"I don't know who has told you what, Irene but as long as I am concerned, I believe in you a lot more than you believe in yourself." Ilyan's smile did not fade from his face even for a moment as he spoke his heart out to her, reminding her of his trust in her for yet another time.
Lifting her hand, he placed it on her heart. "This heart has never held and will never hold any malicious intentions for anyone. Even after what your ex-boyfriend has done to you, you would still wish only the best for him. Only the best. People in your life might never value you but to me, you matter. Okay?"
She smiled through the thin layer of tears that his kind words about her had brought to her eyes. Rising to her toes, she circled her hands around his neck. "Thank you, Ilyan. You are absolutely the kind of a friend I never had."
He smiled, patting her back before she pulled away.