Sophiescallshadcome throughcountlesstimes,butNolanneverpickedup.
Thelakesidevillawasjustascoldandemptyastheoldhouse.
Itdidntseemtomakeanydifferencewhere theywere.
Bymidnight,asthetemperaturedroppedfurther,JazielandNolancouldnolongersitidlyandfinallyreturnedto thevilla.
Themoment theyopenedthedoor,theyweremetwiththesightofSophiedozingoffonthesofa.
Thevillaswarm,yellowlightsgavetheroomadimyetcozyatmosphere.
However,neitherJazielnorNolanwasinthemoodtonotice.
Whyarentyouasleepyet?Nolansvoicecarriedatingeofexhaustion,mixedwithirritation.
Hehadnoenergylefttocareforsomeoneelse.

Jaziel,withoutsparingaglance,headedstraighttohisroom,leavingbehindacoldremark: Whenitslate,youshouldgotobed.Dontwaitforusanymore.
Sophie,curleduponthesoftsofa,staredinshock.
Howcouldthishappen? JazielandNolanhadalwaysbeensogentlewith her.CouldCharlottesdeparturereallybethereasonfortheir suddencoldness? PacingbackandforthbetweenJazielandNolansrooms,Sophiesexpressionhardenedasherthoughtssolidified.
Returning toherownroom,shequicklydeletedthetauntingmessagesshehadsentCharlotte.
Charlottecouldleavewillingly,butitmustntappearasthoughSophiehaddrivenheraway.
Meanwhile,Jaziellayinbed,sleepevadinghimashismindspiraledintoablankvoid.
Charlottehadleft,butshehadnevertoldthemexactlywhereherhomeinNewOrleanswas.
TheMurphyfamilywaswellknowninNewOrleanselitecircles,sofindingherwouldntbedifficult.
But…shehadconcealedherdeparturefromthem.Didntthatmeanshedidntwanttobefound? ThethoughtstruckJaziellikeadagger,asharppainsearingthroughhischest.

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Nolancouldntsitstilleither.Desperateforanswers,hecalledGrace,hopingtolearnwhyCharlottehadleftso 22:14 99BloodyLashesAndABulletToHisHeart 87.4% Chapter12 abruptlyandwithoutaword.
Thephonerangafewtimesbeforeitwasanswered.Grace,workingthenightshift,hadjuststeppedofftheoperatingtable.
Stillwearinghergloves,she hadanurseholdthephoneforher.
Hello?Nolan?Whatsthemattercallingsolate? Havinggrownuptogether,NolanandJaziel alsocalledGraceAunt,justlikeCharlottedid.
Aunt,doyouknowwhereCharlotteshouseinNewOrleansis?Whydidsheleavesosuddenly?Ineedtofindher!Nolanasked,hisurgencybarelycontained.
Gracepausedbrieflybeforereplyinguncertainly: You…youdontknowwhyCharlotteleft?ShetoldmethatyouandJazielwerealreadyaware… Inthatmoment,therealizationhitthemboth:Charlottehadlied.
ButasCharlottesfamily,Gracequicklyrealizedherslipandscrambledtocoveritup.
Oh,that…Nolan,Imustvemisremembered.CharlottejustwantedtovisitherparentsinNewOrleans.Itsbeenyearssinceshelastsawthem.Youtwohavebeensobusy,sheprobablydidntwanttobotheryou..
Herexplanationsoundedcalm,butitdidntsitwellwithNolan.

Isthatso?heasked,unconvinced.
EventhoughNolandoubtedherwords,heunderstoodhewasntgoingtogetthetruthfromGrace.
Still,hecouldntbelieveCharlottehadchosentohideeverythingonlyfromthetwoofthem.
Visitingherparents?Whataflimsyexcuse.
Ifthatwereallitwas,whywouldshehideit? Somethingfarmoresignificanthadtobegoingon.
Unabletowaitanylonger,Nolangrabbedhisjacketandstormedoutthedoor .
Butashesteppedoutside,hestoppedabruptly.
Leaningagainstthecar,surroundedbyasmallpileofcigaretteash, wasJaziel.