Chapter 51: Being Seen is a Kind of Luck
Wyatt helped Chloe bring her books back home, and then pulled a small tube of ointment from his bag- something he had picked up earlier.
“Apply some of this, and it’ll heal faster.”
He didn’t specify what the ointment was for, but Chloe could guess. She smiled a bit, surprised at how thoughtful Wyatt was, though she also felt slightly embarrassed by his gesture.
After returning home, Chloe took a moment to gather herself before unpacking the bag of books. One by one, she organized them until she was drenched in sweat.
After a quick shower, she picked up the tube of ointment and applied it carefully. Despite it being early in the evening, she was too exhausted to study. Her plans had been derailed by the day’s events, and now she just wanted to sleep.
However, in the middle of the night, she was startled awake by a nightmare. In her dream, Julian was like a terrifying demon, relentlessly chasing her. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t escape, as though her fate had been sealed.
Chloe awoke in a panic, sitting up in bed, gasping for air. The room was dark, and the quiet only
intensified her fear. She couldn’t shake the haunting images from her dream, and she was too afraid to go back to sleep, worried she might fall back into the nightmare.
Feeling cold and anxious, Chloe picked up her phone to call Mia, but no one answered -Mia must have already gone to bed. Left alone with her thoughts, Chloe considered distracting herself by reading a book. Then she noticed a light still on in the neighboring apartment–Wyatt was likely still awake.
After hesitating for a while, Chloe decided to send him a message:
***Are you still awake?“**
Wyatt replied quickly:
***Just wrapping up some things.”
Chloe wasn’t surprised. As a professor, Wyatt was often busy, and it wasn’t unusual for him to be working late at night, likely on some research. She didn’t want to bother him further and was about to put her phone down when another message popped up:
***Have you looked outside at the stars?***
Curious, Chloe glanced up toward her window. Outside, without the interference of streetlights, the night sky was clear, and the stars were shining brightly.
Her phone chimed again–it was another message from Wyatt:
***The stars we see now are really the stars of the past, their light traveling across many years to reach us. Some of those stars might already be gone, but we’re seeing them as they were. In a way, being seen, even after all that time, is a kind of luck. Maybe, somewhere beyond our sight, these stars are merging, splitting apart, or going through their own changes. But no matter what, they brighten our night sky, keeping us company like old friends. Doesn’t that thought make you feel a little better?***
Chloe couldn’t help but smile. Wyatt didn’t seem like the kind of person who used texting much, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent such a long message. But the way he tried to comfort her in such a unique way had actually worked.
As she gazed at the stars, they did seem like comforting friends. The unease she had felt moments ago
Chapter 51 Being Seen is a Kind of Luck
gradually faded, replaced by a quiet sense of peace.
After a few minutes, Chloe replied:
**“Thank you. Reading your messages has really helped me feel better.“**
2/2
Wyatt, who had been busy writing a report, smiled when he saw her response. He didn’t feel the need to reply right away, but then another message came through from Chloe:
**“It’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one watching the stars tonight. Thank you for keeping me company. Goodnight.”
“**
Meanwhile, the lights in Julian’s villa were still on. He sat in the study, staring at the now–empty bookshelf, feeling a deep sense of frustration. The thought of Chloe leaving with Wyatt earlier in the day filled him with such anger that he threw the cup he had been holding.
At that moment, his phone buzzed–it was a message from Layla:
**“Darling, I haven’t seen you in days. I miss you so much. Have you missed me?“**
**“I found a fun place we should check out together soon. Let’s go when you’re free, okay?“**
Scrolling through her messages, Julian saw the most recent one asking if she could come over. It was late, and he was on the verge of ignoring it. But then Chloe’s words came back to him: she had said there was nothing left between them. If that was true, then what was he holding on to?
After all, Layla was his girlfriend, and wasn’t it normal for them to be together?
With that thought, Julian sent Layla a message, inviting her over to the villa.
When Layla received the message, her heart raced with excitement. She had been nervous, unsure if Julian would want to see her, but now she knew this was her chance. She quickly dressed and prepared to head out.
As she left her dorm, she ran into her roommate, who was getting a drink of water. They exchanged a brief nod before Layla hurried away.
Watching her leave, the roommate understood what was going on–Layla was clearly on her way to see her wealthy boyfriend. The differences between people, she thought, were truly striking.
On the way to the villa, Layla was both nervous and hopeful. She knew that if she and Julian slept together, it would solidify their relationship, making it official in every way. She arrived at the villa and was about to knock when the door opened. Before she could react, Julian pulled her inside, pinning her against the wall as he kissed her passionately.
His kisses were urgent, and though Layla hesitated for a moment, she soon returned the kiss with the
same eagerness.
As they kissed and moved toward the sofa, Julian’s hands roamed over her body. Just as his fingers slid under her shirt and reached her bra, he suddenly froze and pulled away.
Chapter 52 A Complicated Matter
