Chapter 41
Austin’s grip on the steering wheel loosened. The heavy, oppressive air that had surrounded him dissipated as Suzanne’s words seemed to settle in. Noticing the change in his demeanor, she raised an eyebrow. Finally, the great demon of tension seemed to calm down.
Austin slowly leaned back in his seat, his voice softening as he spoke. “We’re married. You don’t need to worry about what they say.”
As he spoke, the tension in his brows eased slightly. Suzanne was his wife. Protecting her was the most basic thing he should do, something that seemed so clear now, though it hadn’t been before.
“Also, your father is stubborn. If this could’ve been solved easily, it wouldn’t have dragged on this long.” Austin added as he turned his gaze back to her.
Suzanne, however, shook her head in disagreement. “It’s different now.”
He frowned at her words, unsure of what she meant.
Suzanne sighed softly, her eyes narrowing slightly with a cold glint. “Before, I cared because I didn’t want to upset them. But now, with this new mindset, I won’t be as indecisive as I once was.”
Austin stayed silent, watching her intently, but a hint of sympathy flickered in his eyes. What had she been through all these years to make her feel like this?
Suzanne’s gaze remained fixed ahead as she continued, her voice firm yet tinged with a quiet sorrow. “Only deeper despair can give me the strength to endure everything completely.”
Her words held a finality, a cold resolve. She gripped her phone tighter, as if it was the only thing anchoring her in the moment.
These were things she had to face alone, she realized. No one, not even Austin, could help her. If she didn’t handle it, she would never escape this cycle of suffering.
Austin’s eyes softened as he watched her, seeing the empty look in her eyes as she stared ahead, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Despite the coldness she tried to project, he could see the cracks in her armor.
In the end, he decided to let her have her way. His deep voice, unusually soft, broke the silence. “I’ll always be here.”
The promise was simple, but the weight of it hung between them. It was his way of saying that if she ever needed help, he would be the first to offer it.
Suzanne’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at him, and there was an unreadable complexity in her eyes.
If Austin continued to be this kind to her, would she fall for him? And if she did, what would happen then?
The thought lingered in her mind, but the car suddenly started moving forward again. She snapped back to reality, pressing her lips together. She was overthinking things.
She should take things one step at a time. Besides, she and Austin had no future together. She would never be good enough for him.
The rest of the drive was silent, and Suzanne’s thoughts drifted in a haze. But when she noticed the road ahead seemed unfamiliar, she glanced at Austin in confusion. “Where are we going?”
This wasn’t the way home.
The car didn’t slow down. Austin’s gaze stayed fixed on the road ahead, and he replied calmly, “You’ll find out in a bit.”
Suzanne’s eyes were full of confusion, but she didn’t ask further. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, but curiosity tugged at her.
Half an hour later, the car came to a smooth stop. Suzanne looked out the window and was surprised to see a popular chain barbecue restaurant.
Austin turned his gaze toward her and said with a hint of amusement in his voice, “We’re here. Let’s have dinner.”
Suzanne looked at him, wide-eyed in surprise. She had spoken with Rita earlier for over an hour, and Rita had mentioned Austin’s preferences. He didn’t like eating places like this, but…
Before she could say anything, Austin was already stepping out of the car. “Let’s just have something quick.”
Suzanne blinked. She didn’t believe that for a second.
This was a bustling street, filled with noise and activity. If they hadn’t meant to come here, they wouldn’t have taken such a congested route. Had Austin brought her here because of her mood?
A strange thought crossed her mind, but she still got out of the car and followed him. Austin, with his long legs, had already walked quite a bit ahead of her. Suzanne quickened her pace to catch up. Just then, he slowed down, clearly waiting for her.
