Chapter 0304
Chapter 0304
Allen was left speechless.
For some reason, Riley’s comment about him not being her first man ignited a strange discomfort in Allen, like a fire smoldering in his chest.
“You go on and on about liking me, yet you gave yourself to someone else? Your love is truly one of a kind,” he said, his tone sharp with sarcasm.
Riley scoffed coldly. “Oh, so liking you means I have to save my virginity for you? Now that I think about it, maybe I never really liked you. If I did, I definitely wouldn’t have given my first time to someone else!”
Ignoring the way Allen’s face darkened, Riley pressed on, her voice cutting. “You don’t want to marry me? Great, because I don’t want to marry you either. I’ll just pretend that I got bitten by a dog that night.”
“Who are you calling a dog?”
“You know exactly who I mean.”
11
The two of them fired insults back and forth, each more biting than the last.
Suzy stood off to the side, rubbing her temples as her headache grev
There was no way she could manage them. Absolutely no way.
Forget it. She wasn’t getting involved anymore.
Physically and mentally drained from the chaos of recent days, Suzy decided it was time to visit her aunt’s resting place on the mountain.
It had been nearly two weeks since the funeral, and she hadn’t gone to see her.
It wasn’t that she’d been too busy–it was that she hadn’t been ready to face it. Her only. family was gone, and she still struggled to accept it.
After ordering a bouquet of bluebells, her aunt’s favorite flowers, Suzy drove up the mountain.
The trip was uneventful until a younger woman came rushing down the mountain, moving so quickly that she almost collided with her.
Suzy swerved out of the way just in
hands
was crushed in the processe, avoiding the woman, but the bouquet in her
“I’m so sorry, miss! I thought someone was following me, so I ran too fast…” the young woman blurted, her voice full of regret. “I ruined your flowers–I’ll make it up to you, I promise!”
– Chapter 000HE
+25 BONUS
“It’s fine, just a bouquet of flowers.” Suzy waved it off.
The girl had already apologized, and it was clearly unintentional.
How could she make a fuss over it?
“No, I insist on repaying you,” the girl said firmly. “My parents always taught me to take responsibility when something’s my fault, no matter what.”
“Your parents…”
A flicker of sadness crossed the girl’s face, but she mustered a brave smile. “They were assassinated a few days ago. I suddenly became the only one left in my family. But I’m not afraid. I can take care of myself, and that way, Mom and Dad won’t have to worry about me.”
Suzy was struck silent. She felt an ache in her chest–the girl’s loss mirrored her own. Their shared pain made her heart ache for the girl. “You said someone was following you?” The girl nodded quickly. “Yes! As soon as I got to the mountain, I felt it. Do you think it could be the same person who killed my parents? Maybe they’re after me too?”
Suzy’s expression darkened slightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll take you down the mountain.” “Really?” The girl’s face lit up with relief. “You’re amazing! We’ve just met, and you still want to help me!”
Suzy escorted the girl home, and as they arrived, the girl invited her in for tea.
Unable to refuse such sincere hospitality, Suzy followed her inside. But the moment they opened the door, Suzy caught a glimpse of a shadow slipping out through a window.
The girl gasped and immediately hid behind Suzy. “Miss…”
“Don’t be scared,” Suzy reassured her. She searched the house but found no other signs of an intruder. Still, leaving the girl alone there didn’t seem safe.
After a moment of thought, Suzy asked, “Would you like to come with me?”
The girl hesitated. “Go where?”
“Come live with me. From now on, I’ll be your family.”
“Really?”
Suzy nodded firmly. “Yes, really.”
“I’d love that!”
