The Untouchable Ex-Wife

The atmosphere immediately became heavy.
Renee cleared her throat awkwardly and immediately leaped out of Jamie's arms.
"Big guy, we're not kids anymore, so don't say things like that.
It's late, and I'll get scared." She hated when men tried to blur the lines with her, especially when it was someone close to her like
a childhood friend.
It was more horrible than bumping into ghosts.
Jamie laughed, offering her an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry.
I was just joking." Even if he was a bit flirtatious sometimes, he was always respectful.
Renee tilted her body and looked at the manor behind Jamie, then smiled at him politely.
"Hey, shouldn't you be inviting me into your house? I haven't been there since we were kids." She was suspicious of Jamie's
sudden appearance, and didn't believe that he was the one who had been staying in the manor.
She still felt that her instincts were right—Stefan had to be inside that manor.
She wanted to go inside and look around, so if Stefan wasn't there, it would give her some closure.
"Of course." Jamie raised a brow and gestured for her to enter the manor.
"I've been staying here alone lately, and it gets rather lonely.
Plus, I've always wanted to catch up with you, but I was never able to get in touch with you until now.
I would have invited you inside even if you hadn't asked me." The both of them walked into the manor.
Although it was several decades old, it looked just like how Renee had remembered it.
It was decorated in the elegant Varangia style, with paintings on the wall and expensive furnishings.
Renee scanned the manor like a detective searching for clues, but failed to find any traces of Stefan having been there.

Her mood plummeted, and she sighed in disappointment.
"It looks like I've given myself too much credit again," she muttered with a bitter laugh.
She felt like a clown—getting stuck in trees and making a fool of herself all for nothing.
"What do you mean?" Jamie stood behind Renee and asked curiously.
He had a lot of questions for his childhood friend, but not all of them were appropriate.
The one he really wanted an answer to was why she had been climbing up a tree at the door of his manor late at night.
He wondered if she had wanted to meet him or another man...
but he couldn't ask her because that other man had strictly prohibited him from doing so.
"Nothing!" Renee turned to look at Jamie and asked him solemnly, "So, you've been living here alone all this while? Are you sure
there's no one else?" "Umm...
How should I answer that?" Jamie was not good at lying but was forced to do so because of that man's intimidation.
How troublesome.
"It's okay.
Just be honest with me." Renee looked down and mumbled miserably, 'I know you live alone here.
I'm just a pathetic girl who was hoping for a different answer...
I'm just lying to myself!"