Chapter 105
After setting up the time and place with Russel, Stella and I left the hospital
I got in the car and told Stella. “Take me home, please”
Stella looked at me, surprised, and asked, “Your place? Aren’t we going to my house?”
Given my meeting with Russel that night, staying at her place could be inconvenient.
I replied. “Take me to Sunflower Terrace. You should know the way”
Sunflower Terrace was where I lived alone. During my college days, Stella and her friends would often visit me there
Although Stella seemed puzzled, she didn’t ask further. She hit the gas and drove me to Sunflower Terrace.
Once inside, Stella helped me to sit down She sounded worried when she asked, “Are you sure you can live here alone? You can’t even walk…”
I smiled reassuringly at Stella and said, “Tll be fine. I just need some peace and quiet. Don’t worry about me. Go home and drive safe.”
Reluctantly. Stella nodded and said, “Alright. Call me if you need anything”
After she left, I spent the evening zoning out on the sofa
I didn’t know when I drifted off, but I woke up feeling cold.
I had a nightmare. Karina’s corpse was right in front of me. Just as I was about to take a closer look, she suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed my neck, and hissed, “You stole Neil from me!”
I woke up in a cold sweat. To shake off the lingering fear, I quickly switched on the TV and found a noisy drama to distract myself. The chatter from the TV made me feel a little better.
But as I sat there with the TV on, my mind started to wander.
On the night of our wedding, Neil said many hurtful things. We shared a bed but didn’t even touch hands. Around 1 am, he got up and drove away
Back then, I thought he was trying to embarrass me.
the urge to see Karina one
beeped, startling
Russel, “You’ve hurt your foot. Let’s talk at your place
a thoughtful
living alone, this also worked out perfectly for me. I texted
my
replied, “Are you living
him an emoji with a big grin, “Yeah. Bet you didn’t
texted back, “You’re really something Could Neil
love me, so why should he care? If we divorce, is he going to meddle
“Have you really thought
course! I haven’t experienced a normal marriage yet. I refuse to be alone forever. I want
rashly. After all, I was already
Russel was coming over, I decided to clean up myself. I couldn’t let him see me
out of the bathroom after the shower, my right foot gave way under my weight, and I fell.
of pain echoed in
Unable to stand, I crawled over and picked it
was Neil
picked up anyway, “What’s
I would hang up quick. I needed to call an
did you scream?
scream?” I was sitting on the floor in a bathrobe, not in a good
“I’m at your apartment. Open the
he really did hear my scream.
can’t see you right now. Just go
the door, I’ll have it picked” Neil
of your mind?” I really didn’t want to see him now. Just thinking about Karina and Bonnie made my heart
his parents accepted Bonnie so quickly. Maybe they felt they had
‘second one.
was like a fool, still clinging to Neil,
sprained your ankle; why didn’t you stay at
seemed to be concerned about me, but I still replied
Neil threatened, “I can have it picked, but then you’ll have to change
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