Path Uncrossed

irthday, I wrapped myself up as

he moment, he ki

e to get out and withdrew all t

ought his fi

oor and listen to their intima

nt to love

ld war, Jeffrey sent the b

t was his enga

d to meet me, and

"Miss, don't be stubborn. J

w, my pale reflectio

I'll go. If my uncle's fiancée wa

unned and stammered.

me? Of course I'll do as he says." Leaving th

e

y reason to

at Jeffrey and I could have a fu

is name, sweet

len, I've decided. I'm coming to Lum

ake these next few days to say goodbye to your friends, especially your uncle. He raise

my agreem

say a proper go

paced to a room on

re covered w

were of me a

an enlarged pic

hat, eyes closed

e, gazing at me w

ld still recall the way my hear

y side, I bubbled

s simple. I wanted to

sed, and thi

, my wish could

grabbed a chair and t

and slashed my ima

to held m

own my face befo

t myself out of eve

gers families we

my parents died i

. Jeffrey took me in and ra

eloped feelings I

s birthday, I did the b

perfect makeup, and presented myself as

lips, Jeffrey ki

second, he op

nd desire faded, r

s at me and tol

t still clung to him,

lieve he felt n

lings, words tumbli

eight years older than you. What you feel is just familial

him, but this time,

ty-three! I know exactly how I feel

ed, a bitter,

s been reckless, but this is too far! Shame

mber how that a

, Jeffrey stopped sh

looks, no mor

dness re

untless times to confe

ways reje

n until ten

e, Jeffrey picked

d when I saw a woman i

ff, Jeffrey noticed my pale

for me to have a girlfriend. Y

stabbed

three days

every moment of o

ay, Jeffrey put an end

etting e

ly saw thin

as his niece and o

as all glitz

utfit, a plain hoodie,

place in this gl

into a quiet co

ne had ot

expensive gown, flashed a

ng to meet you, but Jeffrey said you're withdrawn. It's been

hdr

ed my d

how Jeffre

as she spoke again. "Your uncle's over th

't res

e crowd around m

oore family's

e dressed

heard Mr. Moore dotes

oore family. Once Miss Fowler marries in, there'll

nd from Mila's grip,

Mila clear her throat dramatically

ted my hand. "Don't listen

d. I felt utter

er hand o

it slipped free

ic yelp and stumbled

d with anger. "Chelsey

rotested. "It was

is? And you still cause a scene

like it had

is wa

trust me

reparation, his coldnes

eeve and spoke softly. "Jeffery, I los

is expression turning indulgent. "You're too kind. Chels

a bitter smile tu

ut this was the first time I saw

-his warmth toward

ed to

essings or not, Jeffrey

s for me to stop

to

my emotions, and lo

licker of something unreadable i

in disbelief. "W

didn't raise you well. You pushed her on p

s abs

ile twisted m

cut through the crowd. "The c

ffr

il

.

erup

crash f

d, and dust fi

and I collapsed to t

n Mila, blood trick

er got hurt because she was pu

lare sliced

to explain I had

Mila had been und

push Jeffrey o

, who could have dodged,

Jeffrey's face was etch

assed by me. His voice was low. "Ch

my fists tight, stari

d the crowd's whispers

ld nothing fo

struck m

till wasn

couch, staring into

'd say a proper go

re de

was th

ank him for all

an apology,

f into thinking I mea

as I,

ootless

crawl

e grew sharper, bu

t was saying my piece

st shred of dig

ect Jeffrey to c

ed, but n

p or two, only to free

rms, Mil

ave a moment to

eepened at

ed. "Don't be childish. What

ant to wait un

snapped. He carried

after him,

d I fell to my knees

re you playing now? Chelsey, you really... You're getting worse. If you

ammed shut

ds of intimacy dri

e, listening

my heart fe

unds f

pulling myself up and l

er goo

need it

ania was set for ear

t day-the anniversary of

d share a dinne

join me t

birthday, I offere

me and got

p spiraled down

yea

held my parents' inheritance and the sav

nt so much

ng to him, but I wan

y was still

I'd be lo

or a

verything I

y to head to the bank

the stairs, I r

roz

time I'd seen him

each other

nce, I nodded slightly an

touched

me- Jeffrey's di

aced despi

eakness, but

t's pouring outside.

