Chapter 4
1 didn’t spare it a glance []
But the car stopped beside me, and the rear window rolled down, revealing Paul’s handsome, aristocratic face.]]
I merely glanced at him indifferendy and kept walking
“Grace”
Paul frowned slightly where are you going?”
Dragging two large suitcases, I was already struggling to walk, much less in the mood for small to
So I ignored him and continued forward ||
Suddenly, Paul opened the car door and got out.
Do you want me to have my driver take your
“No, thanks “[]
I avoided his outstretched hand and kept walking ||
Paul grabbed my wrist “Grace, why are you so stubborn this time? |
If you cried like before, maybe I’d soften up again.
I shook off his hand forcefully and looked at him calmly.
“Paul, I don’t need it anymore.”
I didn’t need to cry, nor did I need his momentary softness.||
Again and again, I had grown bred, utterly exhausted ||
“Tine, whatever you want.
Paul Jet out a derisive laugh, but disbelief was written clearly in his eyes.]
In the past, no matter how heartbroken I was, I always waited for him to come back, willingly and silently.
He had grown used to it
Everyone around him said 1 would never leave him.]
And he believed it wholeheartedly
Dragging my suitcase, I was ready to leave.
Helen’s gentle voice rang our
“Paul, you’re here:“[]
she rushed over, clinging tightly to Paul’s arm, her body leaning almost entirely against him ||
“Are you feeling better from the allergy-
Faul brushed aside the strands of hair on her forehead, carefully inspecting her[]
-Much better.” Helen tilted her face up, her inde radiant. “Paul, dont be mad at Grace
sweet||
the gave his arm a playful shake, her voice soft and sweet
“It’s really my fault for being so weak. If I weren’t so frail. Dad wouldn’t have asked me to switch rooms with drac.|||
Then she wouldn’t have taken it out on me.”
This in your fault. She’s just prity and narrow–minded
Paul shot me a glance, then deliberately pulled Helen into his arms []
“Let’s go inside. Your face is just recovering–you shouldn’t be out in the wind.”
I watched as the two of
them
enjoined twins.||
n walked away, inseparable, like i
But my heart was as calm as a still Lake, incapable of stirring even the slightest ripple.[]
After my mother’s death anniversary, my father didn’t come to take me back home
Soon. It was Paul’s
In previous years, I would have prepared his gift well in advance[]
1 would’ve gone out of my way to book a venue and meticulously decorate it for his party!]]
But this time, I didn’t prepare anything||
I wouldn’t be celebrating his birthday anymore |
in a car heading to the airport
15pm. I was in a
Messages kept coming in on my phone]
Even my father was urging me. “Why aren’t you here yet? Your stepmother, Helen, and I are all here.”
“Grace, you need to be more generous, Paul is going to be part of our familly in the future
“If you don’t show up, what will people think? They’ll think you and your sister don’t get along ||
I found it Laughable. I didn’t reply to any of it and simply blocked him.[]
As 1 prepared to board my flight, I suddenly received a message on WhatsApp
was from Paul]
“Why aren’t you here yet?
yet? Everyone’s waiting for you,”
I smiled faintly and didn’t reply. Instead, 1 blocked every way he could contact me.
Then, I walked into the boarding gate and never looked back.
It was already se
seven o’clock, but Paul still hadn’t announced the start of his birthday party
He sat on the sofa, idly toying with a lighter in his hand, his expression calm and indifferent Every now and then, he glanced at his watch or unlocked his phone to check the screen
“Paul.” Helen bit her lip and gently rugged at his sleeve.]]
“Its getting La
Late, and everyone’s hungry.“]
Paul looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. Yet, somehow, that smile didn’t quite reach his eyes
“Chr is it you who’s hungry?“]]
He pinched Helen’s cheek teasingly.
“Im starving! I just want to eat cake already.” she replied, leaning into his arms.
Asdielen nestled against him. Paul caught a faint but familiar scent ||
Be froze for a moment and asked in a low voire, “What perfume are you wearing?|
| just grabbed something from ʼn the dressing room at home.” Helen said, sounding surprised []
Why, Paul? Dors || smell bad” ||
(Paul shook his head.]]
“No, It’s nice
It sauelled like the perfume Grace used to wear.
F
Tor a moment, he couldn’t recall the name of the brand
As everyone laughed and started a cake fight. Paul stepped out onto the balcony with a cigarette.
His phone remained silent, not a single reply.||
He remembered Grace once telling him she would never miss any of his birthdays.
But she had broken her promise so soon.[]
Paul’s gaze darkened, his lips curling into a faint, ley smirk||
“Grace, are you dead? Don’t you know how to reply to a message?“||
He hit send.
But the message failed to deliver. A glaring red exclamation mark appear on the screen
He had been blocked[]
