Chapter 8
Six years ago
Anthony’s Fox
Traffic to Tullamarine Airport was light this afternoon. Thank goodness. I was tired from the marathon meeting this whole day and now I still had to go to the airport to review the original model of the airport, for the airport renovation project.
My hands felt chummy. Melbourne in the middle of summer, not for me. I prefer autumn, when everything is no longer too cold, and not yet hot,
1 gripped the steering wheel, while my eyes looked towards the parking lot which was actually still a few hundred meters ahead. I hoped I would not have trouble finding an empty space to park my Audi.
The soft hum of the engine was the only sound in the car, a stark contrast to the bustling activity outside.
As I approached the exit, my eyes caught sight of a woman stumbling near the pedestrian walkway. Her steps and before I could process what was happening, she collapsed onto the pavement.
wavered as if she were disoriented,
“Shit!” I swore spontaneously.
Isumed the wheel and backed up a few meters before pulling my car to the side and opening the door to run towards where the woman was lying
The sidewalk was very hot after the sun had been burning it all day. The woman could have blistered, lying on
Several pedestrians approached and asked questions, looking at the woman, but no one moved.
“Should we call an ambulancer a man asked. “She might be sick.”
Just call airport security a woman in a short dress responded
I suppressed my irritation and pushed my way through them, then knelt down beside the woman.
The woman was young. Her face was beautiful, with smooth skin and pale like a corpse. She was wearing a light blue t–shirt and simple dark blue jears.
“Miss, did you hear me?” I asked, stroking her cheek, hoping it would wake her up.
Several people around me murmured and I didn’t have time to think long, I bent down, slipped my hands under her back and knees, and lifted her bridal style to my car.
She was as light as a feather, Did she never eat anything? Why was she so light?
I ignored the curious stares from the people, and carefully laid her across the passenger seat before speeding toward the nearest hospital.
Three hours later, the woman stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling and the corners of her eyes were trembling.
“You’re awake,” I said softly, so as not to startle hier.
She slowly turned her head and her eyes widened at me. Her pupils were a dark turquoise green and her eyelashes were very curved.
“Wh–who… L. Where am I?
She seemed confused.
“You falsted on the side of the road at the airport. The doctor said you were anemic and malnourished, so you had to be treated here,” I said carefully
She frowned and seemed to remember something. She slowly got up and looked around for something.
“What are you doing?” I asked, seeing the confusion that colored her thin face.
“My bag,” she said.
“You didn’t have anything with you when I found you collapsed on the sidewalk,” I replied confusedly. The hospital also asked for your identification.”
be was stunned. Then, her face turned bright red and her eyes filled with tears.
“Someone took my bag” she said in a trembling voice, “My money, important papers, everything was in that bag. I ran after them, but my head hurt soul and I don’t know. I don’t remember anything after that
That was when you fainted and fell” I said with pity. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of all the hospital stuff. But, where are you going? Do you have a
117 PM
Chapter 8
place you can go or senteone your can contact?“
She shook her head, wringing her has just got off the plane,” she said nervously. “A–Amerika
Twas taken aback. “America! And you have no destination at all? Are you running away or something!”
She lowered her head and I realized that I had hit the mark..
“Can you cook?” I asked, after a moment of thought. “My cook just resigned. You can stay with me for a while until you come up with other plans, if
She looked at me in confusion. You’re not afraid to offer me a job, when you don’t even know me”
I shrugged. “I know. Are you a criminal being humed by the FBI?”
She shook his head quickly. “No, no.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. You don’t look like a bad person anyway.” I said, standing up. “Get some rest. I’ll pick you up when you’re allowed to go home.
“Skylar,” she said.
| was already at the door when I heard her say that. I turned around. “Hm/”
“My name is Skylar” she said softly.
Skylar looked around my house carefully. I didn’t know what she was thinking, but I had limited time to chat, because I had a meeting waiting for
She was quiet. The whole way from the hospital to my house, she was mostly silent and I was also embarrassed to ask too many questions. So, WE drove in silence.
1 led her to the gura room. This is your room. There are some clothes in the closet, maybe you can wear them. I’ll take you to buy some things you need later.”
Skylar nodded, “LI don’t know how to thank you.”
Just do your job well,” I replied simply. “There’s a housekeeper who comes every three days, along with a gardener Security cameras operate 21 hours. You’re safe here”
“What kind of food do you like,” Skylar asked quickly, as I got up. “Or… Do you have any allergies to certain types of food? I’m not very good at cooking just casual food, if you don’t mind.”
“Im not picky, I can eat anything, and I don’t have any allergies, so you can make whatever you usually cat,” I replied.
Suvlar adjusted quickly, falling into a routine. She not only cooked, which turned out to Bu quite tasty, although not like a professional chef, she aho cleaned the house when the housekeeper hadn’t arrived yet.
We rarely talked, only when necessary, because I was also rarely home, and mostly we only met at breakfast and at night, and even then if the wasn’t asleep when I got home,
However, her presence made the atmosphere in my house feel different, so it was warmer and more comfortable.
But then, I heard her start vomiting every morning.
One morning, as she scrubbed the kitchen counter and I had just finished the breakfast she had made, she suddenly became unsteady and almost fell, if she hadn’t held onto the kitchen counter tightly. Her face was pale and she looked like she was holding back nausea.
“Skylar!” I asked, feeling worried.
Skylar turned, and the moment she saw my gaze, she quickly looked down. I saw her hands shaking.
“Are you sick!” I asked, stepping closer.
Skylar took a shaky breath. “L. I need to tell you something”
I folded my arms in front of her “Go on
Skylar took several deep breaths, looking like she was having trouble speaking and her voice was shaking, when she finally spoke
Tis pregnant
23
Chapter 8
The silence that followed was deafening
