ログインDESMONDA few days later, I found myself standing in front of the old woman’s shop once again.The small bell above the door jingled as I stepped inside and the old woman looked up from behind the counter.The moment she saw me, recognition lit up her face.“It’s you,” she said warmly. “I remember you.” A smile spread across her wrinkled face.I didn’t return it.“I have some questions,” I said directly. “About that night.”Her smile faded slightly as she studied my face, then she nodded. “Of course.” She gestured toward one of the empty tables near the corner of the shop. “Let’s sit down.”As I walked toward the chair, she slowly followed behind me.“What can I get for you?” she asked politely. “Tea? Coffee? Something cold?”“Nothing.”The truth was that I didn’t trust the cleanliness of the place enough to eat or drink anything from it.Taking a seat, I placed my iPad on the table, unlocked it and turned the screen toward her.The picture showed Camellia as a child.I pointed at the
DESMONDMy driver slowly pulled the car into the driveway and stopped beneath the porch of my house. Through the rear-view mirror, he glanced at me, patiently waiting for me to open the door and step out.But I didn’t move.Instead, I remained seated in the back seat, staring blankly through the window with no desire to go inside. The thought of walking through those doors and facing my constantly complaining wife drained what little energy I had left.Minutes passed.Then more minutes.Before I realized it, over thirty minutes had gone by, and I was still sitting in the same spot.“Sir,” my driver finally said carefully, breaking the silence, “is there anywhere else you’d like me to take you?”I looked at him briefly and forced a small shake of my head.“No.”Without another word, I opened the door and stepped out of the car.Thankfully, Camellia wasn’t home. I headed straight upstairs, took a long shower, and changed into comfortable clothes before climbing into bed, hoping sleep w
EUDORAA light, feather-like touch on my hand pulled me straight out of sleep.I slowly opened my eyes, blinking away the blur, and the first thing I saw was Orion leaning way too close to me. His face was turned slightly away, like he was avoiding my gaze, but his hand was still holding mine.“What are you doing?” I whispered, gently pulling my hand out of his grip.Orion cleared his throat and shifted back a little, still not looking at me properly.Something about the way he acted made me concerned.Curious and now fully awake, I pushed myself up from the bed and moved closer to him, bending slightly so I could see his face better. “What’s going on? Orion?”Slowly, he turned to me.The moment I saw him properly, my stomach dropped. His eyes were red, swollen like he had been holding back tears for a long time.“Did something happen?” Instead of answering, Orion reached for my hand again, lifting it up between us.My eyes followed his movement. “What… what is going on?”“How did th
ORIONI had to arrange for an extra bed to be brought into the hospital room for Eudora because Ariel's hospital bed was far too small for both of them to share comfortably. No matter how many times I told her to go home and get some rest, she refused.My gaze moved between them.Ariel was curled up beneath her blanket, sleeping peacefully for the first time since the accident. On the bed beside her, Eudora looked equally exhausted, her face softer now that sleep had claimed her.As I watched them, I noticed a corner of Eudora's quilt had slipped down, exposing part of her shoulder.Walking over, I grabbed the edge of the quilt and pulled it higher, making sure she was properly covered. The last thing she needed after everything she’s been through was to catch a cold.I had barely taken a step back when a soft knock sounded on the door.My jaw tightened instantly.Whoever was standing outside had better have a very good reason for disturbing this room. If they woke Eudora after she ha
EUDORAThe call informing me that my daughter had fallen down the stairs was the last thing I expected to receive today. One moment, everything had seemed normal, and the next, I was rushing out of the gallery with my heart lodged in my throat.Thankfully, Orion had been with me when the call came in. I had been too shaken to think straight, my hands trembling so badly that I could barely hold my phone let alone drive. He stepped in, helping me pull myself together before driving me to the hospital.Even now, standing beside Ariel’s hospital bed, the fear from earlier hadn’t completely faded.“What exactly happened?” Orion asked.Aria stood behind me, wringing her hands nervously. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.“I was watching her,” she explained between sniffles. “But I had to use the bathroom for a few minutes. Before I left, I asked my sister to keep an eye on Ariel.” Her voice cracked. “When I came back, Ariel wasn’t there anymore. I looked around for her, but I couldn
EUDORAAfter the way she had reacted to seeing me back in China, anyone with common sense would have stayed away from her. But I had never been good at walking away from things.So, instead of keeping my distance, I tracked down her art gallery in New Zealand. A little digging revealed that she had an exhibition scheduled in two days, so rather than leaving the country, I decided to stay.I wanted to see the world she had built for herself.Dressed in a tailored black suit and a pair of Gucci sunglasses, I stepped into the gallery. The place was nothing short of impressive. The building itself carried an understated elegance, while the interior had been designed with meticulous attention to detail. Everything, from the polished floors to the carefully selected decorations, reflected sophistication.Slowly, I walked deeper into the gallery.My gaze drifted across the pristine white walls lined with paintings. Each piece had been given its own space, displayed far enough from the others







