Chapter 9
In a few quick strides, he stormed over, snatched the syringe from my hand, and flung it aside.
“Have you lost your mind? What the hell have you been
g?!” he shouted, his voice shaking with fury and disbelief.
After all, who else would just stick a
a syringe into their own arm for no reason?
I stared blankly for a long moment before it hit me- -he must have misunderstood.
He seemed to suspect I was using drugs.
ફળમાંના હજારો સા
and the
medication.
“It’s not what you think,” I explained helplessly, pointing to Medical Use” labels on both the syringe a
Elbert seemed truly furious, but even more than that, he looked utterly terrified.
His eyes reddened with emotion as he stared at
Ime, unable to for
a single
word for the longest time.
Come to think of it now, I really had been keeping things from him. I thought with a pang of guilt, averting my eyes
He sat down next to me, his movements slightly stiff.
After a long pause, he finally spoke up, a bit awkwardly. “Come back home after you’re discharged.
や
avoid his gaze.
Our gu
to
“It’s not proper for a girl to be living outside all the time.”
If any longer, I might not get another chance.
My nose stung with sudden emotion. Steeling myself, I turned
to
look
at
him
But I couldn’t help it–I was desperately homesick.
I was terrified that if I went back, Elbert would grow accustomed
and said, “How about tonight? I think I can be discharged now.”
to
having
me around as
again.
It’d only been a few days since I left, but it felt like an eternity.
Elbert’s expression softened slightly, though his tone remained aloof. “Whatever,” he said.
His face was stern and unyielding.
Yet he handled all the discharge paperwork, packed up my things, and carried everything himself, never letting me lift a finger.
Empty–handed, I followed behind him to the car.
Suddenly, this moment felt exactly like the start of every new semester.
Oh, I almost forgot.
If I could pull through, after the New Year break, I’d be starting my final semester of high school.
We had disagreements over my college applications.
I wanted to apply to Oxyork University, but Elbert wanted me to stay in Springville.
He didn’t know that Oxyork had the best business management program.
I wanted to study management well so I could help share his burdens after graduation.
I knew how hard things had been for him–1 really did.
But… that day would never come.
For once, there was no driver. Elbert was behind the wheel himself.
I sat in the passenger seat, trying to soak in every second of this rare time together.
So I couldn’t help asking him, “Are you still going to see Elaine tonight?”
Elbert’s grip on the steering wheel stiffened slightly for a moment.
He was silent for a while before replying, “Nope.
‘She’s going home for the evening. I’ll pick her up and bring her back to the hospital
1/2
tomorrow
みん
A
*l3
*
8:15 PM
Chapter 9
I nodded, feeling a bittersweet happiness.
At least this way, he might be with me for my eighteenth birthday–my coming of age.
Even though deep down, I knew he’d probably already forgotten.
Seeing he was in a rare good mood, I decided to push my luck and asked that question again, “Could you make me some soup tonight?”
Elbert replied evenly, “We’ll see.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that, but I guessed that counted as a yes.
After we got home, I went upstairs to shower. When I came back down, dinner was already set on the table.
My eyes instantly locked onto the pot of seafood soup at the center, my heart jumping to my throat.
As soon as Queenie saw me come downstairs, she greeted me with a warm smile.
“Go wash your hands and eat. I simmered this soup for hours.
“Look how thin you’ve gotten–you really need to nourish yourself.”
My heart instantly sank.
Then, Elbert walked over from the study behind me and stopped by my side, casually explaining, “Sorry, something urgent came up at work. I’ll make it for you next time.”
A lowered my head, hiding the disappointment in my eyes, and said softly, “It’s okay. Queenie’s soup tastes good too.”
Elbert seemed quite pleased with my reaction. He reached out and ruffled my hair. “You’ve grown up,” he said.
I stayed silent.
I couldn’t help but hope–maybe, just maybe, I’d still be here when that “next time” he promised finally came.
I took a small bowl of the soup.
It wasn’t bad, but something felt… missing.
No one knew the taste of Elbert’s homemade soup better than I did.
He wasn’t lying–the soup definitely wasn’t his handiwork.
After dinner, Elbert stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, taking a work call.
I headed up to the rooftop terrace alone.
