Chapter 4
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What I didn’t know was that the moment she found out I had deactivated my account, she rushed to post a tearful blog.
[Zephanie is so talented. If she quit the internet because of me, I’d feel awful. I forgive you. Please come back.]
Her fans flooded the comments with outrage. Some praised Lesley for being so kind–hearted. Others slammed me for being manipulative, accusing me of quitting the internet just to make her feel guilty.
Meanwhile, I was soaking in the peaceful beauty of the southern water towns.
I sat on a slow–moving wooden boat, watching the green water ripple beside me. The stress I’d been carrying slowly faded with every passing wave.
After paying the boatman and stepping ashore, I suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
“Zephanie?” The voice was excited and warm.
I turned, surprised. “Blanche!”
Blanche Rhodes smiled as he walked up to me. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What a
small world.”
He sat down across from me and, like the gentleman he’s always been, poured me a glass of juice.
Blanche was my childhood friend. Back when I lived in the countryside, I followed him around like a shadow. As we grew up, we went to different schools, and eventually started working in separate cities. That was how our paths had drifted apart.
“Do you work in this town?” he asked, handing me the glass.
I shook my head, taking a sip. “No, I’m just here on vacation.”
He must’ve sensed I didn’t want to talk about anything deeper, so he let it drop.
“I’m heading home to visit my grandma soon,” he said after a pause. “Want to come with
me?”
I smiled. “Sure, I’d love to.”
And just like that, we were off to the countryside together.
His grandma greeted us at the gate with a beaming smile. “Zephanie, I haven’t seen you in so long! I’m so glad you came home.”
The days passed peacefully there. I even made time to visit my parents‘ grave.
They’d both died in a car crash when I was in college. To honor their last wish, which was to return home, I buried them on the hill behind our old house.
But while placing fresh flowers by the headstone, I noticed that the soil beside the grave looked like it had been disturbed recently. I pressed it back down carefully, then returned to the house.
Only to find uninvited guests waiting at the door.
Chapter 3
3/3
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11:36 Fri, 23 May
53%
“What the hell, Zephanie?” Gavin stormed up, dragging Lesley along with him. “You just broke up with me and ran off to play house with him? You two were hooking up behind my back, weren’t you?”
I looked at him coldly. “I’m not explaining anything to you. I don’t even want to see your face. Get lost.”
Then I turned to Lesley, who was standing behind him, looking all meek and pitiful.
Technically, after going viral twice in a row, she should be busy riding the wave of popularity. Why would she bother showing up here with Gavin?
And how did they even know I was at Blanche’s place?
I glanced back at Blanche, confused.
11:36 Fri, 23 May
Zephanie’s POV
