Chapter 28

The first time, she thought maybe he just didn’t like the gift. The next day, she was super nervous facing him—but he acted like nothing had happened, still treating her just as gently. The second time, she pushed herself to try again, gave him another present. Still ended up in the trash. Third time, fourth time… same thing. He never accepted her gifts, but his gentleness toward her never shifted. She used to convince herself maybe William just didn’t like the gifts she picked out. Now she finally saw the truth—he just didn’t like her. She spat out coldly, “After the first time you threw it away, I stopped asking Liam to give them to you.” That said, William’s mood weirdly brightened. He reached out, pinched her earlobe with his thumb and finger, gave it a little wiggle. “You sure hold a grudge. Bet a sewing needle’s got more room than your heart.” But he knew she wasn’t someone who held grudges. She’d been giving him gifts every year—consistently. He was just the idiot who thought th