I’m Someone Else

Despite how much Thomas’ heart ached for Olivia, he was not good with words. As he watched her cry, his mouth opened and
closed, attempting to find the right words to console her.
Initially bustling with activity, the restaurant fell into an uneasy hush as her loud sobbing captured everyone’s attention. All eyes
turned toward him, their gazes filled with judgment and disapproval. The surrounding crowd, observing his seemingly passive
response, questioned his lack of action in comforting his visibly distressed girlfriend.
“Dude, you need to comfort her. Look at how sad she is,” someone said.
“Yeah! A good man will never leave his woman crying.”
“That’s right!”
Thomas took a deep breath and said, “Don’t cry, Olivia. You were fine just now. Why did you cry so suddenly?” He was playing
dumb.
She lifted her head and glared at him through her tears. “Why can’t I cry? I gave you my first kiss. You saw everything that you
should not have seen. How can you tell me you don’t like me now? Isn’t that playboy behavior? How can you forbid me from
crying after doing all that?” Her wails grew louder as she was inevitably reminded of what had just happened.
“Huh?”
As the crowd’s gaze shifted toward Thomas, a different sentiment began to emanate from their eyes. The initial curiosity and
concern transformed into unmistakable disapproval. The realization that he had taken Olivia’s first kiss and seen her in a
vulnerable state, coupled with his apparent avoidance of taking responsibility for his actions, painted a picture of a selfish and
callous individual in their eyes. The crowd’s expressions were now tinged with scorn, mirroring their collective judgment of his
behavior.
Their glares intensified once they saw Olivia’s face. Jealousy now tinged their eyes, a green hue sparkling with envy. How dare
he anger such a beautiful girlfriend! Is he mad? Even if he would not spoil her rotten, he should at least dote on and cherish her.
As Thomas caught sight of the intense stares fixed upon him, panic gripped his heart, momentarily unsettling his composure. Her
distressing cries briefly swayed him, causing him to consider dating her. For a fleeting moment, he acknowledged a genuine
fondness for her. However, that thought quickly dissipated as he regained his rationality. He realized that being in a relationship
with her solely out of guilt or obligation was not an expression of true love. In addition, he understood that pursuing such a path
would ultimately hurt her in the long run, and he couldn’t bear to do that.

His emotions toward her were love and a solid sense of gratitude. She was Olivia Pearson, the person who helped him when he
most needed help. She was the woman who brought color and light back into his world when he had sunk into dejection after
Felice’s betrayal. What man could resist a woman like her? Even so, he knew that he could not be with her.
“Are you even a man? How can you just watch her cry?” someone shouted.
“You’ve gone too far!”
“Yeah! Comfort her! You have a tongue. Use it.”
The crowd could no longer watch in silence, and they soon shouted at him.
“Are you a scum like she said? Are you not going to take responsibility?”
“Darn! Does he think he’ll break a world record for the greatest cheater ever? Scoundrel!”
Thomas sighed in response. He was not a person who was good at comforting others. If he were, he would have done so
already. Why would he have done nothing? Anyway, one look at her face, and he knew that anything he said right now would be
useless unless it was a declaration that he had changed his mind, that he liked her and would date her.
Then, he grabbed her wrist and their bags, then dragged them out of the restaurant. “Let’s talk outside.” He might find himself
shamed to death if they stayed here any longer. While he typically disregarded people’s opinions, he understood the impact of
being openly berated in public. His own internal struggle, compounded with the external judgment he faced, left him with an
overwhelming sense of distress. How he wished he could shout out to the skies, wondering what on earth he had done to make
them angry.
The duo swiftly left the restaurant and the cursing crowd behind and headed back to the Maserati.
After lighting a cigarette and taking a deep puff, Thomas started the car and drove back to Serenity Clouds Villa.
“Well? Say something!” Olivia demanded. She angrily glared at him. The passing of over ten minutes in silence only fueled her
irritation, intensifying her desire for answers and clarity.
His initial intention had not been to engage in a meaningful conversation. His decision to go outside was merely a pretext to
leave the restaurant with her. At this instant, he wanted to retreat to the sanctuary of the villa and seek solace in the confines of
his room. Thus, he shook his head and kept silent.

However, Olivia continued to cry as she asked, “You were lying when you said you didn’t like me, weren’t you? Why else would
you be so nice to me? I can sense that you like me too. You risked your life and charged into the Hinds Residence just for me.
You made enemies of the Pearsons, specifically Terrence, and Norman, just for me. You even gave me Keyshire Property. You
killed your way through Capitalis just to rescue me!”
Thomas’ mouth twitched, and he was about to speak when she interrupted him.
“Don’t tell me you’re nice to me only because I’m your friend or nonsense. You’re way nicer to me than you should be to a friend.
Even an idiot could see that!”
“I’m sorry!” Thomas said. His cheeks were red, and his mood was very low. After a few moments of silence, those two words
were the only words he could muster.
“Ha!” There was a blank look in her eyes. “In the end, you still don’t like me.”
He hardened his heart and nodded. “Yes.”
It was better to rip off the band-aid now. It would not be suitable for her to continue to love him. Why not seize this chance to kill
off anything she felt for him?
She rolled down the window and looked at the scenery speeding past, letting the cold breeze dry her tears.
Soon, the car pulled to a stop inside the estate.
“Thomas!”
“Huh?” He was about to carry the items out of the car when Olivia interrupted him.
“Have you never loved me before?” She sounded much calmer now.
“Not once.” Thomas’ heart ached with the desire to console Olivia and reveal his true feelings. The longing to envelop her in his
arms and share the depth of his emotions surged within him.
Bang!
Olivia got out of the car, slamming the door behind her.

Thomas shook his head and followed her into the villa with the bags in his arms.
“You’re back. Have you eaten yet?” Chloe asked in greeting.
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Olivia’s cry escaped her lips before covering her mouth and darting up the stairs to her room,
ignoring Chloe.
“What happened, Thomas?” Chloe asked him.
Do they have a fight? Why else would she be crying?