Chapter 4

Evelyn’s face contorted with rage just as her father’s vicious slap connected with Grace’s face.

“What are you talking about!” her father screamed. “You drove a car into someone else and were locked up in jail because of it. Our entire family was shamed because of you. You don’t have a future anymore. Do you want to ruin your sister’s future as well?” His eyes were full of disgust for her.

“The one thing you did right was dating Sean Stevens and then you destroyed it all. We had so much respect from other businessmen and our relatives from that connection…”

Grace nodded, understanding that her father, Tony Cummins had been embarrassed.

Her relationship with Sean had afforded her dad the chance to claim a higher social ranking. When she fell… he did too. And her father resented her for it.

Her face burned and she knew she’d likely bear a bruise. But her expression remained calm as if she didn’t care at all.

“I originally just wanted to say a prayer for my mother—that was why you invited me back home, wasn’t it?—But now it seems there is no need for me to do it here. I won’t step foot in this house ever again.”

After saying this, Grace walked out of the house without looking back.

This place had never really been her “home,” and she should’ve stopped hoping for it to be a long time ago.

When Grace got to her apartment, the place was dark and the lights were off. When she turned on the lights, she was greeted by cold silence.

She could tell at a glance that there was no one else in the room.

Was Jason gone? Her heart suddenly felt a little empty. Which was silly, she knew. The man was a stranger. He’d helped her out, but he didn’t owe her anything, and she was very foolish to think he’d want to stay with her.

Grace let out a bitter laugh. She was alone. Again.

Something in her chest ached painfully at the thought as if acknowledging that even out of prison, she was still constricted, and destined to live out her existence without anybody.

Just as she was about to close the door, she saw a figure slowly walking towards her. She was stunned.

It was Jason.

of his from yesterday while he held a bag in his hand. His longish hair almost covered the entire upper part of his face, making it difficult for people to see him clearly at a glance, but she knew that under that mussed hair was a face that could easily take over people’s

an actor like her sister might work with on one of the TV series.

a man… was he really

streets, and most of them carried elements of instability. She knew that taking him in like this was an impulsive decision and could put

humans were tribal animals after all. They needed

back.” His voice was low and indifferent, but to her, it was the

suddenly felt tight. “I… I thought

at her. “I just

pulled him into the room, and closed the door. Then, she saw two white steamed

felt that her whole body seemed to be

family abandoned her, but some homeless stranger

but before that, I… wanted to light a candle for my Grandpa and mother.

was cruel to her. Her beloved grandpa and mother died only a

the took the prayer candle from her bag that she’d bought on the way home

a man. The man in the photo was about sixty

the candles and channeled

kissed the

a new life now. I’m living a good life. I have a job that pays well enough for me to feed myself. You can rest in peace, and in the future, I will only

a smile on her lips. However, her almond-shaped eyes looked misty. The light of the candle and

and pink lips. She was not at

Jennifer Atkinson, his fiancée, had been a rare

today was the anniversary of her Grandpa’s death. He understood her to need to say some kind words and to acknowledge her Grandpa’s passing, but fresh out of prison and working in a sanitation center, to say she was ‘doing well’ …was

softly. She then turned her head and looked at him. She smiled. Under the light of the candles, she seemed to glow

to look at the man in the photo again. “So, I am doing really good, grandpa. You can rest in

saying this, she respectfully bowed to the photo. She closed her eyes and though her lips moved, whatever words she said were between her

she nodded and opened her eyes. “Alright, I’ll clean up

“Sure,” he responded easily.

and set out plates and

the room, there was a rhythm to her motions as if she moved to some

table between them and a plate of some egg frittata she’d mixed up with leftovers from the refrigerator, he inhaled

It smelled delicious.

the buns he’d brought back and rather than eat them out of

been the

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