Chapter13


    Yvonnesmiledandsaid,“Sophia,you’rehere.Notrafficontheway?”


    Sophia,wearingawhitedresswithher<b>long</b>,straightckhaircascadingoverhershoulders,respondedsweetly,“Madam.Yvonne,therewasnotraffic. Lucasisagreatdriver.Wegotheresmoothly.”


    Frederickadded,“Nowthatyou’rehere,let’sgowashour handsbeforeweeat.”


    Histonewaswarm,astarkcontrasttohiscolddemeanortowardsAveline.


    Eventheservants‘facesbrightenedwithsmiles.“MissWinter,knowingyouwering,thechefpreparedmanyofyourfavoritedishes.”


    ThepreviouslytenseatmospherewaslightenedupwithSophia’sarrival.


    Avelinestoodaside,dazedasshewatchedthesceneunfold.


    TheTudorfamilydidn’tlikeher.TheyallpreferredSophia.


    ShesuddenlyunderstoodwhyLucashadagreedtobringhertotheTudorfamily.Hewasindirectlytellingherthatthefamilydidn’tlikeorweeher.


    Itwasacruelwaytocrushherhopes.


    Theironicpartwasthatshehaddressedupcarefully,hopingtheTudorfamilywouldeptandlikeher.


    Avelineclenchedherhands,hernailsdiggingintoherpalms,asharppainremindinghertostayrational.


    ??


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    Lucas’sdarkgazefellonherpaleface,ahintofirritation


    shingwithinhim,buthesimplysaid,“Gowashyourhands.beforeeating.”


    Howcouldsheeatnow?


    “I…”


    “AreyouAvelineYoung?”Sophiasuddenlylookedatherandwalkedover,smiling.“I’veheardaboutyou.I’vealwayswantedtothankyoufortakingcareofLucasforayear.‘


    Sheseemedgenuinelygrateful,hereyesclearandsincere.


    Atthatmoment,Avelinefeltadeepsenseofshame,asifshewereanintruderwhostubbornlyrefusedtoleave.


    “Noneedtothankme,”shesaiddryly.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Thetwowomenenteredtherestroomandstoodbythesinktowashtheirhands.


    AsAveline’sgazedropped,shesuddenlynoticedSophia’slegbeneathherskirt.Hereyeswidenedinshock.


    OneofSophia’slegswasaprosthetic!


    SophiaseemedtonoticeAveline’sgazeandsmiledslightly.“DidIscareyou?IlostmylegtwoyearsagowhilesavingLucas.Thankfully,aftermorethantwoyearsofrehabilitationandadaptation,Icanwalkonmyownnow.”


    Avelinequicklylookedaway.“I’msorry,Ididn’tmeantostare.”


    Sophia driedherhandsandlookedather.“Iunderstand.I’musedtothoselooksoverthepasttwoyears.ButwhenwillyouandLucasdivorce?Iappreciatethatyoutookcareofhimthispastyear,butLucasandIhavealwaysbeeninlove.Canyougive


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    himbacktome?”


    Aveline’sbreathcaught,herthroattoodrytospeak.


    So,thiswaswhatLucasmeantbytakingresponsibilityforher?


    Theyhadoncebeeninlove.


    So,whataboutherandLucas?


    Whatdidtheiryeartogethermean?


    ComparedtoSophia’slostleg,thatyeartogetherwithhimseemedinsignificant.


    Otherwise,howcouldLucasgiveitupsoeasily?


    Avelineclosedhereyesforamoment.“I’llthinkaboutit.”


    Sophiasmiled.“Pleasedoitquickly.Idon’twantLucastobeseenasungrateful.”


    Withthat,shelefttherestroomfirst.


    Avelinestoodthere,feelingdazed


    So,takinginanamnesiac,muteman,caringforhimforsolong,andthenbeingabandonedonceheregainedhismemory-


    wasn’thebeingungratefultoher?


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