Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 29 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 29

Chapter 8 

Three days later, my old phone buzzed. 

Unknown number. 

It was Emma. 

“Nora, it’s me.” 

“I know you’re mad. But I need to say something.” 

“Sean and I? We’re basically siblings. When we were kids, other kids picked on him. I protected him. When his parents fought, I was there. What we have-it goes way beyond romance.” 

“He takes care of me because it’s habit. Because he’s grateful.” 

“But you’re the one he’s marrying. That never changed.” 

“Nora, please come back. He’s been a wreck. Just stares at nothing. Acts tough, but he misses you.” 

“You’re his bride. And me? I’m just the little sister he spoiled too much.” 

I read every word. 

Slowly. 

Didn’t feel angry. Just… absurd. 

It all came down to one thing: 

Look how good Sean is to me. So good he’d ditch you-his bride-for me. 

I’d always be second. 

Even on my own wedding day. 

I typed back: 

“You’re right.” 

“So I’m giving him to you.” 

nd So Did MaLovel 

23.70% 

Chapter 8 

“You can be his spoiled little sister forever.” 

Sent. 

Then blocked the number. And every missed call. 

New week started. 

Got a callback from a job I’d applied to. Hired at a new company. 

Work was good. Coworkers were nice. 

Friday night, I made pork rib and corn soup. 

Checking the recipe for salt when the doorbell rang. 

Looked through the peephole. 

Sean. 

Shirt wrinkled. Stubble on his jaw. Dark circles under his eyes. 

He looked wrecked. 

I opened the door. Didn’t invite him in. 

“What do you want?” 

Sean stared at me. His throat moved. 

“Nora.” 

His voice cracked. 

“I’ve been looking for you.” 

I waited. 

He stood there. Lost. Eyes drifting to the ladle in my hand, then into the apartment. 

“The house is a mess without you.” 

“Nothing in the fridge. Wanted water. Kettle was empty.” 

“Ran out of body wash last night. Didn’t know where the new bottle was.” 

Chapter 8 

“Wanted coffee. Didn’t even know the name of my usual place.” 

I knew what this was. 

A pity party. 

For five years, his shirts had been ironed and waiting in the second section of the closet every morning. 

Coffee by the door at 7:20 a.m. 

Body wash always on the left bathroom shelf. 

He never knew water had to be boiled. Rice rinsed. Laundry sorted. 

He just reached out. Everything was there. 

Emma got all his attention. But never dealt with any of this. 

I listened. Felt nothing. 

“So?” 

Sean looked thrown. 

Froze. 

“So…” He struggled. “I’m not doing well.” 

“Nora, I’m used to having you.” 

“Used to?” 

I repeated it. Almost laughed. 

“Sean, you’re not used to me.” 

“You’re used to having someone handle everything. Someone who doesn’t ask for anything back. Someone who doesn’t compete with Emma.” 

“Your maid quit. Of course you’re not used to it.” 

His face went white. 

“That’s not what I meant.” 

“Then what?” 

Chapter 8 

I looked straight at him. 

“You came all the way here to tell me this. So I’d come back and keep being your maid?” 

“So I can watch you drop everything for Emma again? Watch you use an AI to blow me off? Watch you choose her every single time?” 

“Sean, I loved you. But I’m not pathetic.” 

Sean’s head snapped up. Eyes bloodshot. 

“I didn’t choose her!” 

“That day at the resort-I talked to her. Set things straight.” 

“Told her I was getting married. That I couldn’t keep doing this.” 

“She cried. So I stayed one more day.” 

“Just one day!” 

His voice rose. Hurt and defensive. 

“One day, Nora. That’s it!” 

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