Chapter 5

Josie felt as if something had clutched her heart in a tight, merciless grip. She couldn't breathe.

She had stayed by Graham's side for ten years. Ten years of trying to warm a frozen heart.

But it hadn't been her fault. It hadn't been that she hadn't tried hard enough. It was simply because Graham had been waiting for Allison all along.

No matter what she did, it would never matter. In his heart, there had only ever been one person—Allison.

The realization made Josie laugh bitterly. Her voice cracked as she said, "I wish you a happy marriage."

With that, Josie turned and walked away.

Graham watched her back retreat into the distance. A strange tightness gripped his chest, an uncomfortable weight he couldn't quite place. He stood there, dazed, for a long moment, until Allison tugged gently on his sleeve.

"Graham, what are you thinking about?"

He blinked out of the fog. "It's nothing," he said, distracted. "I just remembered there's something I need to deal with at the office."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and left.

…

That evening, Josie returned home and began preparing dinner.

Kira sat quietly in the living room, drawing with intense focus.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Josie assumed it was the housekeeper, but then she heard Kira's delighted voice:

"Mr. Holloway!"

She lit up, eyes wide with joy. "You came home!"

Josie hadn't expected him. Ever since Allison's return, Graham had rarely come back to this house.

And now, unexpectedly, he was home just in time for dinner.

Kira's smile was impossible to hide. She ran to him, only to hesitate midway, uncertain whether she was allowed to get close. So she stood off to the side, carefully watching him.

Something in Graham's expression shifted.

From behind his back, he pulled out a plush toy and handed it to her. "This is for you."

Kira stared at it, stunned.

After a long pause, she asked in a small, tentative voice, "It's really for me?"

He nodded.

The toy was identical to the rabbit plush that had been torn.

Graham's expression softened for once. "Cami didn't mean to tear your toy. This is her way of making it up to you."

Kira blinked, confused by what he meant.

Then he continued, "The school's holding an art contest in a few days. Would you mind giving your spot to Cami?"

Her smile froze in place.

She looked at the toy in her hands, realization dawning. This wasn't a gift. It was an exchange. A bribe.

She had never truly received anything, not without condition.

Her eyes turned red as she lowered her head.

Graham went on, "Cami just got back from abroad. She needs time to get used to the new environment and new people. We should be kind. It's just a little contest. You can enter again next time."

Kira bit her lip. Tears fell silently, one after another.

The rabbit plush in her hands now felt unbearably heavy.

She asked, voice trembling, "Did you give me this… just so I'd quit the contest?"

Graham's brows drew together. "It's not a big deal. What's wrong with giving a new classmate a chance? Have I ever taught you to be so selfish?"

Josie couldn't bear to hear another word. She walked over and scooped Kira into her arms.

The rabbit plush slipped from Kira's grasp and fell to the floor, but she didn't reach for it. She just buried her face in her mother's shoulder, weeping.

Josie carried her into the bedroom, tucked her in gently, then returned to pick up the plush toy. She walked to Graham and handed it back.

"No need for this. Kira won't be participating."

Graham looked genuinely surprised. "You're okay with it?"

He had assumed Josie would stand up for Kira. He hadn't expected her to agree so quickly.

Josie's tone was flat. "We weren't planning on joining anyway."

Because soon, she would be taking Kira far away from here.

'Graham, you have one chance left,' she thought bitterly.