Chapter 15 A Cold, Emotionless Face
+8 Pearls
Catiana looked like she was about to speak again, but before she could, Adrian tugged gently at the edge of her shirt. In an instant, Lilith was almost rushing away, her back being the last thing visible as she vanished, swallowed by the oppressive quiet of the night.
Catiana’s breathing grew heavier, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her face showed clear irritation, as though Lilith’s abrupt and anxious exit had left her frustrated.
Adrian softly patted her on the back and, glancing out the window at the dark sky, said, “Forget it. It’s late. Let’s head to our
room.”
After sitting in silence for a few more minutes, it seemed that Catiana had finally regained some composure. She followed Adrian toward their room.
Hadden had left earlier, citing a sudden business matter at the company. He had taken a phone call and wasn’t around
anymore.
Meanwhile, Alexis had gone upstairs to sleep, leaving Winona and Garrick downstairs, as still as shadows in the dimming night.
Winona had finally finished trimming the flowers, carefully arranging them in a simple, white porcelain vase, taking her time with each stem.
A few minutes later, Garrick began to head upstairs. Winona, holding the vase, followed him, step by step.
She wasn’t sure how many cigarettes he had smoked, but the lingering scent of smoke filled the air as he passed by.
Their rooms were on different floors–hers on the third and his on the fourth. As she was about to step onto the third floor, the last step creaked under her foot, and with a loud crack, the vase shattered, spilling the flowers and splashing water across Garrick’s pants.
Garrick turned slowly, his expression unreadable, while Winona stared at the broken flowers, the petals scattered across the
meet his. floor. Without an ounce of regret, she lifted her eyes to
The warm light from above cast their faces in a soft glow. They locked eyes for a brief moment before Garrick, in a voice that was neither warm nor cold, said, “If you cannot hold it steady, next time, have one of the servants bring it to your room. That way, you won’t ruin your hard work.”
Winona didn’t reply. Her gaze shifted toward something distant, her eyes never meeting his. Without another word, she quietly said, “Garrick, you’re almost 18 now, aren
Her words were strange, and before Garrick could respond, she turned and walked away, her fingers still holding the damp camellia flower. She walked past him, unbothered and calm, heading upstairs.
It wasn’t until Garrick snapped out of his daze that he noticed Alexis had somehow opened her door and was standing in the doorway. He flicked his cigarette away and walked over to her, asking, “What are you doing out here?”
“I heard a noise, so I came to check what happened.”
“Nothing major.” He twisted the doorknob, pulling her inside, and casually draped his arm around her shoulders. “Winona knocked over a vase. I told her to be careful, and she just walked off without saying anything.”
Alexis nodded. “Her personality has always been cold. She only really talks to Hadden.”
She climbed into bed, and Garrick stood by the side, his hand resting on the edge of the mattress. “Why aren’t you asleep? Are you still having that dream, the one that keeps you awake?”
Alexis shook her head. “It’s been a while since I’ve had it. I just couldn’t sleep with all the noise outside.”
“Mm.” Garrick nodded, unconsciously brushing his hand against his pants. He murmured, as though talking to himself, “We’re almost 18. That stuff is behind us. It won’t happen again.”
He glanced at Alexis once more, his gaze softening, as though trying to offer some form of comfort.
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Chapter 15 A Cold, Emotionless Face
“Don’t worry. It’s all over now,” he reassured her gently.
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+8 Pearls
By the time Lilith reached her room, the tightness in her chest from the earlier panic had started to ease. Lilith opened her drawer and pulled out her journal, the blank page staring back at her, waiting to be filled.
She rested her wrist on the desk, uncertain of what to write first. After a moment of hesitation, she finally penned down, “Never expect, and you’ll never face disappointment.”
Then, she began to jot down memories of the small, happy moments she had shared with Liana–the little things that had made her laugh or smile.
The events of the past few days had far exceeded what she had anticipated. She wasn’t sure what twists the future might hold for her now that she had been given a second chance. Would her life follow the same path, or would it take an unexpected turn? Perhaps she’d forget some things along the way.
For now, though, she decided to hold on to the happy memories.
After the eighth day of the new year, Liana returned from her hometown and invited Lilith to spend a day out with her.
That evening, a heavy snowstorm blanketed the ground, and by morning, Lilith had developed a mild fever that quickly escalated. She spent the day in bed, shivering with chills and sweating from the fever.
Liana, realizing Lilith wasn’t feeling well, felt guilty for encouraging her to go out in the cold. But Lilith reassured her that it wasn’t her fault.
She had always had a fragile body, and catching a cold in the winter was nothing unusual. Liana didn’t need to feel responsible.
By the afternoon, her fever spiked again. Wrapping herself in a scarf and hat, Lilith hailed a cab to the hospital for an IV drip and some medication–a routine she had become all too familiar with.
Winifred had offered to accompany her, but Lilith had declined. Winifred had just returned from her own trip and seemed drained from the holiday activities. Lilith urged her to rest for a few days.
A cold and fever were minor issues for Lilith by now, a part of her daily life. The hospital was bustling with activity, parents hovering anxiously over their children, their faces filled with concern.
Lilith sat quietly, the strong scent of disinfectant filling the air. It brought a rush of memories, reminding her of the time she had died in her previous life–she must have been in a hospital then as well. But what about her family?
Would they have grieved her loss?
Would they have not cared?
Or would they have felt relief, freed from the burden she had been?
A nurse arrived with a needle, the cold of the syringe making Lilith shiver.
“If you start feeling uncomfortable, just press the call button,” the nurse said.
“Got it. Thank you,” Lilith murmured in response.
The IV drip slowly began to release the liquid, each drop resembling water falling from a roof in the rain. Lilith lay back on the bed, her head spinning as sleep began to overtake her.
Her usual symptoms were worse this time–chills and fever alternated with nausea, and at times, she even vomited bile. The nights were the hardest, filled with restless sleep and unsettling dreams.
But this time, things were different. The fever wasn’t as intense, and there were no nightmares. Instead, fragmented memories from her past life began to resurface.
A white shirt fluttering in the wind, a sunset sinking, never to rise again, a ring that was never given, words overheard by accident–or perhaps intentionally.
And then…
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Chapter 15 A Cold, Emotionless Face
A cold, emotionless face.
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