CHAPTER078 OLIVIASPOV Thewholeplacestillfelabattlefieldtensionclungtothewallslikethicksmoke,andthelastthingIwantedwastofaceanyofthem.Emotionswerestillraw,andIhadnodesire tosaysomethingImightregret.SoImadeupmymind: Idwaituntilmorning.Maybe,thedustwouldsettlealittlebythen,andwecouldallbreatheagain.Or atleastpretendto..
Thatevening,Iquietlygrabbedmypurseandslippedout,makingmywaybacktoAdriansplace.Ihopedhewasntentertaininganyfunnyideas,thatwemightbeheadingbacktogether.
Iknewhewouldlikelybelateatthehospital.Thatgavemetheperfectopportunitytogothroughthewardrobeundisturbed.IpulledoutasmallluggagebagIhadpurchasedsometimeago,justin case.Well,nowwasthejustincasemoment.
Openingthewardrobe,Icarefullybeganfoldingtheclotheshedboughtforme.Itwasironic,really.Ihadcomeherewithnothingforthesecondtime,andnowIwasleavingwithitemshegiftedme.ThefirsttimeImovedin,Iatleasthadafewthingsofmyown.Butnow,eventhoseweregone.IwouldntbesurprisedifDorahadsomethingtodowithitshealwayshadaquietbutsinisterwayofmakingherpresenceknown.
Iplacedeachpieceofclothinginthebag,oneaftertheother,tryingtokeepthingsneatandorderly,thoughmymindwasanythingbutcalm.
TherewassomethingthatcontinuedtonagatthebackofmymindsomethingIcouldntquitewrapmyheadaround.Ifmyfamilyissomehowinvolvedinhismothersdeath,whywouldhestillcareforthemsomuch?Whywouldhe staybehindandlookaftermyfathertheverymanresponsibleforcausinghimsomuchpain? Ihadwalkedaway,butAdrianchosetoremain.Why? Somanythoughtsswirledthroughmyhead.ItwasasifeverythinginmylifehadstartedspiralingthemomentImethim.Eversinceourpathscrossed,peacehadbeen.astrangerto me.Andyet,forreasonsIstilldidntfullyunderstand,he ma
rriedme.Why?Especiallyknowingwhatmyparentshaddone.Whatwashismotive? Ifoldedthelastofmyclothesandzippedupthebag,thesoundechoinginthestillnessoftheroom.Julianwasgettingcloserclosertofinallygettingmeoutofthisplace,thischapterofmylife.ThatswhyIhadtobeready,littlebylittle,preparingtoleave.Slowly,quietly,Iwaspackingupmypast.
Onceeverythingwasinorder,Iwentintothebathroomtorinsemy face.Thecoldwaterhelpedclearmymindabitsuccessfullyunlocked:alltheemotionalchaos.Morningcamefasterthanexpected.IhadntevenrealizedIhadfallenasleepuntilAdriansalarmblaredthroughtheroom.Igroggilyopenedmyeyes,onlytobegreeted.bythesightofhimsteppingoutoftheshower.

1/3 CHAPTER078 Waterdrippedfromhistoned,muscularbody,glisteningunderthewarmlight.Foratmoment,Icaughtmyselfadmiringhim.WhenwasthelasttimeIactuallyfelthistouch?Ithadneverbeenoutoflove,notreally,butevenso,therehadalwaysbeenaspark.Aphysicalconnectionthatsomehowlingered inmemory.
Iquicklylookedaway,embarrassedbymywanderingthoughts.Butitwasalreadytoolatehednoticed.
Dontmakeittooobviousthatyouredrooling,Adriansaidwithateasingsmirkasheranthetowelthroughhisdamphair.Then,unexpectedly,headded,Howwasyournight? Iblinked,unsureifIheardhimright.DidhejustaskmehowIslept?SincewhendidAdrianWestwoodcareabouthow Ifelt,letalonehowIslept? Istaredathim,myfaceclearlyshowingdisbelief.Mybrowsfurrowed,lipspartedslightlyIcouldnthidetheshockevenifIwanted.
Adrianhadjustaskedmesomethingheneverhadbefore.Simpleasitwas,itleftmefrozen.
Howwasyournight? Thatquestionalonemademyheartstutter Itwas,hmm…notthatbad,Ifinallystammered,stillcaughtoffguard.
Hegaveasmallnod,hiseyesscanningmeforamoment.Lookslike theointmentisreallyeffective.Thebruises…theyrealmostcompletelygone.
Iglanceddownatmyarmsinstinctively,andtomysurprise,hewasright.Thebruisesthathadoncebeenshadesofpurpleandbluewerenowfadingintonothingbutamemory.Ihadntevenrealized it,notwitheverythingelsecloudingmymind.
Yeah,Imuttered,nodding.Guessitis.

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Apartofmewantedtokeeptheconversationshort.Ididntwant himpickinguponmyplansoraskingquestionsIwasntreadytoanswer.Andyet,therewasthissmall,-stubbornachedeepinsidethatjustwantedtoscreamathimtodemandanswersfor everythingIdbeenthrough.Foreverythingheletmegothrough.
HeclearedhisthroatashepickedupaTshirt,slidingitoverhisstilldamp,chiseled body.Hishairwasamessfromtheshower,andheranhisfingersthroughitashespokeagain.
Idontreallyknowhowtosaythis,hestartedslowly.ButIknowyouregoingthroughalotrightnow.And,uh…Ijustwanttosay,dontthinktoomuchaboutit.Thatshowtheyare…theGraysons.Heartlesstothecore.
Hepaused,thenglancedoverhisshoulderatme.
TheoriginalGraysons,Imean.
Iraisedabrow.Wasthathisattemptatseparatingmefromthem?Frommyown 2/3 CHAPTER078 adoptiveparents? Areyoutryingtoconsoleme?Iasked,armsfoldeddefensivelyacrossmychest.
Isthatabadthing?heresponded, soundingalmostgenuine.
Itsnot,Iadmitted.But…youveneverdoneitbefore.Noneofthis.Thewayyouretalkingtomerightnow…itsdifferent.

Therewasalongsilenceafterthat.Thekindofsilencethatmade theairfeelheavier.Heturnedtowardthemirror,combinghishairwithslowfingers,deliberatelyavoidingmygazenow.
Then,casuallyhesaid,Imguessingyouwontbeshowinguptoday? Iwillactually,Ireplied,tryingtosoundneutral.Iwanttospeaktomydad.
Heturnedaround,shirtnowclingingtohischest,andIwassurethatwastheendofit.Buthesurprisedmeyetagain.
Wecouldgotogether,heoffered.Ifyouwant.
Iblinked,completelytakenaback.Isthatsuggestioncomingfromhim?Adrianneverlikedridingwithme.Evenwhenwehadto,hemadeitfeellikeIwasjustextrabaggagenevergavemeanoption.
Andnowherehewas.Offering.
Somethingwasoff.Hewaseithersleepwalkingthroughkindnessor…somethinghad.
changed.Icouldnttellifhedwokenuponthewrongsideofthebedortherightside.
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