Lahat ng Kabanata ng Simp No More: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 16

I hadn't expected it to be Tyler who called me."You ran off again?" His voice crackled through the receiver, edged with accusation."Sorry, Dr. Ford," I said. "I'm just not the kind of patient who follows orders."The wind was howling around me, and the roar of waves crashing onto the shore must've reached him too, because he paused. I could almost hear him stiffen."Where are you? Are you at the beach? Mindy, don't do anything stupid. That bastard Charles isn't worth it. Listen to me—if you're even thinking about ending it all, I swear I'll destroy him. I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life, I—"He'd clearly misunderstood.There was a new panic in his voice now—hurried footsteps, the clatter of things knocked over, some object shattering somewhere near him.I quickly spoke up to calm him down. "Relax. I'm not going to do anything reckless. Dr. Ford, I think I may have given you the wrong impression last time. Maybe I wasn't clear. Whatever I'm going through, it's n

It was as if Charles were caught in the grip of some unfathomable, fatal dilemma.His expression faltered—confused, adrift."Mindy," his voice came from behind me, low and hoarse, "it shouldn't be like this. Even if you're in love with my brother... we look so alike. Why don't you feel anything for me at all?"I didn't stop walking. Didn't even glance back.A man like him—perhaps someone like him could live his whole life without ever truly understanding what love is.He had imprisoned himself in the past, wrapping it around him like a safety blanket, too afraid to see that it was already threadbare. But me—I wanted to move forward.Inside the inner hall, Madam Mankin was already waiting for me.She lifted her face slightly, then stroked the cross in her hand.When she heard my footsteps, her fingers paused."Mindy," she said gently, "I've always known... you were just a child back then. What happened—it wasn't your fault."I stared at her, expressionless. Not a flicker of em

There's something different about the streets of France in early winter.I was walking back to my apartment alone after class. The sound of hurried footsteps behind me made me tense. Instinctively, I quickened my pace.But whoever was behind me only closed the distance faster.Panic swelled in my chest. I broke into a run, turning corners without thinking, until I crashed into something—someone—solid and cool."I've been waiting forever," a man's voice murmured above my head, calm and low. "Took you long enough."He spoke in fluent, effortless French—clearly for the benefit of the people behind me.From behind, someone cursed under their breath and turned away, footsteps fading into the distance.Only then did I lift my head.The first thing I saw was Tyler's face. As cold and striking as I remembered, but thinner now, more worn. The disheveled stubble, the slight slump in his shoulders—he looked like a man who had lost things along the way."What are you doing here?" I asked,