowed and drowned the whole planet.

Gideon had been showing up in Margaret’s house for several days in a row. Although he didn’t stay long, she still felt like his presence filled the entire house. His scent lingered in the air, making her reluctant to go home.

Five years of hiding, five years of deliberate forgetting. Margaret couldn’t help but feel frustrated that her efforts were about to be undone in just a few days.

Ethan didn’t go over as soon as Luciana left. Instead, he stayed in his original spot and observed Margaret’s expression. Her gloominess contrasted sharply with the cheerfulness of the whole bar. His curiosity about her grew stronger. He wanted to know the secrets she

harbored.

There were too few interesting things happening on regular days, so encountering her felt like a boost to Ethan’s motivation. Apart from helping Roxanne, he had also started to have personal motives.

When

Margaret’s last

beer was about to be finished, Ethan slowly walked over.

“Where’s your friend?” He acted as if he had just noticed Luciana’s absence. His acting was good; coupled with Margaret’s initial trust in him, she didn’t suspect anything.

“She got picked up by her husband,” Margaret answered honestly. The alcohol had made her cheeks blush a lot, making her look several years younger like an innocent girl.

“And what about you?” Ethan asked tentatively, wanting to know how far Margaret and Gideon’s relationship had progressed, so he could

plan the next steps accordingly.

Margaret’s mind began to be eroded by alcohol. She couldn’t keep up with Ethan’s train of thought for a while and asked in confusion, “What about me?”

“Where is your husband?” Ethan asked bluntly this time.

“I’m single. Where would I get a husband? Margaret replied.

The term “single” caught Ethan’s attention. He began to form new speculations about the relationship between Margaret and Gideon and