Semua Bab New Body, Old Obsession… Complete Decadence: Bab 51 - Bab 60

At 9:45 p.m., Wendy's Diner was still open. If there were customers, the owner kept the lights on, and plenty of night-shift workers would drop by for a late meal. Josephine sat over her bowl, eating slowly. Hunger gnawed at her—fear had drained her strength earlier, and the late-autumn chill seeped into her bones. The steaming soup soothed her, calming more than half the storm inside her. She had ordered hers heavy on vinegar and chili. In truth, she couldn't tolerate much spice. But now, with a thin sheen of sweat prickling her back, cocooned in the warmth of this unpretentious, familiar diner—neighbors at nearby tables, the boss's wife bustling about with a cheerful smile, and across from her the tall, aloof figure she knew so well—Josephine lowered her head and ate a few extra mouthfuls. She had never cared for pork filling before. Tonight, it tasted unexpectedly good. Across the table, Julian held his fork with a faint frown, methodically picking out the shrimp from his sala

"Since everything is so good between you and your husband, then why call me? Do you realize that driver intended to follow you into your home? You, your mother-in-law, your daughter—you're all vulnerable women. "Malton Road is remote, and you still went there alone at night. Did it ever cross your mind how dangerous that was?" His gaze cut into her, voice cool and severe. "What if I hadn't come tonight?" Josephine froze, words catching in her throat. After a long pause, she murmured, "Tonight was an accident. I'll be more careful in the future." "Your husband lives in Columbine, earns a six-figure salary in tech, and yet his wife has to work overtime until midnight to support the family? Even when his mother is ill, when his daughter is sick, he doesn't come back." Julian's eyes lingered on her pale, delicate face, but what he remembered was the look she wore an hour ago—the panic, the helplessness—when she had stumbled into his arms after leaving the taxi. Stella spent so

Hearing his grandmother promise to accompany him, Ethan gave a little grunt, hopped off the toilet, and opened the bathroom door. But the tears hadn't stopped. "Where's the turkey noodles?" Vera hurried to wipe his cheeks. "Come on, darling, cheer up. Grandma will go with you tomorrow. The noodles are in the kitchen, and Evelyn also made fried chicken legs with your favorite honey mustard sauce." Of all her grandchildren, this little boy was the one Vera treasured most. There were only two children in the younger generation of the family. One was Sabrina, her eldest son's daughter. But that eldest son, Harrold, was the child of her husband's closest friend who had passed away. And that girl, Sabrina—though raised under the Faulkner family's roof—was adopted. Harrold and his wife Sylvia had been unable to conceive and eventually adopted a little girl from the orphanage. They named her Sabrina. Vera's younger son, Julian, didn't even have a woman by his side, let alone a chil

Several school buses idled outside Fleurane Elementary School. Each bus lined up according to class. Inside one of them, Josephine sat with Julie. At 8:10 a.m., the teacher began roll call and gave a few reminders. By 8:15 a.m., Julian finally arrived with Ethan—both of them the last to board. Today's bus wasn't full; a few children were absent, leaving several empty seats. Without hesitation, Julian led Ethan straight to the row behind Josephine and sat down. "Josephine!" Ethan couldn't hold back his excitement. "Julie, I brought you gifts! And I've got so many fun things with me. Julie, do you want to play together?" Julie's eyes lit up as she turned to her mother. "Mom, can I sit with Ethan?" Josephine pressed her lips together. Facing her daughter's eager gaze, she rose from her seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Julian's long legs shift back politely, allowing the boy to move out. That same glance also caught his face. She did not sit in Ethan's pl

Ethan had been raised with care and discipline from the time he was small. Both Michael and Rosalyn had instilled in him kindness and courtesy, and he had grown up under the Faulkner family's roof. Shane and Vera doted on him endlessly, pouring both love and thoughtful guidance into his upbringing. If someone helped you, you helped them in return—this was one of the earliest lessons he learned. Reciprocity. That was what they called it. "Ah, no…" Josephine pressed her lips together. She hadn't even spoken when Julian had already stepped to her side. Ethan stretched out a hand, beckoning Julie over. "I'll take one for you and Uncle later too," he announced earnestly. Fairness mattered. Everyone should have a picture together. Ethan felt like a genius for thinking of it. "Alright," Julie said with a bright smile. Josephine never imagined she'd end up in a photo with Julian. Julian stood with one hand casually slipped into his pocket, the other hanging loosely at his sid