Now You Want Me? Too Late

The thought alone sent a warm thrill through her. Yet the cautious part of her heart quickly reminded her of the past.

For years, Ian had been cold, indifferent, and distant toward her. If she had truly been important to him, wouldn’t he have cherished her like something precious? Wouldn’t he have made her feel loved instead of leaving her to wonder where she stood in his life?

The conflicting emotions left her unsettled.

She quickly looked away. She was afraid that if she continued looking into his eyes, her carefully built resolve to stay away from him would crumble like a house of cards.

"Seems like Dr. Whitmore has too much time on his hands," she said, deliberately changing the subject. "How did you know I was here?"

Ian chuckled.

The truth was that he had been keeping an eye on her ever since the night they had slept together.

He had seen her secretly following Vivian.

At first, he couldn’t understand why Evelyn was secretly following her own best friend. But the more he investigated, the more suspicious Vivian’s behavior became.

She had been going out late at night and meeting all kinds of people. Sometimes she was seen with wealthy individuals. Other times, she was spotted with rough-looking men who clearly weren’t ordinary businessmen.

Something was wrong.

Ian had grown increasingly concerned that Evelyn might stumble into danger. He had wanted to warn her, but before he could approach her, she had already injured herself.

When she had been taken to the hospital, he had wanted to keep her there under his watch. But he knew better than anyone how stubborn Evelyn could be.

The moment she was capable of walking again, she had slipped away. And now, she had come here to meet Marcus.

Ian sighed inwardly. ’She really doesn’t know how to take care of herself.’

When he spoke again, his voice was soft. "I may not be as powerful as your brother. But I’m capable enough now to protect the people I care about."

The words made Evelyn’s heart tremble. She slowly looked back at him.

Ian reached for her hands and gently enclosed them in his.

"Eve...I know I hurt you. I know you are strong enough to raise Leo on your own. You don’t need me. But..."

His fingers tightened around hers. "I want to be a part of your world. Can you take me back?"

Evelyn’s heart leaped uncontrollably. For a fleeting moment, she almost blurted out that she wanted him back, that she still loved him.

But she held herself back.

’No. I can’t forgive him that easily,’ she reminded herself. ’I followed him for so many years, but he never reciprocated my love. And now, he suddenly wants me back?’

This wasn’t a game.

She hadn’t forgotten the countless nights she had cried herself to sleep because of his indifference. She hadn’t forgotten how often she had waited for him, only to be disappointed when he chose his work over her.

She wanted him to understand that pain.

’Let me see how sincere he really is. Maybe after a few days, he’ll give up and go back to his old life.’

With that thought, she hardened her resolve.

"Seven years..." she began, her voice heavy with years of hurt. "I chased you for seven years. I knew you didn’t have any feelings for me, yet I stubbornly followed you, hoping that one day you would finally see me. But it never happened. Even after we got married, you remained the same."

She pushed his hands away.

"And now you want me back. You think I’ll gladly accept you, forgetting everything you put me through?"

Her voice trembled.

"No. I haven’t forgotten anything. The nights I waited for you. The days I followed you, hoping for even a little attention. But what I get in return was disappointment and humiliation. That kind of pain doesn’t disappear overnight."

Ian lowered his head.

Her words hurt, but he knew he deserved every one of them.

He had no right to expect her forgiveness simply because he had finally realized how deeply he loved her.

If she needed time, he would give her time. If she needed him to prove himself, he would prove himself.

He was ready to wait for her to choose him again, just as she had once waited for him.

"I’m not asking you to forget anything." He slowly lifted his head and met her gaze. "I’m asking you for a chance. Give me one last chance, Evelyn. Let me prove that I’m sincere. I want my wife and my son back."

A flutter of excitement stirred in her chest. Warmth spread through her entire body, making every part of her ache with happiness.

For years, she had dreamed of hearing those words from him. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms and tell him she had already forgiven him. But she swallowed the impulse.

She had been the one chasing him for all those years. Now, if he truly wanted her back, he would have to chase her, woo her.

"A chance?" she scoffed, forcing a mocking smile onto her lips. "I gave you so many chances over seven years. You disregarded me. You treated me like I was disposable. And now we are divorced, and suddenly you’ve realized I’m important to you?"

She cocked her head. "Do you really have feelings for me? Or do you simply want to fill the emptiness I left behind? If that’s the case, find someone else. Someone you want."

She deliberately mentioned the name. "Maybe Dr. Maya."

Ian’s expression changed instantly the moment she mentioned Maya.

"Maya is only my colleague," he said firmly. "I have nothing to do with her."

He took a breath. "And yes, I admit that I was unfair to you in the past. I judged you before I truly knew you. I thought you were nothing more than a rich, spoiled woman who cared only about herself and her own happiness."

His gaze remained fixed on hers. There was no arrogance in his eyes now, only vulnerability.

Anxiety twisted tightly inside his chest at the thought of losing her again. Fear crawled through him, along with a desperation he had never experienced in his life. He had spent years believing he could control every aspect of his life through discipline and reason.

But standing before Evelyn, he realized how powerless he was.

Her decision could either give him another chance at happiness or leave him with a lifetime of regret.

"Back then, I wanted to focus entirely on my career. I told you that before we got married, didn’t I?"

Evelyn couldn’t deny it.

Ian had indeed warned her that he wanted to become a successful doctor. His career would be his priority, and he might not always be able to give her enough time.

He had told her that if she was willing to accept that, he had no problem marrying her.

Evelyn had been so overwhelmed with happiness at the thought of finally becoming his wife that she had agreed without hesitation.

To her, marrying Ian had been a dream.

She had believed that once they were married, he would eventually fall in love with her.

But she had been wrong.

Ian had buried himself in his work, exactly as he had warned her.

She had waited patiently, given him time, and convinced herself that one day he would finally look at her and see the woman who had loved him for years.

But after seven long years, her patience had finally run out. She had begun to believe that he would never love her. And eventually, she had asked for a divorce.

Now, hearing his words, a small doubt surfaced in her heart.

’Had I given up too soon?’

"I agree that I didn’t have feelings for you in the beginning," Ian continued, pulling her out of her thoughts. "But it’s also true that you became a part of my life before I even realized it."

His voice softened. "You became my habit. Then, slowly, that habit became something much deeper. I realized I fell in love with you."

Evelyn’s breath caught. For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Love.

He had finally said it, the word she had spent seven years longing to hear.

Her eyes stung suddenly, and her heart seemed to pound against her ribs.

All those nights she had wondered whether he would ever love her suddenly felt different.

He had loved her. Perhaps he had simply realized it too late.

A wave of happiness swept through her, followed immediately by the ache of all the years she had spent believing she was unwanted.

"I didn’t know how to express it," Ian admitted. "I thought once I became a neurosurgeon, I would finally have the time and confidence to tell you how I felt. I wanted to make up for all the years I neglected you."

His expression turned helpless. "But before I could do that, you asked for a divorce."

He lowered his eyes briefly. "I thought you had stopped loving me. So when you asked for the divorce, I agreed."

His voice cracked slightly. "But when you left me, I realized something." He looked at her again. "I’m incomplete without you and Leo."