I could not fall asleep easily as I age. The beautiful midsummer night sky was full of stars.
The crescendo of high-pitched buzzing produced by cicadas was the characteristic sound of late summer. It made the night less lonely.
At midnight, there was a loud knock at the door. I got up to answer it. It was Anthony.
Under the dim street lamp, the man’s eyes looked even deeper. His slender body stood like a statue at the entrance.
Before I could react, he held me in his arms quietly. A faint smell of alcohol lingered around us.
I assisted him into the yard. “You drank?”
Hugging me, he remained silent as if he had fallen asleep.
It was quite chilly outside so I took him back to the bedroom.
The moment we stepped in, he pinned me against the wall and cupped my face.
I tried to push him away to no avail. “Anthony, let go of me!”
He refused. A rarely seen sorrowful expression appeared on his handsome face. “It’s been four years. I thought I could walk out of it, but it only gets rooted deeper over time. In times like these, I could only numb myself with alcohol.”
His words were confusing. One could not help but notice the pain in his voice.
“You’ll feel better after a good night’s rest.” I placed him on the bed. Some people acted like a child they were drunk.
He was reluctant to lie down on the bed. Instead, he ran his hands around my waist and lay his head on my lap. Moments later, I could hear his breathing sound.
I sighed and asked calmly, “Are you really drunk?”
Saying nothing, he continued embracing me.
I should know better. If he was truly wasted, he wouldn’t be able to get here.
I propped him up and put him on the bed before leaving the bedroom to pour him a glass of water.
When I returned, the good-looking man was still on the bed with his eyes shut.
“I have a child at home. Should you come again next time, do so during the day. Summer is a light sleeper; any slight motion or noise will wake her up easily.”
He opened his bleary eyes slowly and fixated his gaze on me. Elegantly, he asked, “Are you mad?”
I shook my head without much emotion. “Not really. Drink some water and rest well.”
I can’t bring myself to be a stranger, albeit not having anymore feelings toward him. After all, we were once lovers.
I walked out of the room and went to bed in another one.
As the gentle morning sun gained ascendancy, its soft rays enveloped the entire R Province and flooded in between the dense fog engulfing the city.
If one climbed up the mountain at dawn, one could catch a glimpse of a mesmerizing view straight out of dreamland.
I woke up early because Summer had to attend school. Standing before the bathroom mirror, I observed the reflection of my barefaced. Since when did the grievances on my face disappear?
Maybe it was when I left everything behind, and came to R Province. Indeed, this is my healing place.
Anthony had already woken up. He seemed to be in deep thoughts standing under the almond tree.
I took a peek, but did not disturb him.
He turned back and called out to me, “You’re up.”
I nodded. “What would you like to have?”
“Anything.”
Without saying much, I felt like I was becoming more and more even-tempered as the days went by.
Summer was surprised to see Anthony. She asked innocently, “Mr. Featherstone, why are you here at my house?”
Kids would always say the darnest thing.
Anthony curled his lips. “I don’t have a home to go to.”
His unintentional reply was rather intriguing as if he wanted me to read between the lines. Lowering my eyes, I did not take it seriously. As years go by, my heart is like a bleak pool of dead water where no breeze can raise a ripple.
On the other hand, Summer was very chatty and continuously asked Anthony many weird questions.
He answered all of them patiently.
Then he looked at me and uttered, “The matters at the hotel are almost done. I’ll be going back to K City for a few days.”
I nodded and did not continue the conversation.
He stared at me deeply and said, “Take care.”
Joseph drove him off. When he left, he said nothing else besides reminding me to take care of myself.
I sent him off with a calm heart. Just like that, he came and gone.
The presence of Louis was a like breath of fresh air to the province. Finally, Stanley was removed from his position.
People at the hotel more or less knew about my relationship with Joyce.
When I was in the bathroom, Jackson sent me a text message, saying that he had returned to J City and would visit in the next few days.
I gave him a short reply.
When I was about to get out of the cubicle, I heard someone gossiping.
“Have you heard? Joyce’s father got into trouble. Not only was he sacked, he’s also been arrested. Rumor has it that the procuratorate has seized an exorbitant amount of money from his house.”
“I’m sure they did. He’s been involved in acts of corruption for years and eventually receiving the punishment that he deserves. Remember how disdainful was Joyce? Look at her now! How shameful.”
“I heard that this has got something to do with Sienna? How did the old witch in her thirties do it?”
“She’s probably a sugar baby!”
“I doubt it. I heard that she’s the daughter of Louis Stanhope. That’s why…”
I decided to get out of the cubicle. They were startled when I opened the door and immediately, the tittle-tattles stopped.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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