Chapter 21
This time, I did not compromise.
Tm full, you guys enjoy your meal!” I ignored my mother and left the dining table. Her angry scolding followed me from behind.
I covered my ears with both hands, desperately telling myself not to listen, not to resent.
That day, I locked myself in my bedroom and didn’t come out again.
The next day was Saturday. Early in the morning, my parents took Skylar to a neighboring city for the weekend.
I took a taxi to the sanatorium.
Seeing Benedict, all my bad moods vanished. I held him in my arms, feeling him heavier, his chubby little face so adorable that I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“Thank you. Rose, for taking such good care of Benedict. I sincerely thanked Rose.
“Since I promised you, I had to do it wholeheartedly, she said gently with a smile. “Didn’t Aiden come with you?”
“Did Aiden say he would come?” I was stunned, then realized why she asked–she missed Aiden. I teased her smile. “If you like Aiden, why don’t you tell him?”
What?” Rose blushed instantly, stammering to explain.
Her reaction confirmed my guess.
Rose and Aiden were a perfect match, and I wanted to bring them together.
h a light
“There’s nothing shameful about liking someone,” I said bluntly. Besides, you have great taste; Aiden is a good man.”
Rose felt embarrassed but had to admit it after being seen through.
With a blushed face, she whispered, “Let it be. Maybe Aiden already has a girl he likes.”
“No way!” I stated firmly, telling her, “We grew up together; he’s been single forever, and you know it.”
From infancy to maturity, I never saw Aiden having a girlfriend,
He was a top student, obsessed with studies as a child, and later pursued medicine, oblivious to everything else.
Where would he find the time to like girls?
As I spoke, Rose covered her mouth and giggled. She seemed to relax a bit, her eyes filled with longing. “Do you know what kind of girl Aiden likes?”
I racked my brain but couldn’t answer immediately.
Though I considered myself close to Aiden, it seemed I didn’t know him that well.
Seeing this, Rose burst into laughter, teasing me, “Alright, I won make it hard for you. Since childhood, your attention has never left Quinn; asking you about Aiden is pointless.
I
1 froze, some flashbacks racing through my mind.
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Chapter 21
When I was thirteen, just entering junior high school, I accidentally bumped into an older boy in the cafeteria, spilling his food everywhere. I apologized and offered compensation, but he wouldn’t let it go and asked me to give him an extra 30
dollars.
We argued endlessly until more people gathered around, some taking my side.
The boy turned red–faced and finally stormed off angrily.
Thinking the matter was settled, I was shocked when he blocked me after school with a few thugs.
A fat man grabbed me, covering my mouth and dragging me to nearby warehouse.
Not knowing what they intended. I cried out in fear, begging them to let me go.
They smirked, whispering among themselves, seemingly excited by my cries.
This slut looks pretty, tear her clothes off and take photos to sell online,” one suggested lewdly.
Then, he pulled out a pair of scissors, grabbing my collar to start cutting my clothes.
Terrified. I had no idea how to save myself.
Suddenly, the warehouse door was kicked open with a bang, anda boy stood in the light, coldly telling the thugs. “Tve called the police; if you don’t want to die, get out now!”
The thugs looked at each other, unsure if Quinn was bluffing or not, but none dared risk it, and they quickly fled after hurling some empty threats.
“Can you stand up?” He walked a few steps toward me, frowning at my torn clothes.
“Yes, I replied shakily, standing up against the wall, my legs still trembling
He took off his school jacket and threw it to me, indifferently saying. “Tell your parents exactly what happened today and ler them report it to the police. Don’t be afraid or hide anything.”
With that, he left without looking back.
I hadn’t even had the chance to ask his name.
Fortunately, his school jacket was left to me and I saw the name on it.
The name “Quinn” was etched in my heart from that moment.
Later, my parents reported the incident to the police, and the thigs who hurt me were all arrested.
I returned the washed school jacket to Quinn.
Quinn, with a cold face and no emotion in his voice, said, ‘I never wear clothes worn by others; throw it away”
“Well…I really want to thank you for saving me that day. Can I treat you
for
a meal
Without besitation, he coldly refused, “No”
I didn’t expect hit to refuse so quickly, and all my prepared self introductions were stifled,
As the class bell rang, Quinn glanced at me nonchalantly and sat in a deep voice, “Don’t look for me unless it’s important.”
I was upset for a while, not understanding why Quinn was so cold to me. Was it because I was too ugly? Or too short?
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Chapter 21
Since then. I started to investigate Quinn’s personal information intentionally or unintentionally.
Even Rose could see that I had a crush on Quinn throughout my adolescence.
The old times were gone forever.
“Natalia, did I make you unhappy?” I remained silent for too long, making Rose nervous.
I came back to my senses, shook my head at her with a smile, and sighed, “No, just suddenly feeling nostalgic; we’ve all grown up in the blink of an eye”
Perhaps my initial liking for Quinn was a mistake.
Rose sighed, about to speak when suddenly there was a commotion outside.
An employee rushed in, reporting anxiously, “Dad news! Mrs. Pierce’s family is causing trouble!”
Hearing this. Rose became extremely worried and asked, “How many people came?”
“Seven or eight the employee replied.
I was confused and quickly asked Rose what was happening.
She explained succinctly, “Mrs. Pierce is a long–term resident here; she passed away peacefully in her sleep last Wednesday night at the age of ninety. But her family insists on conspiracy theories, claiming we didn’t take good care of her and demanding 300 thousand dollars in compensation.”
“They clearly want to extort; we can’t give the money to them. Let’s call the police!” I suggested after a brief thought.
Just as I was about to take out my phone, several burly men barged in, one of them cursing and knocking my phone away. “Who the fuck is in charge here?”
B
