Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 2046

Shirley's cheeks were flushed with a mix of embarrassment and discomfort.

Seeing her expression, Abner decided not to push her further. He gently cradled her face and kissed her, his actions becoming tender.

He knew better than anyone about her relationship status.

He had never truly left her side, always waiting for her to ask him to stay.

But Shirley had never thought to ask him to stay. His claim of needing to wait six months to see her again must have finally sparked something in her, prompting her to reach out first.

Abner had waited too long, yet he still hesitated to bare his soul to her.

His love for Shirley was intense, almost to the point of obsession, which had kept him at bay for so long.

Shirley had always been the good girl, living a life by the book. If it wasn't for her taking him out of his secluded life, she would have settled down with Mark, and none of this would have happened.

He had turned her life upside down, and he felt responsible. However, Shirley never seemed to want him to take responsibility.

"Shirley..." he called out tenderly, only to see tears in her eyes.

The alcohol was hitting her, her cheeks resting against his chest, biting her lip in silence.

Abner wiped away her tears. "Did I hurt you?"

Shirley shook her head, fearing this was all a dream.

"Abner, I did look for you," she confessed.

For a long time.

Abner's touch grew gentler. He knew, but she never told anyone why she was so determined to find him.

Did Shirley love him? He wasn't sure.

But he still wanted to stay.

At one point, Abner had cheekily asked how he compared to her ex-boyfriends, skill-wise.

Caught in a tight spot, Shirley couldn't very well admit she'd been bluffing.

"They were pretty much the same," she replied.

That response resulted in her being playfully dominated all night, begging him to stop, but he wouldn't.

"Did you want me to leave? Shirley, surely you don't still see me as just a brother?"

The word "brother" was something Shirley couldn't bring herself to say.

Abner's gaze lingered on her face before he made a bold declaration.

"Break up with your current boyfriend and be with me."

He stated it as if it was the most natural thing, leaning in to kiss her. "You don't want to?"

Shirley, who had braced herself for rejection, was speechless.

"Shirley?"

It took her three seconds to snap out of her daze.

"You don't mind my age?"

Abner, at twenty-four, was a head-turner wherever he went, while Shirley felt quite ordinary in comparison.