I was anxious before asking Lauren to meet. However, I was surprised when she readily agreed to meet me. She was already waiting for me when I arrived at our agreed meeting place.

The impression she left on me shattered my previous perception of her. She was astute but also forthright and bold. Lauren initiated the conversation, “I didn’t expect you to want to meet me. Regardless of your intentions, I feel I should apologize.”

I smiled and responded, “Saying it's okay would seem insincere, and blaming you would be overly dramatic. Your straightforward approach shocked me.”

She showed slight helplessness and guilt in her expression. “Thank you for saying that.”

Then, she glanced at me awkwardly and said, “I won’t make excuses for myself. I had a soft spot for Matthew, and I won’t deny he’s dashing. So, ultimately, I couldn’t resist that temptation. Still, I never expected him to be such an asshole. He could never take responsibility for his mistakes.”

It was my first time hearing a