Chapter 690 - Do You Love Me?

Roy glanced at it and lost interest. "Are you so concerned about Downey?"

"Shouldn't I be concerned? He is the lead in my movie." Laila looked at him strangely.

"I didn't mean that." Roy scratched his head, feeling conflicted. He knew he was overthinking, pondering impossible things. But he couldn't control himself because she never said she loved him! This was like a thorn in his side ever since he saw the tabloid questioning the nature of her relationship with Downey. It lingered in his throat, making him uncomfortable.

He felt uneasy. She was becoming more and more important to him, but he couldn't confirm how big a space he occupied in her heart.

She was outstanding, always urging him to move forward faster.

He almost didn't recognize this insecure version of himself—a man lacking confidence. Would she still love him?

"Laila, do you love me?" Almost unconsciously, he blurted out the question that had been buried deep in his heart.

Laila choked on her tea.

After suppressing the coughing fit, she looked at him with surprise. "Why ask such a question?"

Having opened up, Roy decided to go all in. He grabbed her hand and held it in his own. "I'm uneasy."

"Why are you uneasy?" Laila could sense his sincerity, so she put the newspaper aside and focused on his question.

She could tell that he seemed to have been troubled by this question for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn't have such a pained expression. She regretted neglecting him. If only she had noticed his discomfort earlier.

"I love you, very much. You're more important to me than life itself." Roy looked into her eyes and spoke softly. "But I'm uneasy. I don't know when you might drift further away from me because I can't keep up with your pace."

Laila frowned, feeling both sympathetic and annoyed. "Did you read some messy reports again?"

Roy's expression stiffened, and he avoided eye contact for a moment.

Wasn't it obvious? Laila, unimpressed, tapped his head. "After so long in Hollywood, do you still believe what's written in those reports? If I'm not mistaken, there have been numerous reports about us secretly marrying and secretly breaking up, right?" Even news of her pregnancy had been reported countless times. She couldn't believe the things she read in those reports.

"I know they're not reliable, but I can't help it." Roy grabbed her hand, pulled her into his arms, and buried his head in her neck. "When we got together, you pitied me. So, I'm afraid. Afraid that you'll get tired of me, afraid that you'll walk too fast and leave me behind."

She was already one of the top directors in Hollywood, but what about him? He still had a long way to go before reaching his peak.

"Pity?" Laila chuckled angrily and pushed him away. "I pity those beggars on the street. Why didn't I get together with them?"

Roy didn't say anything, his head hanging low.

Seeing him like this, Laila's anger subsided before it could rise. Who said only women needed a sense of security? Men needed it too!

She began to reflect on her carelessness and failure to notice how it affected him.

But she couldn't entirely blame herself. There weren't many people her age in the East who constantly expressed love, especially as a woman. Explaining this cultural difference would only make him think she was making excuses.

"You know, I spent more time in the hospital than outside since I was a child. So, I may have some differences from normal people in certain aspects. I never noticed your distress, and I'm sorry. I never said 'I love you,' and I'm sorry for that too. But it doesn't mean I haven't invested the corresponding feelings. In the end, it's just that I can't say it. You've seen how I am with my family. Even to my mother, I rarely say the word 'love,' right?"

Roy, reminded by her words, realized that she rarely mentioned love to her family. He almost couldn't recall a time when she did. This discovery left him both regretful and remorseful. He seemed to have misunderstood her. How could he resolve this issue? Would she be angry with his baseless accusations?

"Don't overthink!" Laila cupped his head, making him look into her eyes. "Listen to me carefully because I won't say it a second time."

"I never say sympathetic words to anyone out of pity, and I certainly won't joke about my happiness. When we started dating, it was because I liked you. You shouldn't doubt that."

"I'm sorry…" Roy subconsciously apologized.

But before more words could come out, Laila stopped him with a kiss.

It was warm, soft, and seemed to carry a hint of rose fragrance, causing Roy's mind to momentarily blur. So much so that he didn't listen carefully to what she whispered in his ear next.

"Wait! What did you just say? Say it again!" He hastily grabbed her as she tried to withdraw.

Laila quickly jumped away, turned around, and used her disheveled hair to conceal the blush that had crept onto her cheeks. "I said I won't say it a second time. If you didn't hear it, there's nothing I can do." With that, she turned and ran upstairs, leaving Roy in a state of confusion.

Roy's mood at this moment was extremely complex. He wanted to howl excitedly and regretfully, even considering banging his head against the wall.

Why did he zone out? Why didn't he hear what she said clearly?

From the faint syllables, he had already guessed what she said. It was almost clear from her flushed face. The regret that surged up in him almost overwhelmed him.

Now he understood, Laila was truly not good at verbalizing love. Did she think she could hide behind her long hair and he wouldn't see her? The intoxicating shade of red almost made him lose control of his desires. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let her escape so easily.

No! He didn't understand this kind of "I won't say it a second time" talk! Roy stood up and chased after her. Even if it was pestering, he was determined to extract those words from her mouth as many times as possible!

Forget about Downey! Forget about being undeserving! Whatever it was, he wouldn't let her leave him!

He loved her! She loved him too! That was enough!

From now on, he wouldn't be disturbed by those damn fabricated reports. As long as she wanted to stay by his side, he would give her all his love. Even if she found someone better and left one day, he would still wish her happiness... Yeah, right!

She would never have that chance! He would let her know that he was the best person in the world for her!