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Chapter 5
A flicker of guilt crossed Graysen’s eyes. He hesitated, then clamped his mouth shut, not daring to
continue.
No one knew that Caroline’s parents had been killed on a stormy night, run over by a drunk driver
in a massive truck.
Their bodies were crushed beyond recognition, blood staining the ground.
Since then, Caroline had hated alcohol and feared thunderstorms and lightning.
Graysen knew all of this. And yet, he was the one who held her close, whispering in her trembling
ear, “Caroline, don’t be afraid. You still have me.”
But he was now siding with another woman, convincing Caroline to drink.
At that moment, Caroline felt her heart shatter, like a piece of her just broke apart.
She shook uncontrollably and glanced at the silent Graysen, then shot a quick look at Marlene
across the table.
Taking a deep breath, Caroline finished the glass of liquor.
The quiet room erupted into cheers. Her teammates shouted, “Well done!”
But Caroline’s face turned pale, her eyes burning with something–something resolute, hidden
beneath the pain.
The burning in her stomach twisted like fire, suffocating her, and she rushed to the restroom,
clutching the toilet and vomiting uncontrollably.
One heave after another, her tears blurring her entire face.
At that moment, she couldn’t tell what hurt more–the searing pain in her stomach or the
brokenness in her heart.
No one followed her into the restroom. She knew Graysen was still in the private room, standing in
front of Marlene, smiling and blocking her drinks, just like he had done for her so many times
before.
But this time, the one he was protecting was someone else.
Time blurred, and when Caroline finally pulled herself together, she stepped out of the restroom.
Perhaps it was the fate mourning Caroline’s lost love. What had started as a clear day suddenly
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turned to rain.
The downpour started as a torrential roar, and lightning cracked across the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder.
It was like a sharp pain stabbing through Caroline’s heart, freezing her in place.
Her mind was consumed by the horrific images of her parents‘ broken bodies, blood scattered on
the ground.
Trembling, Caroline pulled out her phone, dialing Graysen’s number, but it was a woman who
answered.
“Caroline, what’s up? Graysen went to the front desk for condoms. He said getting drunk makes everything more exciting…”
The words “Graysen, I’m scared” choked in Caroline’s throat, but she swallowed them down with all her strength.
She didn’t listen any longer. She hung up the phone.
Stumbling, she made her way into the night, feet heavy with the weight of her own thoughts.
By the time Caroline got home, she was soaked through, shivering like a drowned rat. She curled up in the bathtub, the image of Graysen urging her to drink flashing before her eyes, and her tears fell
harder.
Caroline stared blankly for a long time, then got up. She dried herself, dressed, and turned off her
phone.
She buried herself in her blankets, cocooned in the duvet.
The next morning, Caroline returned to the bomb disposal team, her face pale but calm.
Violet, concerned, asked, “You look awful. Are you sick?”
Caroline gave a wry smile and shook her head. The drink she had downed last night had triggered her chronic stomach problems, and her stomach churned violently.
“I’m fine. I’ll go to the medical office for some medicine,” she weakly waved her hand and got up to leave, only to run into Graysen and Marlene at the door.
Graysen frowned, his voice carrying a mixture of concern and reproach. “Why couldn’t I reach you last night?”
“I dropped Marlene off in her room, and then I couldn’t find you. Were you throwing a tantrum at
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me?”
His demeanor was gentle, but Caroline, more than anyone, could tell he was angry.
Caroline shook her head lightly and said, “I went back by myself last night.”
As she spoke, she tried to pass by them, but the sharp pain in her stomach made her break into a cold sweat, her palms clammy and her forehead slick with perspiration.
But Graysen didn’t seem to notice. He turned to Marlene, saying, “I told you Caroline wouldn’t care. But you just keep worrying.”
The affectionate tone in his words made Caroline’s heart lurch. She bit her lip, about to step out, when something soft and furry on the floor caught her eye.
Instinctively, she stepped back in shock. It was a cat.
Marlene, seeing her alarm, quickly scooped the cat up and said, “Caroline, I’m sorry for last night. I shouldn’t have made you drink. Graysen said you like pets, so I brought my furry friend to apologize. Would you like to hold it?”
Caroline, still trembling, stepped back again. She knew Graysen must know she was allergic to cat
fur.
The pet she liked was a small dog, not a cat.
Caroline’s face remained ashen as she pressed her hand to her stomach, shaking her head with a forced smile. “Thanks, but I’m allergic to cat fur, so I can’t hold it.”
Marlene’s expression darkened, and after a long pause, she pouted and said, “Caroline, so you really don’t like me? You won’t drink the drink I offered, and you won’t hold my cat… If you hate me, you can just say it. No need for all these excuses.”
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