Chapter103


    Aveline’sbreathingwasstibitfast,hereyesalluringlytingedwithredatthecorners,buthergazeremainedcoldandemotionless,


    Lucasdidn’twanttoseehersposed.


    Yet,itseemedhecould donothingaboutit.


    Thebedwasstillindisarray,andtheatmospherebetweenthemwastenseandoppressive,withanunspokenandindescribablefeelinghangingintheair.


    Afteralongwhile,Lucasgotupandwentstraighttothebathroom.


    Avelineclosedhereyes,herbreathingnowcalm..


    Bythetimeshefinishedtidyingup,itwastotetomakebreakfast.Sheleftwithoutlookingback,intendingtobuyasandwichatthebreakfastshop.


    Lucascamedownstairs,andthecarwasalreadywaiting,butAvelinehadwalkedtotheentranceofthplex.


    Brian,whowasdriving,hadaseriousexpression.“Mr.Tudor,Miss.Youngjustwalkedpast.”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Lucasreplied,“Sowhat?”


    Brianasked,“Shouldwegiveheraride?”


    Lucas,sittinginthebackseat,closedhiseyes.“Whatdoyouthink?”


    Briankeptquiet.


    Whymakehimguess?Hehadnoidea!


    Briankep


    stoppingbo


    straightfaceashedrovetothplexentrance,


    Aveline.“MissYoung,doyouneedalift?”


    Avelinesaid,“No,thankyou.”


    Brianreplied,“Okay,”


    He rolledupthewindowanddroveoff.


    Inthebackseat,Lucasopenedhiseyes,hisgazeicyashelookedBrian.


    Brianfeltachilldownhisspine,confused.“Mr.Tudor,what’swrong<b>?</b>”


    Lucasstaredathimforamomentlongerbeforeclosinghiseyesagain.


    —


    Atthpany,Avelhrewherselpletelyintoherwork.


    Atnoon,shewentouttobuyaspeciaundrydetergentforRussell’sclothes,nningtowashthemthoroughlywhenshego


    home.


    Unexpectedly,AvelinesawSophiaandanothergirlshoppingatthe


    mall.


    ThegirlboughtaneforSophiaandsaidwithasmile,”Sophia,thisnelooksgreatonyou.Consideritabirthdaygift.Sophiasmiledgently.“Thankyou,loveit.”


    Thegirlsaid,“Your birthdayiingupinafewdays.IwonderwhatMr.Tudorwillgetyouthistime.Sincehereturned,he<b>has</b>reallyimprovedtheCloudreCitybranch,He’llprobablybebackat


    terssoon.Sophia,I’llneedyourhelpthem


    thehead


    Sophiablushed.“Don’tsaythat.LugasandIarejustfriends.”


    “Don’thideit.Mr.Tudorholdsyoudear.Justwandseewhathegetsyouforyourbirthdaythistime.Istillrememberthegemstonenehegaveyoutwoyearsago,worthoversixhundredthousanddors.Thatshowshereallyvaluesyou.”


    Theywalkedaway,chattinganughing.


    Aveline,holdinghershoppingbags,feltabitdazed.


    Twoyearsago.


    LucasandSophiawereaperfectmatch.


    Shewasjustanintruderintheirworld.


    Nowshewantedtoleavebutfoundherselftrapped.


    Sheloweredhereyes,pushingthethoughtsaway,andleftthemall.


    Thatevening.


    AssoonasAvelinesteppedinside,sheheardaknockatthedoor.


    Lookingthroughthepeephole,shesawitwasLancas.Herfacedarkened,andshedecidednottoopenthedoor.


    Thatso–calledcloseprotectionshesawitasulteriormotives!


    Shetooktheclothesandwenttothebathroom,ignoringthenoiseatthedoor.


    Butsoon,shewasdrawnoutbymotion.Shesawherdoorbeingopened,andLucaswalkedin,followedbytheapartmenplex’sstaff,whowerebowingandtteringhim.


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