NovelEnglishBrielle stepped into the room and was greeted by its impeccable cleanliness. Near the window, a bouquet of sunflowers seemed to illuminate the entire space.
"Ricardo found those," Aubree mentioned as she went to pour two cups of tea.
Brielle caught the scent of tea and raised an eyebrow slightly, "Didn't you use to be all about coffee?" Aubree had always had a thing for coffee, the more bitter and robust, the better. "Sometimes you gotta mix things up." The statement hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Brielle's eyebrows lifted subtly, and she let out a light chuckle. "How long has he been around?" Aubree's eyes flashed with irritation. "Who knows? Clements Corporation is probably on the brink of collapse. That's why he's got so much free time." Brielle didn't dwell on the subject and instead voiced her reason for the visit.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Aubree, the phone you gave me, did you buy it yourself?" The phone? It took a moment for Aubree to react, then she shook her head. "No, it was from Andrew. I was puzzled at the time. He never liked you, so why would he bother giving you a phone? Is there a problem with it?" "It's been tampered with, hacked. During the tMax and I had our issues, it blocked our communication." Aubree's anger was palpable. She stormed to the door, yanking it open.
Andrew stood outside, his face lighting up upon seeing her emerge. However, instead of a warm greeting, he was met with a resounding slap. The slap echoed down the alley, crisp and forceful. Andrew's eyes reddened, but he did not scold her. Instead, he asked hoarsely, "Does your hand hurt?" "You bugged Bri's phone?" "Yes." Aubree couldn't help but laugh out of sheer exasperation. Andrew knew full well that Brielle was her closest friend, yet he resorted to such sleazy tactics.
"Get out." "But I didn't-" "Out!" Andrew suddenly fell silent, and a bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Aubree." "Bang!" The door slammed shut again, narrowly missing his fingertips.
He licked the metallic taste from the corner of his mouth, feeling Aubree's profound disgust. It was like a needle piercing his heart.
Yet, perversely, he thought the sting of the needle was sweetened with honey. Perhaps in her contempt, there was a twisted form of affection.
The guilt that burrowed deep within him was as torturous as any other pain.
Memories of Aubree flooded him like a relentless river, battering against his fragile defenses.
It made his heart race and his soul ache.
Andrew stood motionless for a while before wandering off aimlessly.
His driver had been waiting all along. Upon seeing him, the driver sighed with relief. "Sir, there's been a call from the family estate. Ms. Tessa's condition has worsened. She's burning up with fever and keeps caffing your name." After a pause, the driver noticed the blood at Andrew's mouth and the stark handprint on his pale cheek. Clearly, the slap had been delivered with no mercy. Andrew coughed twice, his nose tingling as if he were on the verge of tears.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe driver wanted to ask if they should head back to the office where the executive team was waiting. But looking at Andrew, who had been haunting this down-and-out neighborhood sin the crack of dawn, returning each tmore dispirited than the last, he hesitated.
When Andrew lifted his head, his reddened eyes were heartbreakingly sorrowful. "Taketo my place." His voice was hoarse, like he was about to break down.
Without delay, the driver pressed the accelerator.
Andrew's current residence was a m place heavy with memories of Aubree Every corney spoke of her presence, from the matching shoes at the entrance to the whimsically colored bedsheets.
Aubree's clothes still filled the closet, as if nothing had changed. He had shooed away the cleaners scheduled to tidy up.
He'd never been one for housework, but now he clumsily cleaned the place himself. It was as if keeping it spotless would bring Aubree back. Though he knew, deep down, she probably never would. X
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