James remained calm, wearing an expression of innocence as if he had not lied at all.

Vicky was infuriated by his insolent attitude. She raised her hand, ready to slap him. “James, are you playing games with me?” Before the slap could land on James, Maggie stepped in beside him, shielding him instantly.

The slap struck her shoulder with force, causing her to gasp in pain.

Seeing the situation escalate, Chloe hurriedly pulled Maggie aside.

Vicky, still fuming, glared at James.

She thought to herself, “He keeps going against me, not taking me seriously at all, just because he knows I like him.”

“James, I’ll never like you again!”

James casually rubbed his ear. “You’ve said that so many times before.”

He genuinely hoped that this time, she meant it.

Vicky couldn’t believe that the words she spoke from the bottom of her heart, along with the disappointment and hurt she felt, were nothing more than a joke to him. “If you don’t like me, then why did you… come to the bar to find me that night?”

He did it, especially right after he had surgery.

“You clearly have feelings for me, so why don’t you admit it?”

Vicky had never liked anyone else, and she only liked James.

She had liked him ever since she found out he was a soldier, and even though she thought he was insufferably annoying after meeting him, she still liked him.

But he just couldn’t see that. Instead, she became the one who seemed desperate, like a hopeless admirer in front of him.