No More Loving in Vain

After I was reborn, I left Darius Sterling alone. But the leg I had injured for his sake when I confessed last month still throbbed from time to time.

The night before our engagement was finalized, the pain was still unbearable. I was about to reach for some ointment when Darius walked in with a bottle of medicine.

He didn't say a word. Instead, he gently applied the ointment to my leg. The tenderness of his touch made my heart skip a beat.

"Natalia, stop hurting yourself just to make me love you. You need to take better care of yourself," said Darius.

His words caught me off guard, and bitterness spread through my chest. That was how he was—gentle, yet always pushing me away.

I used to think he was just reserved. However, after Celeste Reyes died, I realized he had kept me at arm's length because he didn't love me.

When I didn't respond, his tone sharpened. "Say something! Natalia Blackwood, I'll only say this once. If you ever do this to yourself again, I won't save you. I'll let you die!"

Darius' voice carried the same disgust he had shown me in my past life after Celeste's death.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded. "Alright. I won't hurt myself again, and I won't bother you anymore."

After a brief hesitation, I tugged lightly at Darius' sleeve, blinking nervously. "Could you… pat my head one last time? Just once."

Almost immediately, disgust flickered across his face. His brows furrowed as he pulled away.

I drew in a deep breath and pleaded again. "Please… I swear this is the last time I'll ever ask you to do that."

He looked like he was about to refuse again, but I grabbed his hand. The warmth of my touch made him falter for a moment.

"Natalia," he began. "Don't push this. You're only making me hate you more. I told you before. I've only ever seen you as the girl next door."

I fought back tears, feeling the warmth of his hand. Then, I nodded earnestly. "I know. From today on, I won't cling to you anymore."

Darius clearly didn't believe me. With a sigh, he rubbed his forehead and said, "I hope you mean it."

After that, he gave me a half-hearted pat before leaving my room without a backward glance.

I stared at his retreating figure, frozen in place.

His scent still lingered in the air, and I caught myself breathing it in, greedy for every trace of him.

Remembering the doubt on Darius' face, I smiled wryly. This time, I meant it. I wasn't going to chase him anymore. I'd stay far away and be the girl next door he'd never see again.

…

The next day, my father called me into his study to talk about the engagement. However, the first thing I said was, "Dad, I don't want to marry Dairus. I want to go to New Verden and take over the family business there."

"You've wanted to marry Darius since you were a kid. Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked in shock.

"I don't love him anymore," I answered. "All I want now is to focus on the family business. Dad, I really hope you'll say yes."

My father studied me, the daughter he had always spoiled, and let out a sigh. "Are you sure about this? If you back out, your cousin Celeste will marry him instead."

I nodded firmly. "Then, let them. I wish them a lifetime of happiness."

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. I added, "And Dad, please don't tell Darius that I turned down the engagement. I don't want him to think I'm playing games again. I just want to walk away gracefully and wish him well."

My father seemed confused by how serious I was. Even so, he agreed and bought me a ticket to New Verden.

My flight was in a week.

Coincidentally, our New Verden branch was undergoing major changes and needed someone to step in and set things right.

I was the perfect person for the job.