Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Behind Mrs. Xander Sr., Skyla spoke up thoughtfully. “Chris, Zac and Mr. White haven’t made it in yet. It might be a bit of a squeeze. Why don’t you come stand over here by me p>
Chris glanced at Mrs. Xander Sr.’s dark expression and took a step back, positioning himself beside Skyla’s wheelchair.
Zac, ever the gentleman, didn’t call Chris out on his behavior. He motioned for Mr. White to step inside first, then followed and pressed the button to close the doors.
The elevator descended slowly.
Chris stared at the unmoving back of Winter’s head. When the elevator reached the hospital cafeteria, he finally looked away.
The group began to filter out of the lift. Suddenly, Skyla’s wheelchair jerked to a halt.
“The wheel seems to be stuck!” the caregiver said anxiously.
She gripped the handles and tried to lift it She could carry Skyla well enough on her own, but with the added weight of the heavy wheelchair, it wouldn’t budge an inch despite her best efforts.
The elevator doors were already beginning to close on them.
Winter gave Zac a subtle nudge to help, but before he could even take a step, Chris was already behind the wheelchair. He gripped the handles and, with effortless strength, lifted the wheelchair and cleared the doors.
Mrs. Xander’s face turned icy. Of course. He could never miss a chance to play the hero.
Once inside the cafeteria, Mrs. Xander Sr. sat down and suddenly grabbed Chris by the sleeve. She pointed to the seat beside Winter. “Sit here p>
“Grandma, I want to talk to Zac for a bit,” Winter said quickly.
Before Chris or Mrs. Xander Sr. could respond, she waved at Zac. “Zac, sit here. I’d like to ask you more about Grandma’s test results p>
“Of course.” Zac smiled and took the seat beside her.
Since Winter had spoken up, Mrs. Xander Sr. had no choice but to let it go. She brushed Chris’s sleeve away and turned her face aside, unwilling to look at him.
Chris walked around the table and pulled out a chair.
By sheer coincidence, it was directly across from Winter.
She tried to ignore him, but Chris’s presence was impossible to overlook.
Ever since childhood, she had been able to pick him out instantly in any crowd. After all these years,
it
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had become instinct.
She pulled out her phone and, under the cover of the table, adjusted her ringer. A loud, sharp ringtone suddenly pierced the air.
She pressed the screen and said to Zac and Mrs. Xander Sr., “I need to take this. Go ahead and start without me p>
Then she stood and walked out.
The farther she went, the hollower her heart felt. It ached, but more than pain, there was a deep, seeping bitterness that sank into her bones. Her eyes were already burning before she reached a quiet corner.
She stopped near a secluded spot overlooking a small pond, holding a phone that had never actually rung. She stared blankly at the water, gauging that they should be nearly finished with breakfast by now.
Just as she was about to leave, a low, cool voice sounded above her.
“What kind of call needs this much privacy p>
Her body stiffened.
She stared at the tall shadow stretching across the ground but didn’t look up. “A very important personal matter p>
“Is that so p>
The faint sarcasm in his tone grated on her nerves.
“That’s none of your business.” She stood and tried to walk past him.
Chris stepped forward, blocking her path. He caught her arm and pulled her gently toward him.
He lowered his gaze to her face, noticing the tip of her nose flushed pink from the breeze. A flicker crossed his eyes.
“Why are you avoiding me p>
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Chapter 53
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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.