That’s why I hate you sometimes

Theron’s expression was not good.
“Logan Pembroke? Are you talking about your ex-fiancé?”
“Yes. He came back to the country a few days ago.”
Unlike the serious Theron, Selene was calm.
Although Logan had suddenly suggested they go to study abroad together, it seemed more like a rebellion against his father, and it was clear that he would return to the country soon after going to that distant continent with such a flimsy resolve.
Of course, there was no reason to explain such things one by one, so she had just answered briefly.
“And you said yes to that ridiculous suggestion?”
However, Theron was not so calm.
His blue eyes were frozen cold.
“It was a light conversation. Logan’s mind might change at any time.”
“No, that’s not important. Anyway, it means you allowed that bastard to go to a distant continent with you.”
‘Allowed…? He said he would go there and attend business school, so do I have any justification to stop him?’
Selene thought that she had no right to stop Logan from setting foot on that vast land and staying for a while.
Rather, Theron’s criticism felt very strange.
“I don’t understand why you’re making such a scary face, Theron Cox.”
“You don’t understand?”
Theron roughly pulled down the knot of his tie.
“Would you be okay if I went on a trip with another woman for five years? You wouldn’t be angry?”
Selene’s brow furrowed at once.
“The situation you’re talking about is cheating. It’s what trash does. Since you said you liked me, it’s wrong for you to go on a trip with another woman.”
“Don’t you like me?”
Theron asked fiercely.
As Selene hesitated, Theron answered for her.
“No, that’s right. Although I’m in a period of begging for forgiveness because of what I did wrong, you liked me too, anyway. That’s why you were so angry about the fact that I deceived you.”
“…”
“But if I were to go on a trip with another woman, wouldn’t I be a piece of trash? It wouldn’t be enough to chew me up whole, would it?”
Selene understood a little of what Theron was trying to say.
It was something to be angry about.
To stay in another region for a long period of time with another person of the opposite s*x without the other’s consent.
However, Theron’s ‘if’ assumption was too vague.
“It’s not unconditional. It’s important what kind of relationship you and that woman who are going on a trip together have.”
“For example?”
“If it’s a sibling-like relationship where you’ve grown up together since you were very young, it’s fine. Like Logan and me.”
A hollow laugh escaped Theron’s mouth.
“Are you trying to say you have a sibling-like relationship with that bastard?”
“Yes.”
As she said, Selene was pure and innocent.
Regarding her relationship with Logan.
She had never recognized him as a man in her entire life, and the same went for Logan.
Although Logan sometimes acted fussily, as if he were her real older brother, that was probably because he also saw her as a sibling.
“No one calls their ex-fiancé an older brother-like person, Selene.”
Theron’s face was still red, as if he were holding back his anger.
“I do.”
‘Strictly speaking, Logan is not an older brother, but closer to a younger brother who pretends to be mature.’
“It’s true that Logan and I were engaged, but it was just something our parents decided on their own when we were young.”
“Does that bastard think so too?”
“Logan feels the same way as me, so he must have agreed without much argument when I asked for a breakup.”
“He must have? See, you’re also talking in assumptions because you can’t be sure of Logan Pembroke’s feelings right now.”
Theron, standing alone on the street in front of the art museum, was nitpicking over every little thing, as if he had no intention of ending this fight.
“And Selene, you’re having a very naive thought. There’s no such thing as friends between a man and a woman. One side is already in love. It’s probably Logan Pembroke’s side. Since you’ve been cutting him off without giving him any room since you were young, he’s probably just maintaining the relationship as a friend out of necessity.”
Without ever having seen Logan, Theron was divining his inner thoughts as if he were some street fortune teller.
Selene’s expression gradually soured.
Not only was he treating her like a naive person who didn’t know the ways of the world, but he was also pushing her into being a shameless person no different from a womanizer with his strange misunderstanding.
The atmosphere had not been bad today, and her vision had been blurred for a moment, but now she felt as if she could clearly see her and Theron’s mismatched future.
“Don’t distort my relationship with Logan.”
“Distort? I bet you, the reason that bastard rushed back to the country was because he heard I was loitering around you. It’s obvious.”
Although Selene didn’t like Theron’s rebuttal, she paused for a moment, recalling that Logan had vaguely mentioned Theron before.

