Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man - Chapter 74: Chapter 74
You are reading Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man, Chapter 74: Chapter 74. Read more chapters of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man.
The autumn nurse's office was stifling. I carefully applied medicine to Ethan's wounds.
Up close, his face was devastatingly handsome.
His deep eyes stared at me unblinkingly.
The sound of my heartbeat—"thump thump"—echoed in my ears. I looked down awkwardly. "Keep staring and I'm outta here."
His long fingers suddenly circled my wrist, gentle but firm.
"Don't go."
I wasn't stupid.
His constant care over this time made it obvious:
He liked me.
My classmates had mentioned in private how the cold, indifferent business school heartthrob had treated the whole class to milk tea and meals just to help me fit in better.
And the whole Chelsea situation—he'd handled everything behind the scenes.
He'd quietly done all this without wanting me to feel any burden or trouble.
Whenever I reached out to him, he was always there to respond, unlike Marcus who kept me constantly waiting.
Whatever I wanted to do, he'd encourage and help me, unlike Marcus who just left me to figure things out alone.
He knew I was scared to get into another relationship, so neither of us had broken through that barrier.
My heart was racing faster and faster, scared he might confess right now.
The awkward silence stretched between us until I heard a barely audible sigh.
Then a warm hand gently ruffled my hair, full of affection.
"I'm not gonna eat you. Don't be scared."
Something impulsive surged through me, and I leaned forward.
The autumn breeze swept away the room's tension, leaving only a stunned Ethan.
After a long moment, he covered his eyes and murmured:
"I'm completely screwed."
His lips curved in an unstoppable smile, his ears burning red.
That night when I got back to the dorm, Marcus was waiting for me.
I knew if I didn't make things crystal clear, this would never end.
We went to the bubble tea shop next door.
He automatically ordered me a boba tea, eagerly setting it in front of me.
This time he was much calmer.
"Joy, just because I helped Chelsea with orientation, you wanna break up?"
I nodded slightly.
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"I told you I have nothing with her! I just felt sorry for her and wanted to help! You never believe me! I don't like her! Really! I only like you! I dream about marrying you!"
He grabbed my hands painfully tight. "You gotta believe me! We've had thirteen years together!"
I slowly but firmly pulled my hands away. "How am I supposed to believe you?"
"Believe you when you fight with me over and over because of her?"
"Believe you when you leave me stranded at some random train station for hours?"
"Believe you when you stand by her side, accusing me of faking a reaction that nearly killed me?"
"Believe you when you give my mom's dress to her and play our song together?"
"Or believe you when you know I hate her but still let her take me up that mountain and abandon me halfway?"
The barrage of questions left Marcus stunned. "What?"
I didn't explain, just continued coldly:
"You just assumed I liked you and couldn't leave you, so you got to enjoy my devotion and attention while also soaking up Chelsea's worship and adoration."
"But people change, Marcus. Even love fades bit by bit with disappointment."
"So Marcus Blackthorne, I don't like you anymore."
His fists clenched tight, trembling slightly, but he suddenly bowed his head.
"But I still like you!"
Tears dropped heavily onto the table.
"Joy, I know I messed up. I'll cut off all contact with her. Just forgive me this once—let's start over, okay?"
Watching him lower his proud head, I felt nothing but calm.
I seemed to have completely let go.
My phone buzzed. I glanced down and couldn't help smiling.
I stood up, pushing the untouched bubble tea toward him.
"Marcus,"
"The one who likes boba tea is Chelsea, not me."
"And besides, I already AM starting over."
He asked in a low voice, "With that guy from earlier?"
I thought about this afternoon's kiss and my ears turned red.
"Obviously."
Up close, his face was devastatingly handsome.
His deep eyes stared at me unblinkingly.
The sound of my heartbeat—"thump thump"—echoed in my ears. I looked down awkwardly. "Keep staring and I'm outta here."
His long fingers suddenly circled my wrist, gentle but firm.
"Don't go."
I wasn't stupid.
His constant care over this time made it obvious:
He liked me.
My classmates had mentioned in private how the cold, indifferent business school heartthrob had treated the whole class to milk tea and meals just to help me fit in better.
And the whole Chelsea situation—he'd handled everything behind the scenes.
He'd quietly done all this without wanting me to feel any burden or trouble.
Whenever I reached out to him, he was always there to respond, unlike Marcus who kept me constantly waiting.
Whatever I wanted to do, he'd encourage and help me, unlike Marcus who just left me to figure things out alone.
He knew I was scared to get into another relationship, so neither of us had broken through that barrier.
My heart was racing faster and faster, scared he might confess right now.
The awkward silence stretched between us until I heard a barely audible sigh.
Then a warm hand gently ruffled my hair, full of affection.
"I'm not gonna eat you. Don't be scared."
Something impulsive surged through me, and I leaned forward.
The autumn breeze swept away the room's tension, leaving only a stunned Ethan.
After a long moment, he covered his eyes and murmured:
"I'm completely screwed."
His lips curved in an unstoppable smile, his ears burning red.
That night when I got back to the dorm, Marcus was waiting for me.
I knew if I didn't make things crystal clear, this would never end.
We went to the bubble tea shop next door.
He automatically ordered me a boba tea, eagerly setting it in front of me.
This time he was much calmer.
"Joy, just because I helped Chelsea with orientation, you wanna break up?"
I nodded slightly.
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"I told you I have nothing with her! I just felt sorry for her and wanted to help! You never believe me! I don't like her! Really! I only like you! I dream about marrying you!"
He grabbed my hands painfully tight. "You gotta believe me! We've had thirteen years together!"
I slowly but firmly pulled my hands away. "How am I supposed to believe you?"
"Believe you when you fight with me over and over because of her?"
"Believe you when you leave me stranded at some random train station for hours?"
"Believe you when you stand by her side, accusing me of faking a reaction that nearly killed me?"
"Believe you when you give my mom's dress to her and play our song together?"
"Or believe you when you know I hate her but still let her take me up that mountain and abandon me halfway?"
The barrage of questions left Marcus stunned. "What?"
I didn't explain, just continued coldly:
"You just assumed I liked you and couldn't leave you, so you got to enjoy my devotion and attention while also soaking up Chelsea's worship and adoration."
"But people change, Marcus. Even love fades bit by bit with disappointment."
"So Marcus Blackthorne, I don't like you anymore."
His fists clenched tight, trembling slightly, but he suddenly bowed his head.
"But I still like you!"
Tears dropped heavily onto the table.
"Joy, I know I messed up. I'll cut off all contact with her. Just forgive me this once—let's start over, okay?"
Watching him lower his proud head, I felt nothing but calm.
I seemed to have completely let go.
My phone buzzed. I glanced down and couldn't help smiling.
I stood up, pushing the untouched bubble tea toward him.
"Marcus,"
"The one who likes boba tea is Chelsea, not me."
"And besides, I already AM starting over."
He asked in a low voice, "With that guy from earlier?"
I thought about this afternoon's kiss and my ears turned red.
"Obviously."
End of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man Chapter 74. Continue reading Chapter 75 or return to Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man book page.