Chapter 102
After hanging up the phone, I had zero desire to go back to the living room
I made a sneaky exit and started to wander around the neighborhood. The whole place was dolled up for the New Year and had a real festive vibe. A few kids were running around, having a ball.
Before I knew it. I found myself outside the complex, aimlessly meandering the streets like a vagabond
Out of the blue. I noticed Neil’s car parked at a nearby intersection.
Why was he here? Was he looking for me?
I felt a little jittery
Quickly, I realized I was overthinking. Bonnie was getting out of the passenger seat
Neil also got out of the car. They chatted by the roadside for a bit before hopping back in. The car started moving in my direction.
As soon as Neil saw me, he slammed on the brakes.
He sprang out of the car, circled around the front, and stood in front of me. His brow was furrowed slightly, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of Bonnie
of me
“Happy New Year.” I said, managing a calm smile
“Uh huh.” Neil grunted in response before asking. “When are you heading back to Sterling Estates?”
Behind him, Bonnie rolled down the car window, watching us nervously.
Didn’t Bonnie tell him that I was going abroad after the holidays?
ww
again, it made sense. Neil was all over the place when it came to me. If he knew I was leaving the country, he might do something rash. Bonnie
move. By the time I was miles away, any wavering on his part would
at Bonnie and casually said, “We’ll see.
they were on a date on
watching him, he stuttered slightly,
and they thought Mr. Whitmore had egged me on to leave home. They wanted to give him a hard
she was again, playing the
maintain her image as the innocent, kind–hearted girl in front of
a small smile. “Alright, I got it.
waved at
not to see and turned to
around, I headed back to Harold’s place. Simmons was
timing
over. You should go
Kelley too?” I
be back tomorrow or the day after. Manage your own schedule for now” My dad said that as if it were the most normal thing in
family holiday, he
best friend, this wasn’t right!
at
seen Kelley in a long time, so I want to go with you.” I refused to leave
not even divorced yet, and they had already picked my next husband, not caring about what
it’ll be too crowded. Kelley doesn’t want to cook for so many
arm in arm with my mom, then they just got up and left.
Kelley had been a homemaker since she got
to cook for me? This must have been the most
one cared about me. They quickly drove off, disappearing at the end of the
it because I’m here that you don’t want to go to my house?”
just think it’s not right to go to other people’s houses during the holidays. “I
of our family How
was out of
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!