LOGINOne of the staff members asked Eli and Natalie to sit opposite each other. “Sit down. Both of you will explain what happened.”Eli sat down without arguing. Natalie also sat, but she still looked upset. She occasionally rubbed her cheek while taking deep breaths.Another staff member took several fo
Natalie opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.David looked at her. For the first time, Natalie’s tears were no longer enough to make him feel guilty.But before David could say anything else, Natalie suddenly turned to Eli. Her gaze, which had previously been filled with tears, slowly ch
Natalie was standing not far from them. Her eyes were already filled with tears, and her expression looked so hurt as though she had just witnessed something that had broken her heart. She walked toward them hurriedly, but stopped when she realized Eli was there too.“David...” Her voice trembled. “
“I’m busy,” Eli interrupted as she adjusted her backpack.“Just for a moment,” David continued trying to stop Eli from leaving. “Really, just for a moment. Okay? At Avery Café? You don’t mind, right?”Eli knew that several students had begun to notice them. If she refused in a place like this, the c
Cale clicked his tongue but still gave Eli a gentle pat on the head. “Okay.”Eli hugged Cale tightly. “Thank you, Uncle Cale.”“What about me?” Chris protested. “I’m the one who allowed Eli to fight back harder.”“Oh, of course you get some appreciation too,” Naomi said.Eli truly felt lucky to be p
“Captain, you can’t judge us too,” Fred protested. “You often ask for our notes after practice too.”“That’s because you guys take more complete notes.”“Excuses.”Laughter broke out again. Their conversation then shifted from college assignments to practice, the schedule for the next game, and even
Was that request respected? Of course not.Kate wasted no time turning to Lena. “Open it,” she ordered flatly.Felicia and Kalina were already waiting, all too eager to carry out their mother’s command. Lena, who had spent the morning helping Althea tidy the room and bring down her luggage, hesitate
“I think so.”Selena smiled faintly. “I thought as much. You must have liked talking to your grandmother, right? That’s only natural. Just imagine how wonderful it would be to talk to her all the time. Every day. To receive that kind of warm attention from her.”Eli fell silent, and Selena seemed co
“Then I’ll see you at the house, Mr. Miller,” Selena said with a slight, polite bow. “And you—don’t forget to say your goodbyes to your grandparents. Don’t let them think you don’t want to spend time with them.”Her words made Eli turn and stare at her mother in disbelief. Even so, she did what she
The atmosphere at the Miller family home was calm and peaceful. Althea chose to relax, losing herself in one of her favorite novels—until her phone rang several times, pulling her attention away.Arsen’s name appeared on the screen, and her body tensed instantly. She answered before the ringing even