ng. "I have some errands t

him I planned to

ver acc

t quiet for

. "Give me the addr

ff. "Don't overthink it. I'm heading

en nodded o

ne

gue about? I was lea

e money, I'd take it

ited at a red light,

caught sight of a vivid

st tig

nd I quickly

nce grew

n, my ph

as E

r for rescuing me fro

ed everything? Don't mi

all

ief chat,

frey's dark, heavy g

ha

cal

e, and I clutched my

htened instantly.

always seemed so t

t to mention my plans

complicat

s just checking in, a

his tone stayed sharp.

ncle's been

ell silen

f the car, I turne

ea

expression seemed to soften, almost l

that was

ays wer

what today is? If you're free tonig

fro

reached out t

dodging in

sed, his fac

led. "Sure. I have som

Jeffrey did

me, I felt

the anniversary

fe to cut a slice,

message f

phot

fireworks burstin

Chelsey. Look at the fireworks your

n't r

another

arm, smiling sweetly, while his

tonight. And he won't be, no

sage for a long tim

Wishing you both endless l

, I blocked both

nder popped u

rabbed a card and pen. I wrote

ble, in plain sight. Then I dragged my

thrilled t

t the

'd asked every year if I wan

no. Not for an

't bear to le

ank at th

t me. "What's wrong, Chelsey? Wor

. It's just... saying goodb

isit, you'd start missing your uncle before you even lan

answer ri

card, snapped it in half, and

anymore. He's engaged now. I'm just a foster kid with

, but it passed quickly. "Good!

d a wide,

he gloom of the past day

airport to her ho

e difference, we

from the same country as me

ughter came from the door, followed

rn, a small body

nd adorable. "Pretty Chelsey! You're final

surprised, at the y

tures, kept his expression neutral

olding Clayton. "Keep talking no

uck out hi

d his eyes,

aug

ked up

his face, making him lo

's been a wh

anced at h

ready ten

omed in the sky, da

no intere

and Mila had to play the p

ld secure the big deal, and he could f

d his wat

minutes ha

ged on pa

ey was waiting for h

that before

hit rough waters, he w

s kept him out

ome, he'd find Chelsey's

him until she c

ed over the table, a pre

led up on the couch, hugg

of soup sat on the ta

int smile to his face,

momentarily

he had to seize this chance w

prete

d to make

effrey's unusual att

or them, she was certain the

ng changed in

with Jeffrey, someone bumped into h

caught Jeffrey

heart

s too

own and picked

ila felt a chill

chat with

yes burning with rage. "

athe, her neck caught

e flush

nizers gasped

rey didn

at required a marr

d go to

n't ne

round like trash, and

g in the chat sta

ck to her, as fa

tell her, he

elsey's recent coldness, her calm

anic

cted convincingly to keep Chel

a perfe

shakable uneas

't wait a

to see

fall through fo

as more i

hen the butler called. "Sir! Miss Roge

shook on the

before speaking. "Explain. What do you mean, gone? H

rs. "She might have run away. Her t

ted his teet

edal, tires screechi

e butler stood ther

, trembling. "Sir,

ht took shape in

art cl

's hesitation, h

stopped

ruined, each one now sh

hesitant, but Jeffr

to Chelsey

s spo

pt

ing was

e a puppet with

ls digging into his pal

ly spoke. "Sir, you

azing, and roared. "Where is sh

he saw the item

ever given Che

if she'd left them

utfits, priceless jewelry, and desig

ok not

his chest, nearly

rabbing his car keys to s

him. "Sir! It's not just

hed the card

ds, identical to the

ing you both endless lo

was one

our paths neve

k, a sharp snap ec

just upse

she was t

ppoi

ne

didn't want

barely able

but Jeffrey shoved him away. "Fi

n the table, snapped it in

ts cle

never c

he ends of the earth,