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
when it came to me. If he knew I was leaving
By the time
Bonnie and casually said, “We’ll see. Don’t sweat about me, look
on a date on New
her watching him, he stuttered
while my parents were away, and they thought Mr. Whitmore had egged
she was again,
trying to maintain her image as the innocent, kind–hearted
gave a small smile. “Alright, I got it. You better get
waved at
to see and turned
was beat from wandering around, I headed back to Harold’s place. Simmons was just about to leave, and I was secretly pleased
timing
to come over. You should go with
too?”
us will go. Her place is too far, and it’s tiring to travel, so it’s better for you to go to Stella’s. We’ll be back tomorrow or the
In the middle of a family holiday, he wanted me to live at someone
if Stella was my best
at me gently,
so I want to go with you.” I refused to leave with Simmons. Anyone could see what my parents were
picked my next husband, not caring about what I wanted. Didn’t they promise
go too, it’ll be too crowded. Kelley doesn’t want
arm in arm with my mom, then they just got up and left.
a homemaker since she got married. Her biggest
want to cook for me? This must have
They quickly drove off, disappearing
here that you don’t want to
right to go to other people’s houses during the holidays. “I waved
“You’re a friend of our family How can it not be right?”
was out of options.
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