บททั้งหมดของ Nothing Left of Ten Years: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

I'd imagined countless ways things could end between Caitlyn Harp and me, but never this one.So when she knelt at my feet in her wedding gown after finishing the ceremony with Scott Burdett, a suggestive hickey still visible on her collarbone, begging my forgiveness, I suddenly remembered that year.The year she'd knelt on one knee to confess her feelings, stubbornly refusing to get up until I said yes.For ten years, I spent three thousand six hundred and fifty days helping her find her way out of her autism. In the end, this was how she kicked me out of the game.The door swung open. Scott walked in and knelt beside her.He didn't say a word, but I understood the hint of triumph in his eyes."When did it start?" My voice was as light as if we were making small talk."Scott's fiancée ran out on the wedding. I was only standing in so he could get through the ceremony. The invitations had all gone out, and his parents had gone through so much trouble to come to Baird City. They

As soon as I finished, I turned to leave. But Caitlyn's next words stopped me in my tracks. "Think about those photos. Do you want them to see the light of day?"I froze for a moment before turning back. Looking at Caitlyn's cold face, I suddenly remembered her at nineteen, holding my bruised, battered body and crying so hard she shook all over.Back then, her autism was severe. I chased after her three times a day, trying to get her to eat and take her medicine. Fed up, she hid from me.I followed her to a street corner and was dragged into an alley. They clamped their hands over my mouth and nose and molested me. I couldn't see any light, and I couldn't even count how many of them there were.When she found me, she completely lost it. She kept saying sorry over and over, insisting she would take care of everything.Later, she clasped my hand, looked me in the eyes, and swore that those men had been dealt with and the photos had all been destroyed. From then on, her whole life

My head snapped up. It was Grandma Agnes, whom I hadn't seen in years.A few years back, overjoyed that Caitlyn's autism was improving, she'd entrusted her granddaughter to me and gone abroad with her people. She'd been expanding the business overseas while taking the chance to relax.I never expected her to show up at a time like this."Grandma Agnes, please, check on my dad..." The moment I opened my mouth, my voice came out hoarse and choked with sobs.Seeing my face red and swollen and how wrecked I looked, Grandma Agnes didn't waste words. She ordered the doctors traveling with her to carry my father into the operating room, while holding up my trembling body herself.Without looking back, she instructed, "Don't worry! My medical team is made up of top specialists from abroad. Keene will be fine. Just sit tight and wait for good news."Seeing her, my mother seemed to have found her rock again. She wiped her tears, nodding, and hurried after them.One reporter still refuse

Grandma Agnes sighed heavily, then shook her head. "Just watch. I don't think that Scott is going to let this go."I clenched my fists, my voice full of ice. "If he dares to try anything, this time, I'll make sure he's disgraced for good!"The words had barely left my mouth when the operating room doors swung open.The attending surgeon walked out and wearily pulled off his mask. My mother and I rushed over. "Doctor, how's Keene?"The doctor smiled in relief, "Don't worry. Mrs. Harp brought her team in just in time. They gave Mr. McWherther a dose of special medication, and we were able to save him. Now he just needs proper rest and care. There shouldn't be any major problems going forward."I let out a breath and thanked the doctor.Only then did my mother turn to me, her eyes swirling with complicated emotions. She mumbled an apology under her breath, "Charles, I hurt you when I hit you, didn't I?"I'm sorry. I was just so panicked about your father..."She stroked my head, h

Caitlyn finally couldn't sit still any longer.The day after she was kicked out of Baird General Hospital, she knocked on my front door. "Charles, is what they're saying online true?"Did you really become my grandmother's honorary grandson? How could you be so foolish? What's going to happen to us?"Do you really not want me anymore?"Even now, she still looked at me with those clear eyes, just like she had during all the countless fights we'd had before. Waiting for me to cave. Waiting for me to apologize first.But this time, I ignored her.Caitlyn panicked. She grabbed me and looked at me with apologetic eyes, softening her voice to coax me. "Charles, say something. I wanted to apologize a while ago, but I couldn't find you."I took down all those posts. No one will dare bully you from now on. That whole thing with Scott was my fault. I shouldn't have fallen for his sweet talk."I just felt like he was the same as me, an orphan with no parents. I felt sorry for him, so.