Chapter 14
Emily nodded, then shook her head.
Keith teased, “What? Not willing?”
Emily was still processing.
She watched helplessly as Keith effortlessly lifted her suitcase into the trunk. Then he gallantly opened the passenger door for her.
Seeing Emily still frozen, Keith quipped, “Emily, you wouldn’t actually want the backseat? Even though it’s just 100 kilometers to the
neighboring town, you’ll need to check the GPS and keep me company. Keep me from getting drowsy.”
Only then did Emily snap out of it, blurting out the question on her mind.
“Keith, did you know it was me–that poor soul who broke down halfway -when you added me yesterday?”
Keith didn’t deny it.
“Of course. You posted on your social media feed thanking this Good Samaritan who helped without leaving a name. How could I not know? I even liked it.”
Emily fumbled with her phone and indeed spotted a new like from Keith on her feed.
Keith spoke again, his tone drawing out meaningfully.
“Emily, seems fate really brought us together.”
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To this, Emily offered no reply.
The threads of fate between people remain the most elusive thing.
友善
Emily ignored Harold’s message and went straight into the passenger seat of Keith’s car. Only after they’d driven far away did she start replying on Social Media Platform.
First she informed colleagues she was safe and had successfully met with Keith.
Then she messaged her best friend, even sneaking a profile photo of Keith that triggered endless fangirl screams.
Finally, Emily opened Harold’s chat window.
“Emily, Sophia and I have completely cut ties. Mom and Dad still live at the old place.”
“They said you could come for dinner if you’re free.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t visit on the same day as you. Won’t make you uncomfortable.”
Truthfully, Emily wondered what Harold meant by “completely cut ties.” Deleted all contact methods? Sworn never to see each other again?
It looked like a clean break, but were they actually still connected? As long as Sophia was in trouble, would he soften again?
Curiosity aside, Emily didn’t ask, just replying simply.
“Okay.”
This time, Harold’s chat box showed “typing” for ages. But until Emily and Keith reached their hotel in the neighboring city, he sent nothing
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more.
The five–star hotel had its entire top floor with the best views booked by the school. Two sharing a room, or single occupancy.
Emily lucked out with a private suite, Keith staying right across the hall.
So she proposed dinner plans: she’d treat him later, and he could pick any restaurant nearby.
After each went back to their room, Emily tidied up the clothes and toiletries she had brought. This study tour would last two weeks, and she had brought quite a lot.
Hardly had she finished tidying up when her former mother–in–law called.
“Emily, Harold must have told you? If you have time, come home, and your father and I will cook your favorite dishes.”
“Otherwise, if you want to eat home cooking, you’d have to take a flight back.”
Hearing this, Emily was still somewhat moved.
After her parents reached retirement age, they found a small coastal city to live in, leading a very leisurely life every day.
As long as she was safe and sound, they hardly ever took the initiative to message or call her.
As her mom put it, “We’ve raised you all these years, your dad and I, and now it’s our turn for some couple time.”
At that moment, her former mother–in–law spoke up again.
“Honestly, my husband and I shouldn’t butt into your issues with Harold,
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but Emily, is there really no going back for you two?”
“Harold got tricked by Sophia too.”
“We just found out her situation with her ex–husband wasn’t what we thought. Sure, domestic violence is wrong, but she was backed into a corner. Sophia started some medical project that couldn’t recoup funds, and her ex was stuck paying it all back.”
Emily gripped her phone, emotions tangled.
But she knew very clearly that even though there was some friction between Sophia and her ex–husband, Harold’s care for Sophia wasn’t fake.
Harold did choose Sophia over herself many times.
This was something Emily could never forgive.
01.
