The Boy Who Tattooed My Name on His Chest novel Chapter 81

Every word landed clearly in my ears.

And that was when I realized—

That thorn had already sunk too deep.

"I was just—"

Hearing the past being brought up, Joshua's eyes widened abruptly.

He instinctively tried to explain, but I cut him off.

"I know you regretted it the moment you said it."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Because ever since that day, Joshua had looked guilty every time he saw me.

But that incident had also planted a thorn in my heart.

One that made my chest ache sourly every time I thought about it.

"So I understand now—back then, your pain wasn't any less than mine."

It was as if something lodged in my throat, making it hard for him to speak.

Joshua, who always carried himself so straight-backed, suddenly hunched over, like he had reached his limit.

He seemed to realize something and forced a weak smile.

"So... you're not going back to SEA Group?"

"You don’t need me as your assistant anymore."

"But Joshua can't be without Donna."

He said it softly.

But I still heard it.

I smiled but didn't reply.

It wasn’t until later that I finally understood.

Joshua's pride kept him from saying those two words, "I like you."

It also kept him from admitting his feelings for me.

Once he vaguely sensed them, he panicked and started pushing me away.

Just to prove that he wasn’t completely dependent on me.

Even later on, he enjoyed the way I cared for him but was unwilling to offer the same in return.

He foolishly turned our feelings into a competition.

And he naively believed that in the end, he had won.

But instead, he created wounds and distance.

Irreparable.

I couldn’t say those two words either.

Because I knew that in front of Joshua, I was always insecure and sensitive.

That’s why I worked so hard to prove my worth.

Neither of us wanted to be the first to back down.

And in the end, we both lost.

A sharp ache bloomed in my chest.

But at the same time, something inside me was finally let go.

I stopped in my tracks.

"Alright, you should head back—"

"Donna, close your eyes!"

Before I could finish, I saw a look of sheer panic flash across Joshua's face.

He instinctively pulled me into his arms and covered my eyes.

A drunken, slurred voice rang out.

"You little bastard, you dare threaten that bitch to stop giving me money? Think you can make me leave? I’m your damn father! Giving me money is your duty! Let’s see if I don’t beat you to death, you worthless brat!"

I felt the warm, wet sensation on my face too late.

A strange sense of fear spread through me, reaching my limbs.

Not being able to see made my voice tremble.

"Joshua?"

I didn’t refuse.

To be fair, Joshua had always been a generous boss.

When I was about to leave the hospital, he called out to me.

And for the first time, he said those two words with absolute sincerity and solemnity—

"Donna, I like you."

A confession that came too late.

I thought about it for a moment, then smiled.

"But I think I don’t like you as much anymore.

"Or rather, for a long time now, I’ve wanted to be myself more than I wanted to like you."

Eating the food I wanted.

Doing the things I loved.

Meeting people who made me feel at ease.

"I know."

Joshua smiled too.

But his eyes were terribly red.

His lips parted, as if to say something.

But in the end, he said nothing.

Like he had been drained of all his strength.

He slowly lifted a hand to cover his eyes.

Silent tears.

"So in the end, I still lost you, didn't I?"

No answer.

The day I left was a bright and sunny one.

And so were all the days that followed.