<b>Chapter </b>65


    “I’m not forcing you. Just tell me when you’re ready,” Alice said before sighing.


    “Okay,” Macie replied, her smile faint.


    After purchasing all the clothes that fit, they moved on to picking out high heels before finally stepping


    into a hair salon.


    “Cut my hair shorter–just to my corbone,” Macie instructed as she sat in front of the mirror.


    The stylist nodded and began trimming while Macie stared at her reflection.


    She really did look lifeless, drained of any energy or vitality. But she had left Edward. So, wasn’t she supposed to start living well? She had escaped the cage and was never going to go back.


    A small smile tugged at her lips. She would take her time and heal–piece by piece.


    “Don’t just chop it off in one go. Give heryers, curl the ends outward, and add some volume at the crown,


    “Alice directed the stylist.


    Two hourster, Alice admired Macie’s new look. “Not bad at all. It’s like a brand–new you. Just apply


    some makeup for work, and you’re all set.”


    Macie ran her fingers through her hair. She thought that it felt different. Her look was now slightly sharper, more polished, and less weighed down by exhaustion.


    As the time for her dinner appointment with Julian approached, Alice drove them to the restaurant.


    In the car, Macie borrowed Alice’s lipstick. Thetter teased, “Oh? Putting on lipstick just because you’re


    seeing Julian?”


    “Don’t joke like that. Nothing is going on between us,” Macie said.


    “Maybe not on your end, but back in college, he liked you. He even confessed, but you turned him down,”


    Alice reminded her.


    Macie paused. She vaguely recalled Julian confessing to her during their college days, but at the time,


    she had been in love with Edward. No other man had caught her interest.


    <b>“</b><b>I </b>just don’t want him asking too many questions about me,” Macie said, putting the lipstick back in


    Alice’s bag.


    “Fair enough. Now that you’re back, if he still likes you, maybe you should give it some thought,” Alice


    suggested.


    Macie fell silent. Aside from the fact that she and Julian had been ssmates and would now be


    colleagues, there was a deeper reason for her hesitancy. She had lost the ability to love. The hardships of


    the past two years had utterly drained that part of her.


    Meanwhile, as lunchtime approached at Fowler Group, Nathan brought the signed rental contract to the CEO’s office, intending to collect the documents Edward had finished signing. <fnb310> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?ndNovel</fnb310>


    But the moment he walked in, he noticed Edward staring nkly at nothing, lost in thought. Not a single


    document had been signed.


    “Mr. Fowler, here’s the rental contract for your review,” Nathan said.


    Edward snapped out of his daze, took the contract, and only nced at the lease duration. It was a six-


    month minimum. He thought that it was eptable as he could renew itter.


    “If there are no issues, I’ll take my leave. Do you need me to order lunch for you?” Nathan asked.


    “No need,” Edward replied. He had already nned to have lunch with Sharon.


    Just as Nathan was about to leave, Edward suddenly ordered, “Call Macie using your phone.”


    Nathan froze for a second before he understood the situation. He figured that Macie must not have answered Edward’s calls again.


    Taking out his phone, Nathan hesitated just before dialing. He wondered if Edward would get jealous again if Macie actually picked up, just likest time.


    “Put it on speaker,” Edward added.


    Nathan looked up and studied Edward’s expression. Although Edward wasn’t outright furious, his mood was unmistakably foul, and his eyes held a dark, stormy intensity.


    Following his boss‘ orders, Nathan made the call and put it on speaker. As the dial tone rang, Edward’s fingers curled into a tight grip.