NMW I Love You

Chapter 38 Debts of the Past

"Imogen, it's me, Basil," Basil finally broke the silence.

Imogen regained her composure and felt an impulse to make a hasty exit. She swiftly grabbed her handbag, which was hanging on the armchair, and readied herself to leave.

"Imogen, please hear me out," Basil implored.

Bryce and his mates turned their attention towards them. Conor also glanced over and was taken aback by the sight of Imogen on the verge of leaving.

Basil gripped her arm and said, "No, Imogen. You can't go without giving me a chance to explain."

"Release my hand right now, or I assure you it'll escalate beyond your imagination, Basil," Imogen sighed with her eyes closed.

Imogen's frustration was reaching its boiling point, and she felt an overwhelming urge to unleash her anger and create chaos, unable to tolerate Basil's presence any longer. She didn't care to turn around and even look at him, choosing instead to stare at the ground beneath her feet. Her emotions were a whirlwind, a tempest she fought hard to keep under control.

"Please, just this one last time, Imogen. You'll finally learn what truly transpired that night."

"I guess you didn't get me, boy. Let go of my hand, I said."

Conor rose from his seat and approached the scene.

"What's the craic? Why are you holding her hand?" Conor attempted to defuse the situation as calmly as possible.

"There's something I need to clarify with her, mate. It pertains to our past ," Basil's response held a genuine undertone as he addressed Conor, seemingly sincere in his desire to explain himself.

Conor, sensing there might be unresolved matters, was intrigued. He felt there could be more to the story. "How do you know Imogen?" Conor's curiosity led him to question Imogen about her familiarity with Basil's claims.

"Mate, Imogen and I were quite close, you see. During our time in London, we were actually in a relationship," Basil's words were delivered in a hushed and earnest manner, his voice betraying a certain vulnerability. "But she chose to end it all without truly understanding the circumstances surrounding my deeds," he resumed, his tone carrying a mixture of regret and explanation. Conor couldn't help but empathise with the situation.

It was becoming apparent that there were untold layers to the connection between Imogen and Basil, a past fraught with complexities. Listening to Basil's revelation, Conor's thoughts swirled. On one hand, he was starting to grasp the complexity of Imogen's history with Basil.

On the other hand, he couldn't ignore the unease that came with the sudden appearance of her ex-partner. The twist of fate that had brought Basil into the present moment seemed almost too deliberate, as if destiny was intent on stirring emotions that had long been dormant.

"Alright, but first let go of her hand, mate," Conor's directive carried an air of authority, indicating his protective stance towards Imogen in the situation.

"Of course," Basil complied promptly, letting go of Imogen's hand as instructed.

His response held a note of agreement, acknowledging Conor's authority in the moment and his recognition of the need to respect Imogen's personal space.

The physical release of Imogen's hand seemed to symbolise a release of tension in the atmosphere as well. It was as if the physical contact had held a certain weight, and its absence allowed for a momentary respite. Despite the weight of history and unspoken emotions, there was an unspoken understanding that the immediate situation needed to be diffused.

As Basil withdrew his hand, a certain sense of decorum returned to the space, although the underlying tension remained palpable.

Conor's probing questions didn't let up. "So, what's this explanation you're suddenly so eager to share? Are you plagued by remorse for your past infidelity? Are you entertaining the idea of winning her back?" he pressed on, scepticism evident in his voice.

Basil's response was swift, laced with a mix of exasperation and honesty. "No, no, mate, you've got it all twisted. I'm not that colossal of a jerk who'd shatter a girl's heart and then saunter back in with some contrived story to piece it back together. My intention here is simply to set the record straight, no ulterior motives," he stated, his tone coming across as sincere to everyone in the room, except Imogen who had no will to even look at him.

She entertained the notion of swiftly escaping the room, abandoning the house and forsaking the very party that had initially lifted her spirits.

Finally, she mustered the courage to face him. "Oh, please," she interjected, her voice laden with sarcasm and frustration. "Do you remember the last time you tried to explain something? The mess of lies and half-truths you spewed out? You're hardly a master of deception, Basil. So, save your supposed truth for someone who's willing to buy your load of bobbins. I have no patience left to endure your games."

Basil's attempt to shed light on the past was met with Imogen's unabashed scepticism. The space around them crackled with unresolved history, a tension that Conor could practically feel. Despite the dramatic nature of the encounter, he couldn't help but be drawn into the intrigue. As an outsider, he held no allegiance to the past shared between Imogen and Basil, but he was now part of the unfolding story-a story that seemed to be filled with twists and turns, secrets and revelations.

Conor watched the exchange between Imogen and Basil, his features caught in a mixture of confusion and growing understanding. He had sensed the tension that lay beneath the surface from the moment Imogen froze upon seeing Basil.

Now, it seemed that the air was being cleared, although not necessarily in a straightforward manner. Imogen's jaded response was a testament to her past experiences with Basil, experiences that had evidently left scars that were far from healed.

The courtyard felt like a stage where the actors were performing a complex dance of emotions. Conor's curiosity swelled within him as he awaited the next move in this unexpected drama. Imogen's guarded stance and Basil's pure intentions were poised for a collision, one that might hold the keys to unlocking a chapter of Imogen's life that had long remained shut.