Chapter: 777

"It's tough to say. Mainly, I don't want a boyfriend who tries to control me," she said, her eyes narrowing into a mischievous grin.

"And I'm not compromising on that. I just don't want to be with someone who was dumped by Maddie."

Struggling to keep his composure, Nikolas inhaled deeply.

“Let me make this clear. I was never intimate with Maddie. I was not dumped by her!"

Aimee just shrugged, clearly indifferent.

Watching her reaction, Nikolas realized this must be how it felt to be dumped.

He smacked his lips. "Remember in Wesden? We had sex three times, and you started it. Now, if you sleep with me three more times, we're even. After that, I swear I'll leave you alone. We can act like strangers from then on.”

"You've been pestering me all this time, and this is what you want all along, isn't it?"

Aimee snorted disdainfully, her eyes piercing as if she could see right through Nikolas.

He shifted uncomfortably, struggling to articulate the truth.

“Aimee, you really have a way with words. Didn't I ask you to be my girlfriend? You said no, remember? I never wanted us to just keep up this questionable relationship."

"So you do realize it's questionable," Aimee shot back, her gaze sharp. She checked her watch and then pointed towards the grocery store at the community's entrance. "Go get them."

Nikolas felt lost, always a few beats behind Aimee. "Get what?"

"Condoms, obviously. What, you want to start a family?" she snapped.

Nikolas clenched his jaw, frustrated by her brusque dismissal, as if their relationship had dwindled to nothing more than a_ cold transaction.

Aimee, however, was eager to distance herself from him and wanted nothing more to do with him.

“Why are you still standing there?"

Nikolas’ voice dropped to a whisper. "No need. I have condoms in my car."

"Fine." Aimee scoffed and shoved past him. "So, where to now?"

"Now?" Nikolas echoed.

"Please make it quick. My parents are expecting me home soon."

With that, she strode off ahead.

Her aloofness cast Nikolas in the light of a rebuffed husband seeking approval.

Meanwhile, Bethany was enjoying a stroll outside the hospital, appreciating the genuinely refreshing air.