CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Love? Was that really the emotion coursing through me? Was that the sentiment that surged each time my gaze met his? Could it be the explanation for my repeated attempts to capture his attention and the frustration I felt when faced with his rejections? All this while, I had convinced myself that I harbored no genuine care for him.

My stomach churned at the thought, and I sensed my heart racing. Surprisingly, it didn't feel as terrible as I had anticipated. Strangely, it felt good, and there was a certain irony in realizing that I had fallen in love with someone like Alistair. How on earth was that even possible?

Alistair never made me feel special, and every action of his seemed motivated by self-interest. It was clear that everything he did was meant to construct an image of us as a couple—the perfect couple. In light of this, how could I have possibly fallen in love with him? Or had I deluded myself to the point of forgetting the harsh reality, constructing a mental image that we w