Chapter 10
Eleanor’s voice was trembling. “It’s okay.” I reassured her quickly. “It’s no trouble. It was bound to happen eventually. It’s not like we could avoid them forever.“[]
I was truly prepared to face them and clear the air, but I never expected them to arrive so quickly.[]
That evening, as I stepped out of the studio, I saw two figures leaning against a tree, smoking in the twilight.[]
One was gaunt, the other deathly pale.[]
Slumped there in the shadows, they looked like a pair of vengeful ghosts.[]
Especially Gideon. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up like a starving dog spotting a bone, and he lunged toward me.[]
Startled. I immediately took two steps back, staring at him as if he were a madman.[]
Realizing his mistake, he froze, not daring to move closer.[]
“Don’t be scared, please don’t be scared! I’m sorry, that was reckless of me. I just missed you so much, Aura.“]
Goosebumps erupted on my skin. “Don’t call me that, Mr. Bernard. Aurora will do.“[]
The formal address made his face turn two shades paler.[
His lips moved, but for a long moment, no sound came out.
Felix, standing behind him, grew impatient and gave him a shove.[]
“Aurora, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I know it’s too late for apologies, I know that! But please, just give us another chance. Come back with us. Let us make it up to you, okay?”
I watched him nervously wringing his hands and could only find the whole situation absurd.]
Go back? Make it up to me?[]
In over twenty years, I’d never heard such a ridiculous joke.[]
I couldn’t help it, I laughed out loud.[]
expression
They both flinched, their expressions growing even more tense.
“What kind of joke is that, Mr. Durand? Whose brother are you? I don’t have a brother, so please don’t mistake me for your sister.”
:“0
He didn’t argue. He just stood there, two steps away, looking dazed, his eyes cast down as the dim yellow streetlight stretched his shadow into a distorted shape.[]
I was still a bit taken aback. He was so much thinner, his cheeks were actually sunken.[]
He kept his head lowered and spoke as softly as he could.[]
“Aurora, I know you’re angry. I’m sorry. I never, ever should have lost my temper and thrown that wine on you.“[]
“I shouldn’t have bullied you, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’ve been looking for you, but I also had a new wedding dress custom–made for you. Please, just forgive me and come home, okay?“]
His words sounded sincere enough, but strangely, they didn’t stir a single ripple of emotion in me.
What he owed me, the ways he had wronged me, was it really just about that one glass of wine?[]
I looked at his face and realized, with a jolt, that it was completely unfamiliar.]
- ne.
In my memory, the grown up Felix always had a furrowed brow when he looked at me, his eyes filled with suspicion and disappointment.[]
When had he ever worn such a peaceful, gentle expression?]
It was as if we were kids again.[]
I gave a self–deprecating laugh. “This has to be a dream. Either you’re dreaming, or I am.“[]
“Felix, don’t look at me like that. I almost don’t recognize you.“[]
