Page 8
Story: Reborn To Let Go
He smiled gently at me, but I avoided his gaze and kept working; when my shift ended, he was still sitting there, with several untouched dishes in front of him.
“Let’s eat together.” He motioned to the seat across from him.
“There’s no need. “I have already eaten.”
I tried to decline, but my stomach responded with an audible growl.
He chuckled softly: “Being shy will not help. “Come sit down.
I sat across from him, unable to refuse his kindness; the hearty stew bubbled in the pot, its warmth removing the chill from my body.
I ate ravenously, abandoning all pretence of manners.
“Eat slowly. “No one is competing with you.”
Halfway through the meal, I felt something tickle my nose and looked up to see Marcus watching me with amusement, holding a small piece of carrot between his fingers.
“Does your face want to eat, too?”He teased.
My cheeks flushed as I lowered my head in embarrassment; I knew he liked me—his eyes said it all—but right now, all I wanted to do was study.
Everything else could wait.
When Christmas break arrived, Evelyn called me one after the other, urging me to return home for the holidays.
After all, the Carringtons had raised me; I couldn’t be completely heartless to them.
After much deliberation, I purchased a train ticket and returned to SnowCity with bags filled with gifts.
When I walked through the Carrington family’s front door, I heard sharp, harsh shouting.
“Silas, what do you mean by this?” I’m carrying your child. I did not come here to be mistreated!”
I froze when I saw Juliette, with a protruding belly, screaming at Silas. Silas’ face was ashen, but he didn’t dare to argue back, instead trying to placate her in low, submissive tones.
“Calm down, Juliette. The doctor said you shouldn’t get too emotional right now. It is bad for the baby.”
“I want that coat, and you’re going to buy it for me right away!”
“Juliette, I will buy it for you next time, okay? We’ve already spent this month’s allowance.”
Silas carefully assisted Juliette in sitting down.
“It’s because you are useless! Even after all this time, you are still only a captain. You did not give the money to my sister, did you?”
Silas’ expression changed: “Juliette, stop talking nonsense. “I ended things with her a long time ago.”
“Cut things off? Do you think I am stupid? You write to her every few days. Do you think I don’t know?
“You don’t have me in your heart at all! You only think about her!”
Juliette cried and screamed, pounding Silas’ chest. Silas looked irritated as he roared, “I told you I don’t!
Standing in the doorway, I found this scene absurdly funny: in my previous life, he secretly contacted Juliette behind my back; in this life, he secretly wrote to me behind Juliette’s back.
He wanted to have it both ways, and he was fundamentally unfaithful to himself.
Evelyn was the first to notice me. “Elara, you’ve returned! Come quickly and talk sense into Juliette. Her temper is getting progressively worse.”
She pulled on my hand with a flattering tone, and I withdrew it, saying coolly, “I’m tired. I’d like to rest in my room first.
Evelyn’s face stiffened slightly, but she said nothing else, returning to continue placating Juliette in hushed, submissive tones.
She wasn’t like the imperious mother I remembered
“Let’s eat together.” He motioned to the seat across from him.
“There’s no need. “I have already eaten.”
I tried to decline, but my stomach responded with an audible growl.
He chuckled softly: “Being shy will not help. “Come sit down.
I sat across from him, unable to refuse his kindness; the hearty stew bubbled in the pot, its warmth removing the chill from my body.
I ate ravenously, abandoning all pretence of manners.
“Eat slowly. “No one is competing with you.”
Halfway through the meal, I felt something tickle my nose and looked up to see Marcus watching me with amusement, holding a small piece of carrot between his fingers.
“Does your face want to eat, too?”He teased.
My cheeks flushed as I lowered my head in embarrassment; I knew he liked me—his eyes said it all—but right now, all I wanted to do was study.
Everything else could wait.
When Christmas break arrived, Evelyn called me one after the other, urging me to return home for the holidays.
After all, the Carringtons had raised me; I couldn’t be completely heartless to them.
After much deliberation, I purchased a train ticket and returned to SnowCity with bags filled with gifts.
When I walked through the Carrington family’s front door, I heard sharp, harsh shouting.
“Silas, what do you mean by this?” I’m carrying your child. I did not come here to be mistreated!”
I froze when I saw Juliette, with a protruding belly, screaming at Silas. Silas’ face was ashen, but he didn’t dare to argue back, instead trying to placate her in low, submissive tones.
“Calm down, Juliette. The doctor said you shouldn’t get too emotional right now. It is bad for the baby.”
“I want that coat, and you’re going to buy it for me right away!”
“Juliette, I will buy it for you next time, okay? We’ve already spent this month’s allowance.”
Silas carefully assisted Juliette in sitting down.
“It’s because you are useless! Even after all this time, you are still only a captain. You did not give the money to my sister, did you?”
Silas’ expression changed: “Juliette, stop talking nonsense. “I ended things with her a long time ago.”
“Cut things off? Do you think I am stupid? You write to her every few days. Do you think I don’t know?
“You don’t have me in your heart at all! You only think about her!”
Juliette cried and screamed, pounding Silas’ chest. Silas looked irritated as he roared, “I told you I don’t!
Standing in the doorway, I found this scene absurdly funny: in my previous life, he secretly contacted Juliette behind my back; in this life, he secretly wrote to me behind Juliette’s back.
He wanted to have it both ways, and he was fundamentally unfaithful to himself.
Evelyn was the first to notice me. “Elara, you’ve returned! Come quickly and talk sense into Juliette. Her temper is getting progressively worse.”
She pulled on my hand with a flattering tone, and I withdrew it, saying coolly, “I’m tired. I’d like to rest in my room first.
Evelyn’s face stiffened slightly, but she said nothing else, returning to continue placating Juliette in hushed, submissive tones.
She wasn’t like the imperious mother I remembered