Chapter 8
Just then, a thunderous voice exploded from behind us.
It was Heather. With her hand over her mouth, she gazed at Emmett and me, her expression one of
disbelief.
Emmett’s face darkened as he stepped forward in a rush, saying hastily, “It’s not what you think.”
But Heather shoved him aside and ran out without another word.
Watching him chase after her, I felt nothing inside.
But as I turned to leave, I collided straight into someone’s arms, and my heart dropped.
When I looked up, it was Ambrose. His face was unreadable, his gaze giving nothing away.
For a split second, I wasn’t sure if he’d caught what Emmett said. A flicker of unease stirred inside
- me.
“I’ve been searching for you everywhere. What are you doing here?” Ambrose said with a gentle
smile.
His words brought an unexpected sense of relief. I slipped my arm through his and stepped out
beside him.
Halfway down the corridor, he stopped and asked, “Would you like to go abroad with me?”
“What?” I gasped, caught off guard.
After the banquet, Ambrose and I sat silently in the Talerico family’s car, each lost in our own
thoughts.
John and Patricia went on about the years they had spent trying to find him. Upon hearing of our hardships, they responded with heartfelt sympathy.
It dawned on me then that Ambrose’s adoptive father was no ordinary man. In truth, he was an agent for the Talerico family’s longtime enemies.
I also discovered that the scars covering Ambrose’s body weren’t just from his time at sea. They were marks left by the abuse he endured at his adoptive father’s hands.
It felt like my heart had been shattered.
Knowing I had no family, John and Patricia treated me with remarkable kindness. They even mentioned the possibility of adopting me, which warmed my heart.
But when I looked at Ambrose, I simply shook my head. To me, he felt like an older brother, and I didn’t want to intrude on his perfect family.
Throughout the entire ride, Ambrose remained mostly silent. It wasn’t until we stepped out of the car that he asked the same question again.
“Do you want to go abroad with me?”
Chapter 8
2/2
I couldn’t help but ask, “Why? What’s wrong with staying here? Or is there something you’re not telling me?”
Once more, he went quiet. Without a single word, he turned and walked away.
I watched him leave, my mind a whirlwind of confusion.
From that moment on, he never came back to the Talerico residence. Instead, he stayed with me in the apartment.
He took care of the cooking while I handled the dishes. When he got dizzy, I’d massage his temples.
It had been a while, but I finally felt the familiar warmth of home once more.
One day, Ambrose suddenly handed me a wedding invitation. I looked at it closely -Emmett and Heather were getting married.
“Those two are tying the knot. Do you want to go?” Ambrose whispered.
I looked at their names side by side. For some reason, a wave of relief washed over me.
I shook my head and said, “Let’s go abroad.”
Ambrose suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with surprise. “Really?”
When we returned, two years had passed.
In the same apartment, I packed my suitcase, slipping my admission letter inside.
Ambrose wrapped his arms around my waist, a playful smile on his lips. “I’ve applied as an exchange student at your school. We can study together again.”
I returned his smile.
On my first day back, I ended up crossing paths with someone I never expected to see again.
“What are you doing here? How dare you come back? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for you?”
Dragging my suitcase with one hand, I froze. Why was Emmett here? Shouldn’t he have graduated by now?
Before I could process it, my gaze landed on a pale, frail–looking young woman standing beside him. It was Heather. What happened to her? She looked so weak..
“Emmy,” she called out, her voice quivering with uncertainty.
But Emmett didn’t respond to her. Instead, his gaze was fixed on me, carrying an emotion I couldn’t quite read. There was a subtle sadness in his eyes.
