The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 552

Shane wasn't stupid, either. He knew what Sasha was getting at. "So what you're saying is, they might end up as miserable as me?"

"Bingo," Sasha said with a nod.

He made no reply.

Only then did he realize how he had indeed been living like a man-child under his father's roof before the latter threw him out. Back when he and Carlisle were on good terms, his friends put him on a pedestal and went along with his shenanigans. But now, they wouldn't so much as spare him the time of day.

Shane couldn't help but chuckle mirthlessly.

Sasha pointed out, "Your old friends were unreliable and would only show up for a good time, but there are always others who truly care about you."

Shane eyed Sasha eagerly as if suddenly enlightened and asked, "Did you ask me out so you could tell me that you care about me?"

She nearly sputtered. She had asked Shane to meet her for lunch so she could plot her revenge against Yvonne, not turn herself into collateral damage!

She drew a deep breath and blamed herself for letting Shane steer the conversation off-track. She even threw in some sage advice, for that matter! Now that he had brought up the reason why she wanted to meet him, she decided to cut to the chase, cruel as it might be.

Feigning indifference, Sasha countered, "Am I the only person you think who cares about you?"

"Is there someone else?" Shane asked, frowning in confusion.

"Dumbass." She didn't think she would meet someone dumber than her. "Did you forget about Yvonne? Didn't she call you after you were disgraced?"

Sasha couldn't care less about using Shane as a pawn for her revenge now. "And Yvonne is just an ordinary young woman with no powerful background to speak of. It was only natural for her to feel lesser than you and fear approaching you."

Something like comprehension dawned on Shane, though not completely.

Sasha spelled it out for him. "You were a prince back in the day. Everyone worshipped the ground you walked on, and you were way beyond Yvonne's league. But things are different now that your dad publicly cut you off. Everyone sees you as an average Joe now."

She lowered her voice and continued, "That's why she approached you after your downfall. She wants to remind you of her presence. Isn't that enough proof of her feelings for you?"

The idea finally clicked in Shane's mind. "Oh, so what you're saying is, she loves me?"

Sasha was so excited that she clapped once. "That's it! Think about it: why else would she come up to you out of the blue and tell you I'm making bank?"