“Wouldn’t you be angry? Hearing that some random guy is hanging around you while I’m gone.”

But just that was not enough to say that Theron’s claims were all correct.
Especially in his conjecture that Logan liked her.

“Why are you making such a serious face? I’m just saying I’m your closest friend.”

Because Logan had immediately cleared up the misunderstanding by saying that.
However, even if she explained with such trivial circumstances, Theron would not believe her.
He was already convinced that Logan liked her.
Selene, with her arms crossed after a short sigh, gave Theron a look.
“So, Theron Cox. What is it that you want?”
“What do you mean, what do I want? Of course, it’s that you don’t go to study abroad with that bastard.”
“That’s impossible. Logan said he would go there and attend business school. Since he has a reason, how can I stop him?”
“That’s just a plausible reason he made up to study abroad with you. His inner thoughts are probably full of the idea of capturing your heart while the two of you are alone on that distant continent for five years.”
It was a repetition of a similar conversation.
In the stuffy air surrounding them, Selene’s patience was gradually running out.
Then, she slowly started to have such thoughts.
‘Does Theron Cox, who had approached her for the ducal family’s fortune, have the right to preach to her like this?’
‘Logan, at least, is not a person who approached her for her fortune.’
“Regarding studying abroad, it’s entirely my decision. The same goes for Logan. I have no right to stop him if he says he’s going.”
“But the reason that bastard is going with you is impure…”
“Theron Cox.”
Finally, Selene said firmly, as if to draw a line.
“Don’t you get it? I’m saying you can’t interfere, no matter what decision I make.”
Theron, who had been growling, froze for a moment with his eyes wide open.
“…”
Finally, Theron became quiet.
It was a different sight from before, when he had been excited and spewing out all sorts of conjectures.
At that changed atmosphere, Selene found herself studying Theron, even though the aimless, tiring conversation had ended.
The sudden silence, as if he had been doused with cold water, was bothering her.
“So you’re saying you’re going to study abroad with that bastard after all?”
Theron’s gaze, after the silence, was cold.
But Selene did not back down.
“Yes.”
Hah.
A rough breath escaped Theron’s mouth.
“Selene Ashcombe, do you know you’re really selfish sometimes?”
“…”
“Is that how noble ladies who have never had anyone say anything unpleasant to them are? Always self-centered, with no regard for other people’s feelings, and their word is law and rule.”
Theron looked angry.
Although he seemed to be trying his best to suppress his boiling anger, every word that flowed from between his lips was filled with anger.
“Shall I be honest? You probably didn’t care about someone like me from the beginning. It seems so, seeing as you don’t even bat an eye even after I’ve tried so hard. Because you’re different from me. You have plenty of options even without me. Logan Pembroke, your ex-fiancé, is the eldest son of the most famous grand ducal family in the empire, and in fact, even if it’s not him, there must be countless men you can choose from.”
Selene thought Theron was taking this situation very emotionally.
She was not indifferent to him, as Theron had accused.
If that were the case, then all the days she had been tormented would have been an illusion.
Just look at how she had postponed her study abroad.
Theron Cox must have known that fact, but it seemed he couldn’t recall the past events right now.
“That’s why I hate you sometimes.”
“…”
“Because I only have you, but to you, I seem to be just one of many options.”
Theron ran his hand through his blond hair and chewed on his words.
“This situation, where I can’t even strongly hold onto you and tell you not to go to study abroad because of the mistake I made, is also fucked up…”
Theron, who had let out a harsh word, glanced at the expressionless Selene and frowned.
His contorted eyes were full of self-loathing.
“…Let’s just stop for today. It would be better to just part ways.”
Selene did not say anything more at Theron’s suggestion.
Because she knew that in times like these, it was better to keep some distance.
However, at the sight of Theron’s back as he was the first one to leave, Selene stood there for a moment, looking at him.
It seemed the sight of his angry back that she had seen today would remain in her heart for a long time.