Chapter 491
Chapter 491:
A tired sigh slipped from Kailey’s lips. “With that kind of determination, you could succeed at anything p>
“I wish that were true.” Hope brightened Jessica’s eyes before fading just as fast. “He’s always busy. Even if I have the drive, I don’t know where to direct it.” Then sudden inspiration straightened her posture. “Kailey, do you have his number? Could you share it with me p>
With the number in hand, Jessica left in high spirits. Before stepping out, she turned back once more to confirm she could visit again.
“Of course you can,” Kailey said warmly.
Boredom weighed on her anyway, and an extra person meant more amusement. Lyman meant nothing to her.
Strangely enough, the days that followed passed without even a glimpse of him. Silence stretched from Kyson’s side as well. Contact came only through Devin, and every message concerned small, unremarkable details. Distance wrapped around Kailey until the outside world felt faint, and her earlier unease slowly softened into calm.
Gentle spring air filled the yard, and the sunlight rested warm without the bite of summer heat. She settled into a deck chair beneath an umbrella, opened a book, and soaked in the light while Max played nearby, occasionally charging after bugs.
Sleepiness crept over her the longer she lay there, and eventually her eyes drifted shut.
In her dream, Kailey saw Lionel again.
She watched a smaller version of herself from a distance — both her parents were still alive, and happiness filled their house. The three of them looked like a perfect family.
Lionel appeared carrying bags full of gifts and knelt to hand her a present. Displeasure hardened her mother’s face, and her voice cut cold through the room. “Why are you here p>
Iո𝘵𝗲n𝗌e r𝗼man𝘤𝗲 𝘰𝗇 𝗴а𝘭ո𝗼𝗏e𝗹ѕ.сo𝗆
Embarrassment crept into Lionel’s grin. “I came to visit you, of course p>
Her father stepped out of the house and greeted Lionel warmly, taking the bags and ushering him inside. Resentment lingered on her mother’s face, yet she swallowed her words.
Then alarm flared in her mother’s eyes. She spotted Lionel playing with little Kailey and rushed forward to pull the child back. “Stay away from her p>
Shock froze Lionel for a second before he forced another smile. “You’re overreacting, Alissa. I’m only playing with my niece. Why are you so tense p>
“You know exactly what you’re thinking p>
Her mother noticed Kailey watching and her tone softened. “Go find your father p>
Confusion filled the child’s eyes as she looked from Alissa to Lionel. She nodded and ran inside.
She didn’t hear what Lionel and her mother said after that — only that it turned into a fierce argument. Her mother, who was usually gentle, even threw things to the floor.
“Your mom and uncle are talking about adult matters. You’re not allowed to listen,” her father whispered, covering her ears.
Curiosity burned inside her chest, but she was always obedient. If Milo said no, she wouldn’t listen.
Tension clung to Lionel’s face when he finally stormed out, and her mother hurled every gift after him. “Leave. Don’t ever come back. I don’t have a brother like you p>