Chapter 11
Chloe thought Robert had been acting strangely recently.
Ever since they’d started dating, arguments or disagreements had been nonexistent between them–no matter how excessive her demands were, Robert would do his best to fulfill themn. Everyone in Bakersville knew how deeply he adored her.
But lately, Chloe had felt something was off, particularly when Enola was around. A subtle discomfort grew within her, but she didn’t dare ask him directly about it.
Before Chloe could question him, Robert had already stepped away to make a phone call. She strained her ears, barely able to catch fragments of his conversation – he seemed to be asking someone urgently to track down Enola’s whereabouts.
A wave of unease and anxiety surged within Chloe. She sensed that things were slipping out of her control, but there was no one she could turn to for help.
Robert himself was equally agitated, plagued by the unsettling sense that something important was indeed slipping away from him. As he waited impatiently for his assistant Gael Hudson’s response, he paced back and forth through the living room, repeatedly urging for an update.
Thankfully, Enola hadn’t made any effort to hide her destination. Soon enough, Gael replied with the information Robert wanted–Enola had taken a flight bound directly for
Melcian.
But this answer only confused him further. Why was she leaving for Melcian again?
Four years ago, when he’d sent her abroad, she’d begged and pleaded, crying hysterically not to be sent away. Now that her studies were complete and the ban on her returning home was lifted, why had she chosen to go back?
His confusion was soon answered by a document Gael sent next—a detailed file, complete with photos. Enola really was getting married tomorrow.
The invitations had been widely distributed, and someone had even traveled more than ten hours in advance to the address listed, only to find the wedding venue completely ready. They were only missing the bride. At the end of the information, there were even photos taken from the actual site.
In the luxurious hotel, beautiful pink hibiscus roses created a breathtakingly romantic atmosphere. At the entrance stood a large sign displaying the wedding portrait of the bride and groom.
Robert would recognize that radiant, smiling face anywhere even if she turned to ashes–it was undeniably Enola!
Shock, fury, confusion, and disbelief surged through him all at once. He stared blankly, reviewing the photos repeatedly, desperately trying to find evidence that they were fabricated. He wanted to convince himself he was mistaken and that his eyes had deceived him.
But there was no mistake. He wasn’t mistaken, and there was no trace that the wedding was fake. Enola really was about to marry another man. All those mentions of her marriage during the past month were real
Suddenly, Enola’s words echoed painfully in his ears again. “I’m clearing away our memories and marrying someone else. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted, Robbie?”
Yes, wasn’t this precisely what he’d wanted? She was marrying someone other than him, and he himself was marrying someone else. It was perfectly logical and entirely expected. So, why was this so difficult for him to accept?
After a long moment of turmoil, Robert finally made up his mind.
“Book me a ticket to Melcian as soon as possible. The sooner, the better.”
Enola finally arrived in Melcian 12 hours later. Parker met her at the airport, noticing immediately that she had returned alone.
Glancing behind her, he felt a pang of disappointment despite understanding the situation. “So, Robert didn’t agree to come?”
She nodded, softly explaining, “I told him, but Robbie didn’t believe me.”
Parker sighed lightly but quickly reassured her, “It’s okay. I talked to Professor Marin earlier, and she was happy to officiate our wedding. Don’t worry too much about it. Oh, I’ve also chosen our new house. Would you like to go see it now?”
Enola nodded again, allowing Parker to take her suitcase.
Soon, they arrived at a villa decorated exactly according to her tastes–simple, yet warm and inviting. With the wedding only a day away, the house already reflected the joyful atmosphere of their upcoming celebration.
“If there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know, and I’ll have it changed,” Parker offered thoughtfully.
Enola shook her head, smiling brightly as she replied, “No. I love everything about it.”
Exhausted from a long day of traveling and with the wedding the very next day, Enola didn’t even change her shoes when she arrived home. Instead, she lay directly on the couch and immediately fell asleep
Parker shook his head helplessly, smiling as he gently carried Enola to the bedroom. While carefully removing her shoes, he noticed the dried and bloodied blisters on her teet, and his heart immediately ached for her again.
As he watched Enola sleep peacefully, his feelings grew complicated. For a moment, he questioned whether his decision to let her return home alone had been the right one
He knew trola’s relationship with Robert was complicated.
It couldn’t be said there was no affection between them. After all, Robert had raised her from the age of eight to 18 without any blood relation, devoting himselt completely to het for ten years. It was fair to say he had once spoiled her immensely.
Yet, despite that deep affection, Robert became distant and indifferent toward Enola after she turned 18 years old. Parker vividly remembered the gun violence four years ago. Had he not accidentally met and rescued her, Enola might have lost her life back then
Parker didn’t know exactly what misunderstandings lay between them. However, he felt certain that if Robert had cared even a little, he wouldn’t have sent Enola abroad alone at a young age and ignored her completely for four entire years.
And now, after just one month back home, she’d returned wounded yet again.
But none of that mattered anymore. Enola had huru now, and Parker was determined to fill the emptiness Robert had left behind
