Chapter 217
Chapter 217
The sound of the waves rolled in around them, mixed with bursts of laughter from farther down the beach, but this little corner felt strangely quiet.
Winter didn’t understand why Roy had told her not to set out a lantern for her baby.
When it came to that child, all she felt was regret.
She watched Roy’s fingers move slowly over his phone screen as he typed.
“I don’t remember where I heard it p>
Winter and Zion had always reacted to Roy the same way. They trusted him completely.
“I see.” Winter looked at the lantern in her hands, then at the marker. In the end, she made up her mind. “Then I’ll use this one as a prayer p>
Slowly, one word at a time, she wrote, “May everyone I love be safe p>
She then held the marker out to him. “Roy, do you want to write anything p>
The moment she did, Winter suddenly realized that someone as cool and distant as Roy probably wasn’t the type to do something like this.
But to her surprise, Roy reached out and took the marker.
Winter looked at him crouching beside her, then at the marker in his left hand, and smiled. “I didn’t know you were left–handed p>
Roy gave a slight nod and slowly wrote beside her words.
“ May we find each other again, year after year p>
His handwriting was strong and steady.
Looking at the line he had written, Winter had to admit she hadn’t expected Roy’s handwriting to be this beautiful.
Still, she remembered that the line came from an old love poem, one about devotion between husband and wife. And Roy had always been alone.
But it was only a New Year’s wish. She decided not to read too much into it. Even between friends, the words could still mean something.
“Okay. Let’s set it out together.” Winter rose to her feet.
Roy held the lantern steady, and Winter placed both hands lightly against its sides.
They walked it to the edge of the water and lowered it carefully onto the waves. As they watched it drift farther and farther out into the dark, Winter let out a long breath. In the new year, she hoped she would never again lose anyone she loved.
“Roy, I hope both our wishes come true. Happy New Year p>
Roy turned to look at her beside him as she stood there gazing out at the water. Her eyes were still red, but the corners of her mouth had finally softened into a real smile.
The phone in his pocket buzzed once.
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He looked away and pulled it out.
A message from Gavin was on the screen.
“Mr. Xander, just like you thought, assassins showed up near Mrs. Xander’s place p>
Roy’s eyes turned colder.
He had just slipped the phone back into his pocket when the corner of his eye caught an SUV parked by the road not far from the beach.
It was William’s car.
Roy tightened his grip on the phone and glanced at Winter’s profile.
Then Winter felt a light weight settle on her shoulder as Roy gently patted it once.
She turned and saw the words on his phone.
“I’ve got something to take care of. I’m heading out p>
Wearing a cap and a mask, William got out of the car. From a distance, he saw a tall figure leaving Winter’s side and heading toward the road.
He glanced after him, then jogged over to Winter. “Why’d G leave p>
“He said he had something to do p>
William gave a quiet oh. Seeing that Winter looked noticeably better, he finally felt some of the tension leave him. “You cold p>
Winter shook her head. “No. Why are you out so early p>
“Grandpa fell asleep, so I came out. You already set one out on the water? Why didn’t you wait for me p>
Standing beside her, William looked out over the water.
Their voices grew fainter and fainter behind him. Roy opened the car door, got in, started the engine, and drove
away.
As William stayed with Winter on the beach, lighting sparklers with her, the New Year bells began to ring.
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Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.