Chapter 1213

As the woman disappeared from view, Malcolm gritted his teeth. "She's just playing hard to get, isn't she?" Abigail just rolled her eyes without responding. Malcolm persisted, "Don't you think?" Abigail simply said, "Let's go eat." "But you need to answer me. It'll bug me all night if you don't." Abigail shot back, "Wasn't she clear enough?" Malcolm said, "I've heard that women often say one thing but mean another." Abigail retorted, "Who's been filling your head with that? When a woman tells you 'no', believe her. Don't make excuses." Malcolm, looking concerned, asked, "I'm not trying to make excuses. I just want to understand. Why doesn't she like me?" Abigail said, "Sometimes, things just don't line up when it comes to feelings." She recalled Xander leaving with Lucia earlier that day. The memory brought a sharp ache that she had been trying to drown in her work all morning. Despite her efforts, the pain remained, intense and numbing. Malcolm said, "Isn't a win-win situation