Chapter 77

"Oh?" Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. He looked at her and asked, "Then what counts as enough? If you're planning to throw yourself at me, I'm totally on board." Samantha rolled her eyes. Her lips curved into a smirk as she said, "Considering you're not entirely hopeless, I'll forgive you ten percent. The rest? You're paying it back slowly." She gave him a look full of meaning, then stood up and walked back to the room, leaving him with her proud silhouette. Alexander stared after her for a beat, feeling a sudden chill settle over his chest. She'd always held onto the hurt from that time he'd brushed her off and treated her like she didn't matter. He knew it. Those past months, he really had been too cold, too distant, and she'd borne the brunt of it all. But wasn't he trying to make it up to her now? Couldn't she just let it go and start fresh? Did she have to hold onto the past like that? His eyes followed her graceful figure until she disappeared from view. With a re