All Chapters of The Shape of Absence: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I stood under the streetlight for a while and scratched my head.Then I remembered.I turned around, went back, and pushed the door open.I poked my head inside and held out my wrist, revealing the silver-gray tracker on it."I left in too much of a hurry and forgot this. Can you help me take it off?"Vanessa Hale raised an eyebrow and hesitated. "What is that?"I explained calmly, "A tracker. It is paired with the one on Adrian Blake's wrist."If you want me to stop showing up in front of him, help me unlock this bracelet first."He was the one who had insisted I wear this tracker. I had thought it was harmless. It was not as if I had ever planned to run somewhere he could not find me.But things were different now. He had forgotten me.Mr. and Mrs. Blake's expressions changed slightly. They exchanged a look.Vanessa clenched her fingertips, then looked at the assistant. "Did you know about this?"Adrian's assistant looked troubled and stammered."Mr. Blake ordered that t

Chapter 2

I pulled out my phone and tried to call them, but no matter what I did, the call would not go through.It seemed they really wanted nothing to do with me anymore.Still, they had given me so much money. I could raise the child alone.I soon settled down in a new city.My belly grew day by day. When it was time to give birth, I called an ambulance by myself.I raised my child well, but he looked too much like Adrian.His eyes, his nose bridge, even the curve of his lips when he pressed them together. It was like they had been cut from the same mold.His personality was similar too.When he fell, he did not cry. He climbed up by himself and patted his knees, looking solemn and precocious, exactly like that father of his.Soon it was open day at his preschool.Other children had their fathers and mothers sitting beside them. Only the seat next to me was empty.A little kid ran over and asked him, "Owen, why did your dad not come?"I opened my mouth, but my mind went blank for

Chapter 3

Her eyes fell on the child in my arms.She frowned, her tone turning uncertain. "Why does this child look so much like...""Impossible. The doctor said Adrian cannot have children at all."I looked sincere and was about to say, "That was a misdiagnosis."Then steady footsteps came from behind her.Adrian Blake stepped to Vanessa's side. "What is wrong?"The moment I looked up, I met Adrian's dark, deep eyes.For some reason, the back of my neck went cold.A vicious flicker passed through Vanessa's eyes.Before I could speak, she softened her voice and turned toward him. "Adrian, you forgot, but she is the one who used to bully me all the time."She even threatened me just now. She said she would not let me live peacefully."She shrank into Adrian's arms, her fingers tugging lightly at the hem of his jacket. "I am scared. Teach her a lesson for me. Have her sent out of the country, okay?"Adrian let go of Vanessa and lowered his eyes to look at her. His tone gave nothing awa

Chapter 4

They rushed in, flustered, calling for a doctor while a group of people gathered around Adrian and helped him up from the side of the bed.The doctor arrived quickly. After an examination, he looked up."This is good news. Mr. Blake's brain clot is clearing quickly. His memory should return soon."Mrs. Blake forced a slight smile.Mr. Blake frowned and said nothing. He sighed again and again, then finally waved his hand after a long while. "Take him away first and let him rest properly. Have the nurses take good care of him."After Adrian was helped out of the room and the door closed, three pairs of eyes turned toward me at the same time.Mr. Blake spoke, his tone tired. "Ms. Parker, we originally did not want to hurt you. But now there really is no other way.""Who told you to let Adrian find you again?"He picked up his phone and dialed a number.Less than twenty minutes later, orderly footsteps sounded outside.The door opened. Several uniformed officers stood at the entr

Chapter 5

Mr. Blake crouched down, wiped the tears from Owen's face, held him, comforted him for a few moments, and asked, "What is your name? How old are you?"Owen sobbed so hard he could barely breathe. His small hands clenched into fists as he choked out, "My name is Owen. I am three years old."Mrs. Blake stood beside them. Hearing that, her mouth opened slightly, and her voice trembled. "Three years ago..."She stopped. "Was that not the year Adrian's accident happened? The same year Lily left?"Mr. and Mrs. Blake looked at each other.Then, almost at the same time, they rushed over and hurriedly freed me from the restraints.Mrs. Blake grabbed my shoulders, her eyes red, and asked again and again, "Whose child is he? Is he Adrian's? How can he look so much like him? Tell me!"Before I could answer, stumbling footsteps came from the doorway.Adrian slammed through the half-open door. The IV needle was still half attached to the back of his hand, and several buttons of his white hos

Chapter 6

Mrs. Blake's eyes were red. For the first time in front of me, she showed the posture of someone begging.She took my hand, her voice trembling. "Child, I am sorry. Help me with one thing. Stay with Adrian and cooperate while he finishes treatment, all right? I am begging you."I was silent for a while, then nodded, my throat tight. "All right."I took Adrian's hand and followed the doctor.The wound in his palm was simply bandaged. A faint red stain quickly seeped through the white gauze, but he looked as if he did not care.Owen was obediently held in his one arm. He did not make trouble, just leaned against his shoulder and curiously studied the side of this unfamiliar man's face.After we entered the exam room, Adrian had just sat down when Owen turned toward him.He reached out with his soft little hands, cupped Adrian's face, and looked left and right. Then he compared their faces back and forth in the big mirror on the exam room wall for quite a while.He tilted his head

Chapter 7

Vanessa knelt on the floor, her eyes red."The child and I have been diligent in this house all these years, helping him manage the household and the company..."She paused. "Although I never legally married him and never properly entered this family, I have never treated myself as an outsider."She lowered her head and looked at the bewildered little boy in her arms."Even if I am only a nanny in this house, it does not matter. This child may not be related to us by blood, but I have long treated him as my and Adrian's child."The little boy beside her comforted her, placing his hand on hers and softly calling her "Mom."Mr. Blake turned his head away slightly.Mrs. Blake walked over a few steps, bent down, and helped Vanessa up. "Silly child, get up first."Mrs. Blake kept holding her hand. "In my heart, you have long been no different from a daughter. No matter what happens in the future, there will always be a place for you in this family. Stay here. Do not go anywhere."V

Chapter 8

Days passed quickly.After we moved out of the Blake estate, Adrian personally picked Owen up from school and dropped him off every day.At first, the child was still a little reserved. Once he got in the car, he would call him "sir" and say nothing else.Adrian was not in a hurry. He slowly built Lego with him, read picture books with him, and taught him how to mold clay on the balcony.Until one night, Adrian was reading a picture book with Owen. Owen's eyelids were so heavy they were almost closed, and in a sleepy daze he mumbled, "Good night, Dad."Adrian froze beside the bed. He crouched by the headboard for a long time before gently answering, "Good night, Owie."Soon, it was the day of our wedding.When I walked down the aisle in a white gown, he stood at the end and watched me. His eyes turned red in less than a second.When I came close, I could not help laughing and asked him why he was crying. He gripped my hand hard before speaking."I finally found you again."He

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