Rebirth: Love me Again - Chapter 215

Chapter 215: Just a Normal Talk in the Morning
[BONUS Chapter for reaching 1000PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]

PS. If you don’t like other POVs just skip them. There’s a POV name at the start of every chapter, so you’ll know.

ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧

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[EVE]

With Hyun’s winter collection finally deemed a resounding success, a weight lifted from my shoulders.

For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself the luxury of rest—a single, uninterrupted day of sleep to reclaim the energy I so desperately needed.

And now that I was recharged, it was time to confront the next storm brewing in my life: Sophie.

I reached for my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen before pulling up our class group chat. As promised, Riri had posted pictures of the dress I had gifted her.

Relief flickered through me as I read the comments flooding in—praise for Riri’s radiant look in the design, questions about where she’d gotten it. For now, it seemed, attention had shifted away from the ugly rumor that I’d pushed Sophie down the stairs.

Still, some of my classmates had the audacity to message me directly, asking if I could gift them dresses from Hyun’s collection. As if I was some kind of personal designer handing out couture for fun.

I ignored the messages and locked my phone, refusing to engage with the noise. I dressed quickly, my thoughts already spinning on what I needed to say to Sophie to clear my name.

When I stepped out of the room, the aroma of sizzling garlic and butter greeted me. I followed the scent to the kitchen and, unsurprisingly, found Cole standing at the stove, his movements casual yet efficient as he flipped something in the pan.

Right. I was still living in his private apartment, my own place compromised by the relentless media hounding me after the incident with Sophie. His space had become a reluctant sanctuary, though I still wasn’t used to the odd dynamic between us.

“Are you developing a hobby for cooking now?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

He turned his head slightly, his lips quirking into a smug grin. “I’ve got to admit,” he said, his voice low and steady, “I’m starting to enjoy this. I like cooking for you.”

The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard, and for a moment, I was unsure how to respond. His usual sharp-edged demeanor seemed dulled by something softer, something unsettlingly genuine.

“I won’t be here for long,” I muttered, brushing off the weight of his words as I moved to sit at the dining table. “I’m heading out to see Sophie today, and clear my name and hopefully get my apartment back as soon as possible.”

Cole turned off the stove and brought the plated food to the table, and sat down beside her. He leaned against the chair, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto mine. “What’s the rush? You could stay here forever if you want.”

“No. We’re not even married or in a relationship. Staying here isn’t good for my image.”

I had considered moving to a hotel, and I even checked into one briefly. But the media found out almost immediately. Most likely, some hotel staff had tipped off the reporters, and within hours, they were swarming the place.

Cole leaned back in his chair, a sly smirk playing on his lips. “Then be with me for good. That would solve all your problems.”

I took a slow sip of milk, masking my exasperation, and wrinkled my nose. “Will you stop with this talk again?”

He shrugged as if my words rolled off him effortlessly, his confidence unshaken. “Fine. Then let’s talk about something else.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his tone softening. “You’ll be at our birthday party, right?”

I picked up a slice of salmon, cutting into it carefully. I took my time chewing, savoring the flavor as I searched for the right response. “I’ll have to take a rain check.”

His expression didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “It would make me happy if you came.”

I paused mid-bite, the weight of his words settling over the table like a heavy silence. When I finally looked up, his gaze was locked on mine, steady and piercing. The intensity in his eyes was enough to steal my breath, and for a moment, I forgot how to speak.

Swallowing hard, I broke the connection, setting my fork down with deliberate care. I cleared my throat, forcing composure back into my voice. “I’ll . . . think about it,” I murmured, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

But even as I spoke, I could feel the unspoken tension lingering between us, an invisible thread pulling taut with every second that passed.

I didn’t know how long I could deny it anymore—the longer we were alone together, the stronger the magnetic pull between us became. It wasn’t just tension; it was something deeper, raw and consuming, like a fire quietly building in intensity.

My chest tightened as a cold wave of fear crept in. I was terrified that, one day, I would lose control completely—that I would give in to the storm of emotions and cross a line I couldn’t uncross.

This was why I needed to resolve the problem with Sophie as quickly as possible, and get back to my own place. Every moment I lingered here, I felt the fragile grip I had on myself slipping.

At least in my place, I had some semblance of peace. Here, Cole was always upon me every day.

Cole’s gaze lingered on me for a beat too long, heavy with an emotion I didn’t dare name. I held my breath, hoping—praying—that he would look away first.

And then, mercifully, he leaned back in his chair, breaking the thick, suffocating air between us. The tension shattered like glass, leaving behind the ghost of its intensity, an echo that still rattled in my chest.

I exhaled shakily, clutching my glass as if it could anchor me. He didn’t say anything, but the way his eyes flickered over me—like he understood everything I was struggling not to say—made my pulse race.