Chapter 17
In the days that followed, Calvin cleared his entire schedule and devoted himself to Nettie, frying every way he could think of to make up to her
Inside an upscale jewelry boutique, Calvin made a sweeping gesture, and within moments, a small army of staff appeared, each cradling a dazzling selection of jewels to present before Nettie.
After the display, Calvin finally turned to her!!
“Nettie, do you see anything you like?”
It was only then that Nettie snapped out of her thoughts, her gaze sweeping over the array of sparkling pieces. That’s when the realized–these were all painfully familiar
Some were rings she’d once owned for a brief moment, only to see them end up on Chans’s hand. Some were bracelets Calvin had once promised to give her but
Charis wore the real thy, ultimately gifted to Charis instead. There were necklaces too–she’d always received the knockoff, while
Now, Calvin was placing these jewels before her again, as if carefully trying to return what was lost. But Nettie no longer wanted any of
She said nothing, and Calvin didn’t seem surprised.”
Nettie was just a stand–in, of course she’d have her reservations and refuse the jewelry
If she really was his sister, she’d be angry, and she’d refuse all the same.
So Calvin didn’t press for an answer. He simply instructed the staff to wrap up every piece
The staff had seen their share of wealthy clients, but rarely had anyone cleared out half the store with such ease. As they packed the jewels, they whispered to each other in awe.”
“Mr. Beaumont really dotes on his sister, doesn’t he?”
“If only I had a brother like that–r’d be smiling in my sleep!“?
“I’m so jealous of Miss Beaumont!”
Nettie listened in silence, a bitter irony twisting in her chest.
If she had a choice, she’d rather never have had a brother like this–one so quick to believe lies, so ready to hurt his own sister over and over again.
The two of them walked out quietly. Suddenly. Nettie stopped in her tracks.
Calvin followed her gaze across the street, where a line snaked out of a popular ice cream shop.X
And in a flash, memories came rushing back.
His little sister had always adored ice cream. Every summer, before the season even began, the family’s two freezers would be stuffed to the brim with her favorite flavors. Everyone in the house knew those freezer compartments were hers; if anyone else wanted to use them, they’d have to ask Nettie’s permission first!
But then Charis arrived. All of Nettie’s treasured ice cream was tossed out and replaced with Charis’s favorite mousse cakes. Even the freezer space itself was handed over to Charis.3
From that day on, Nettie never again tasted ice cream that was truly hers.
Guilt flickered through Calvin’s eyes.
He turned to Nettle. “Wait here for a minute, okay? I’ll go get you an ice cream.”
He didn’t wait for her answer before hurrying across the street”
The midday sun was brutal; sweat beaded on his forehead and soaked through the back of his shirt. Still, Calvin endured the heat and bought two strawberry cones.
He watched the ice cream begin to melt, droplets trailing down from the sun’s relentless glare. Anxious, he hurried back toward Nettie.
But just as he approached, Calvin caught the sudden change in Nettle’s expression.
“Watch out!” she shouted
In a
split second, as panicked screams erupted around him, Calvin froze. He stared in shock at the car careening out of control straight toward him
Crash
With a sickening thud, his body was flung into the air and then s
slammed onto the pavement.
The moment he had the ground, the ice cream cones flew from his hands and shattered, the melting pink cream mixing with the blood
whapter 17
seeping from his wounds.
Chaos erupted–shouts, sirens, the blare of car horns all blurred together. But Calvin could no longer hear any of it. Darkness closed in
around him, swallowing the world whole.
Hospital, comidor outside the patient rooms.
