"Yes."
"We ended things four years ago. So, I don't think there's anything between us."
Grayson felt like he had punched cotton, soft and unsatisfying. He forcefully turned Lena's head to face him, making her look directly at him. Lena bit her lip hard, glaring at Grayson. Perhaps Lena was too angry; she didn't realize how hard she was biting her lip.
"Let go, stop biting," Grayson chided.
Lena remained indifferent.
Grayson leaned in and kissed her fiercely, with great intensity as if trying to absorb Lena into himself. Lena struggled to push Grayson away, but her strength was no match for his. She clenched her teeth tightly, denying Grayson any chance to enter.
"Be good, relax!" Grayson tried to coax Lena.
Lena stubbornly resisted, and when Grayson wasn't paying attention, she bit his tongue hard. The taste of blood filled their mouths instantly.
Grayson released the struggling Lena, hitting the wall with a punch. It felt like a blow to Lena's heart, bitter and painful.
The two had ended things four years ago. Grayson, rich, powerful, with looks and status, was not Lena's good man. His family background was beyond Lena's reach.
"Now, can you explain about the photo to me?" Grayson had discreetly searched Lena's entire house as soon as he entered, finding no traces of another man. He could be certain Lena lived alone. This secretly pleased Grayson. Now, Lena's behavior brought him back to reality.
"That photo has been around for a long time, I just didn't have time to throw it away," Lena replied indifferently. She didn't want to give Grayson any hopeful thoughts. His mother's words from four years ago echoed in her mind from time to time.
Without waiting for Grayson's reaction, Lena crossed over him, took out the photo from the shoe cabinet, and tore it in half right in front of Grayson, throwing it in the trash.
"Are you satisfied now?" Lena's voice lacked any warmth.
Grayson hadn't expected Lena to decisively tear the photo and throw it away. He looked directly at Lena, seeing an unprecedented coldness in her eyes. In Lena's eyes, Grayson saw a despair he had never seen before.
He had probably given up, but why did my heart ache so much?
Grayson left without saying a word, without any nostalgia. Lena sat on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her heart ached like never before.
The dim light cast a lonely and helpless shadow.
She buried her head in her shoulders, trembling uncontrollably. The hot summer felt colder than winter. Tears flowed like a floodgate opened, as if trying to cry out all the tears of her life.
Lena realized something, wiped away her tears, retrieved the torn photo from the trash. Carefully, she put it on the table and taped it back together. It was the only thing related to Grayson.
Lena placed the photo in her diary and locked it in the drawer.