Chapter 8
That Saturday, Cindy went to a class reunion. She wanted to see everyone one last time to close the chapter on her younger years. She hadn’t expected Arthur ta
show up
He was never one for social gatherings. Back in the day, it had always been Cindy and Winter dragging him along. But today, not only had he come, but he had even brought Annette along.
The group dranking, and chatted. It wasn’t long before everyone was insisting on playing games.
“Come on! Spin the wheel Whoever it lands on has to do the trilhor date writtemon lif
Arthur had stepped out to take a work call, leaving him absent for the moment, while Cindy–who was never much of a game person–had been coped into playing against her wiİL
The wheel spin and, in the first round, landed on Cindy. The dare written on it was to kiss the next person who walked through the door for ten minutes. She clutched the slip of paper, remaining silent.
Armetle shot her a smug grin. “Cindy, I know you’re all pure and virtuous. If you can’t handle it, why don’t you drop to your knees and shine my shoes instead? That’ll get you out of it.”
Cindy’s hands curled into tists as she met Armette’s taunting gaze. She was already dying. What difference would it make it she kissed anyone?
“T’ll take the dare,” she said calmly.
Annette wasn’t surprised: 11 anything, her smile deepened, and a sharp, calculating glint flickered in her eyes
|Meanwhile, Arthur had just finished his phone call in the hallway. As he tumed, he caught sight of a scruffy vagrant approaching, looking downright eager. The man was on the phone, bragging to a friend. “I just landed a sweet pie Somebody wants to set up this gorgeous lady, and they hired me just to kiss her.” After hanging up, he strode toward the door of the private room. With a sleazy grin, he wiped his mouth and reached for the handle. But just as he was about to
o step inside, a firm grip closed around his arm
Arthur’s expression was ice–cold as he spoke, brushing past the man and stepping into the room first. The second everyone realized it was him, silence took Annette’s face went pale as she struggled to grasp how things had come to this. Cindy, too, fixed Arthur with a look of shock. Arthur, however, seemed oblivious to what was going on.
Why is everyone loniding at me like that?” he asked coolly.
Someone spoke up hesitantly. “Cindy drew a dare. She has to diss the first person who walks through the door for ten minutes.”
Arthurlowered himself into a seat, his disinterest obvious “That’s absurd.”
Annette jumped in quickly. “Yeah, yeah, let’s just skip this round.”
Everyone knew Arthur was engaged, so the game moved on without another word
After the gathering ended, Annette scolded the vagrant in a secluded spot. “Didn’t I tell you to come Inside right away?”
Louldng genuinely innocent, the vagrant protested, “I swear, it wasn’t my fault… That guy yanked me away. Leven suspect he did it on purpose.”
Annette’s expression darkened at the thought of Arthur still looking out for Cindy. She and Arthur had been engaged for two years now, yet he hadn’t once brought up setting a wedding date
The more she dwelt on it, the more if infuriated her. After sending the vagrant on his way, she made a phone call.
The bext day, Monica and Stephen called Arthur home.
“What’s this about? Arthur asked
ia funt of displeasure, Monica asked.
“When are you planning to many Annettelyo
many Annette? You’ve been engaged forever, and she’s been complaining. The Sommers are
for you two to set a date sous ”
Arthur’s face stayed inkpassive. “The company’s swamped at the inoment.”
“That’s just adicarar!” Mujica shot bar “Do you take me for a foul? You’re dragging this out with Anette because you can’t let go of Cindy!”
Aisa froze withals coffee cup hallway to his lips, his expression icing over. Monica saw the shift and knew she’d hit the nail on the head. Her irritation flared. “You and Cindy air never going to happen!”
wirlcllur, she took Anthur’s hand and led lum over to Winter’s mental photo
“Are you really planning to bring the prison responsible for Winter’s death into our home? I know Cindy didn’t kill her with her own hands, but she’s still at fault for what happened! Winter died protecting lier, if Cindy hadn’t way, Wintermight not have died such a tragic death.
“There could have bernare, however small but giveeverything, our family will never be able to move on from this. No matter wist, Cindy will never sei foot in this lapase – fizet tundess Fundead, too!”
mira’s voice broke as die shouted through her tears. By the end, she was clutching i Winter’s memorial photo, her sobs overtaking her until she couldn’t say
Arthur stared at the photographed where’s delicate, youthful face, fatal Mondra, who was crying her heart out. A combing weight settled on his chest, malding it
voice was thick with emotion as he finally forced the tube’d cared for so long. “Tut going to many Cindy,”
But that wasn’t enough for Monica.
“Then promise me — right here, in front of W
of Winter–that you’ll marry Annette,” she said
fell silent the second passed Then two. Then three
at last, he spoke, his words slow and deliberate. “I’ll marry Annette.”
