?Chapter 1111:


    “Don’t think you can fool me.” Memories surged through Molly like a tidal wave. “That summer, you came to my house and secretly sketched my sister fishing by theke. From that moment, I knew your heart belonged to her.”


    Lucas blinked, utterly bewildered. He rifled through his memories desperately but came up empty. “Molly, are you misunderstanding something?”


    Silence hung between them as she gazed into the distance, adrift in her own churning thoughts.


    “Later, when Aurora was with Dunn, you must have been devastated, right? Your visits became fewer after that.”


    Halting mid-stride, Lucas turned to face her squarely. “Molly, that’s because I had to do my internship. I barely had any vacation time.”


    “Really?” Skepticismced her tone—she’d already filed it away as a convenient excuse. “But now my sister stands on the brink of marriage. Have you finally surrendered?”


    Disbelief rippled through Lucas’ughter. “What tangled webs spin in that mind of yours? No wonder your grades suffer—you’re consumed by these fantasies!”


    “Everyone has their own talents!” Bristling with indignation, Molly thrust him away. Something shifted in Lucas’ awareness—this time, her pain was genuine. He couldn’t let this moment slip away. Not again.


    Molly’s eyes brimmed with crimson. “I know I’m not as amazing as my sister. Everyone worships her. But I’m not her. I study too, but the knowledge eludes me! But I’m notpletely worthless, right? I possess talent with a paintbrush, don’t I?”


    “Yes.” Lucas fumbled through his pockets, producing a tissue to dab at her tears.


    Reality struck Molly hard—soon, even this simple gesture would be a forbidden luxury. One day, he’d belong to someone else. How could he still remain this tender with his childhood friend? The realization ignited fresh frustration.


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    She snatched the tissue from his grasp. “I can manage myself.”


    “I’ve been wiping your tears since we were children.”


    “That was before!”


    “What’s different now?” With a weary sigh, Lucas tousled her hair.


    “You’ve grown up. I truly can’t decipher what courses through girls’ minds these days.”


    “Everything’s different!”


    Of course, he couldn’tprehend.


    Girls harbored oceans of unspoken thoughts within.


    Standing defiantly in the street’s center, Mollyunched into her argument. “One day, I’ll have a boyfriend too. I can’t have you drying my tears eternally. My…”


    “Boyfriend” would seethe with jealousy. And once you have a girlfriend, you can’t shower me with this kindness anymore…


    Lost in her rambling cascade of words, she failed to notice the shadow crossing Lucas’ features.


    “Boyfriend?” A wry smile yed across Lucas’ lips. “Molly, believe me, you won’t find a boyfriend anytime soon.”


    “Why?”


    “No reason.”


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