my tummy, now only added fuel to something

be called with th

me for that long," he drawled out as I kept q

oseb

fifteen years old sister of your best friend there. Because she died t

!" My voice came ou

erves. I couldn't show him my anger. And though

't even

alled by that. I don't like when someon

ays be Rosebud for me." He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my earl

rt stu

he past echoe

like a Christmas tree. "Th

it up with amusement. "I'm s

t?" I p

he right time. You'

ght time?" I'd gazed up a

to a blooming ros

ain shot through my chest. My eyes stung w

loated across. My throat tighten

ke acid burning insi

en something like concern took over his features. Not wanting to stay there any lon

r. At my peripheral vision, I saw Tobias going

re are y

t there and didn't stop until I was

y, hung the half curved moon, surrounded by gazillions of twinkling

ed my face. And then I let some more to fall free.

e same pain it felt that night. As if

ears! And here I was, still mourning over the heartache I got as a punishment of m

I'd been trying to escape from him after that night. I'd avoided him like a plague. Even if it was impossible for some occasions to avoid him before I went to high school to a

eving in his words he said to a nine years ol

city. I thought, if I dated other men, I'd forget him. So I dated a lot

e words threw me back to where I'd be

pered, my voi

? After all these years,

lencian! Fuck you for

resence behind me. A glass of o

nt, Warner. I will b

r boyfriend. He is enjoying his drink

ad to him. He f

coal suit gleamed under the moonlight as he towered over me. Even after these

friend' with malice, didn't go unnotice

k a step back. His close

d between us, handing me the gla

e to see me al

well-being." I ran my free hand over my

houlders. I tried to go away from his overwhelming presence, but he held me

well-being, Emerald. I can't stop d

his intense grey. His ar

t I pulli

I care

ittle

rose up m

re for me?" I aske

me in. A shiver ran down my spine. Then he pulled away and p

evitable of its own." Tucking a strand behind my ear, he turned ar

e mean by

y, I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Once

staircase, talking to a bald middl

e, I stopped a p

to have?" He gestured to the

off the jacket, I handed it to him. "Would you plea

lor of his face drained. He fumbled in his place with the tray and jacke

and things related to him, t

d to give you some time alone. Did something happen?" Warner fired as s

appened, everything is fine. Don't w

anyway. That's what I liked about him, he ne

l the announcement and cake cutting. I agreed to stay until the announcement, only for Mom and

y if I wanted to ke

*

with much difficulty last night. The soft beams of morning glow fell int

my heart followed as the me

dge of my nose. Just a matter of a

mobile caught

one of t

bed my phone and saw

sebud! Hope you'd a

A

ed a beat. A?

rled around

es he w

y that I didn't want to do anything with him? Even

n decided instead. Deleting the message, I threw my

aised her brow, when Beth munched on th

e leather couches. Mom and Dad went shopping right after breakfast for Tess's upcoming engagement party. And Warner

u know? He is just being polite to me as

at?" Beth asked, her m

never around. And even he was, he never said a word to me, which I was grateful for. But now,

d to my blabbering w

e you're right. But then you said he remem

if it was just a coincidence that he said those same

e rea

stated, then her eyes lit up with realization. "Maybe he saw you la

ed my

e at one glance. Of all these years, did you see him with even a single gi

if he wasn't with Tess, then there

ught. I ignored the feeling. It wasn't p

Beth retorted. "Did you forget the amount

"We don't know everything. Maybe he changed his preference after

ursue some degree. And in those two yea

ou like Warner. Then why do you even care what

er very much!" I raised my chin in confidence. "And I don't care wh

not convinced at all. I shift

ituation. I literally sighed in relief a

, and a minute la

now for you to care about," she commented,

or?" Beth rais

ocked with min

the bouquet and took o

art with those beautiful f

A

art r

d who is 'A'?" ask

er, then you should understand seeing thes

Her voice teasing. "I didn't know people send their family friends good mo

. "And a fresh start. So you better be start caring, Emerald Hutton. Because I think Achilles V

t stopped i