Cassie Kofi blocked Howard as he tried to enter the room.
"Howard, I'm not available today," Cassie said bluntly. "You should go home."
Howard stared at Cassie in shock.
Cassie had never stopped him from entering her room before.
What was going on today?
Could it be that there really was someone else in her room?
Howard instinctively tried to push past Cassie, but when he saw the look of disgust in her eyes, his hand froze.
He didn't want Cassie to hate him.
Howard awkwardly withdrew his hand and said in a low voice, "Don't be mad. If you don't want me to go in, I won't. Cassie, I heard you were hurt, so I came to check on you."
"That's not necessary," Cassie replied coldly. "Howard, I know why you're here. To be honest, I'm not going back."
"Cassie!" Howard's eyes flashed with anxiety. "We've offended Cherry Miller..."
"Cherry Miller, Cherry Miller! That's all you ever talk about! Have you fallen for her too?" Cassie waved impatiently. "Well, Cherry's cute and capable, everyone in Newport City and even all of China knows her. I get why you'd be attracted to her! So, Howard, if you like Cherry Miller, go ahead and chase her. I won't stop you! We're just friends. I have no right to get in your way!"
Hearing Cassie twist things around, Howard's face turned red with frustration. "Cassie, you know full well the only one I like is you. I just wanted to tell you—we've offended the Yin Family and Cherry Miller. They won't let us off easy! Before they make a move, we have to act fast..."
"Enough! How many times have you repeated this?" Cassie covered her ears and shouted, "I don't want to hear it! If Cherry Miller really wanted to deal with us, she would've done it already! Why wait until now? Stop using Cherry Miller as an excuse to trick me into going back. I'm not falling for it! If you want to leave, go. I'm not going! My dad gave me plenty of spending money—I can live just fine on my own! There's mountains and water here, so why should I go back? To watch you guys fight? I'm sick of it!"
Howard was at a loss for words after Cassie's tirade.
"Howard, I'm grateful you came with me to China. But this is it! Go back to your own life! Stop bothering me!" Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't need you anymore!"
Those words—"I don't need you anymore"—hit Howard like thunder, leaving him stunned.
That must've been the most important thing she said, right?
She didn't need him anymore.
Heh... heh... heh...