FULL NOVELXO Chapter 1917
Because You're Not Jefferson Adrienne went to Cloud Top Cafe. Before entering, she instinctively smoothened her clothes down. Zelson was a rigorous man when it came to work. He had high requirements fo the staff working with him; he couldn't tolerate untidy work clothes. Since Adrienne had worked under him for two years, she naturally understood how he was. She had to remember to be level- headed at all times and smarten up her appearance.
While Zelson and Adrienne were working, they would occasionally go to Cloud Top Cafe for a cup of coffee, so the service staff recognized them. As soon as Adrienne stepped inside, a waiter came up and said, "Dr. Carter, this way please."
The waiter took her to a small, private booth on the second floor, "Dr. Carter, will it be the usual orange juice?"
"Yes please." Adrienne nodded and turned to smile at Zelson. "Mr. Zelson, sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's no big deal, I just got here too." Zelson immediately stood up and pulled the chair out for her. Adrienne had never been in that type of situation before, so she was taken aback. "Mr. Zelson, there's no need to be that courteous."
There was a subtle frown between Zelson's brows, but his tone did not change in the slightest. He said, "Adrienne, I don't have anything else to teach you anymore. I'm no longer your teacher." "One may be a teacher for a day, but he will be a father for life. Although you are only a few years older than me, I respect you the same as I would my father, Mr. Zelson. Since you used to be my teacher, regardless of how many years have passed, you will always be that to me." Those words came straight from Adrienne's heart, all truths.
However, to Zelson, it was grating. Could it be that Adrienne really didn't notice his affection for her at all all these while? Did she really not anticipate the reason why he wanted to meet her that day? Needless to say, with Adrienne's ineptness towards romantic matters, it really was possible that she didn't notice anything. Otherwise, Zelson wouldn't have wasted two years doing nothing.
At that time, they worked together every day. The person who Adrienne spent the most time with every day was him, not the arrogant Jefferson who he hated.
"Adrienne..." Zelson called her name and tried to compose himself. "How's life for you recently?" "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zelson. I've been doing quite well." Adrienne had always been respectful toward Zelson, as she had indeed regarded Zelson as her mentor, and nothing more. However, the more she acted that way, the more uncomfortable Zelson felt. It was as if something was lodged in his chest firmly, and try as he might he could not spit it out, nor could he swallow it.
Zelson, who had always been good at hiding his true emotions, finally caved. He asked, "Adrienne, do you really not know the reason why I asked you out today?"
"Mr. Zelson, if you don't tell me, how will..." Adrienne was taken aback at first, then she thought about it for a while, "Is it about our current case? Did you discover anything new that you would like to share with me?"
Zelson was silent.
Adrienne rarely saw veins throbbing on Zelson's forehead, like Jefferson's when he was angry. She did not understand the reason for Zelson's anger.
"Adrienne, I wanted to meet you today to tell you that I like you." Since he had already asked her out here, Zelson no longer intended to beat around the bush. He went straight to the point, "It's not the sort of admiration from a mentor towards a student. I like you the way a man loves a woman. Do you understand?"
"I-1 don't understand." Adrienne shook her head dumbly in shock. For a long while, she thought that she was hallucinating because of what Jefferson had said to her. How could Mr. Zelson say exactly what Jefferson had predicted?
Zelson was at a loss for words. He was ticked off by Adrienne. Even though he knew that she was hopeless when it came to romance, she still managed to get on his nerves. If it was not for the fact that he knew her well, he would definitely think that she was trying to rile him up.
"I really like you," Zelson said, with deep affection in his tone. "Do you like me, even just a little?"
"Mr. Zelson, did you get it wrong? I've always been just your student." After a long period of digesting the situation, Adrienne finally understood that Zelson was confessing his love to her. It was not an illusion caused by Jefferson's words.
Adrienne really had never imagined anything close to the present situation before. How could Zelson suddenly fall in love with her?
Adrienne felt a little scared, a little helpless.
Before that, Jefferson had also confessed his love to her when she was unprepared.
At that time, Adrienne acted the same as that day. At first, she couldn't believe it, but she rejoiced slightly in her heart later on.
Adrienne was glad that Jefferson had fallen in love with her instead of any other woman.
However, when Zelson confessed to her, there was only fear and panic in her heart. Adrienne knew clearly that she had never thought of Zelson that way. She would definitely let him down. Zelson waited for a long time for her to come to terms with the situation and for her to respond. He waited and waited, but he only saw Adrienne's frown worsening, as if she was disturbed by his sudden confession.
Zelson couldn't wait any longer. He didn't want to waste more time waiting either. So he said, "Adrienne, say something."
"
Although it took a bit of time, Adrienne finally thought it through and replied, "Mr. Zelson, I'm really sorry! I'm married, I'm Jefferson's wife. I can't reciprocate your feelings."
She said that it was because she was married, and was someone else's wife that she couldn't return his love. Did that mean that she just couldn't bring herself to cross a moral boundary, and that she didn't truly love Jefferson? Zelson thought to himself.
If Adrienne was not married, would she be able to love him back?
Zelson, who was initially despairing due to
Adrienne's frown, suddenly became animated again as he asked, "Adrienne, then tell me, if you're not married, will you reciprocate my love for you?"
"No!" That time, Adrienne did not hesitate at all to answer affirmatively. Her reply was like a bucket of ice water splashing onto Zelson, freezing him all the way to the depths of his heart.
Zelson's lips trembled a little, and he asked with difficulty, "Why?"
Adrienne said, "Because you're not Jefferson."
"Why Jefferson, but not me?" Zelson pushed again. Yes, he admitted that he had known her for less time than Jefferson, but his love for her never paled in comparison.
"Jefferson is the only man for me." Adrienne's brain short-circuited once again. All that ran through her mind was that Jefferson was the man for her, not Zelson. She couldn't come up with the reason at the moment, but there seemed to be an answer deep inside her, on the tip of her tongue, yet just falling short of coming out.
"Adrienne, you should know better than me why you married Jefferson." Zelson didn't want to highlight certain things, because he didn't want to leave a bad impression on Adrienne. However, if he didn't point it out, Adrienne probably would never think it through for life.
"Of course I know that." Adrienne suddenly felt a warm feeling washed over her. Rather than it being a scheme by Jefferson, it was more like she had willingly allowed herself to fall prey to him.