After cuddling for a while, Raeleigh tried to push Jepherson away, for which he tightened his embrace even harder. He lifted his hand to wipe the teardrop off the corner of his eyes and took a deep breath. Due to his heart disease, his complexion turned wan. He supported himself by placing one of his hands on the wall, and hugged Raeleigh with the other hand. Presented with an opportunity, she raised her head and looked at Jepherson. "What happened to you? How can I help you if you don't tell me?"
"You can't help me." Jepherson pressed her head into his chest. "Give birth to him if you really want to. This tragedy didn't result from your fault. I should be responsible for it. I've dragged you into it."
He patted her gently. His hand movement was clumsy and heavy, as though there was a weight of a thousand pounds pressing down on it.
Raeleigh embraced him. "You've found your sister, haven't you?"
Raeleigh looked up at him, who was shaking his head. "I can't find her. I'll never find her."
Tears welled up in the corner of his eyes. Raeleigh was startled for a second, her heart sinking. "She..."
"Don't ask. Lamarre will come to us soon. Let's go." Jepherson let go of Raeleigh, wiped the tears off his eyes, held her wrist, and walked towards the elevator. Raeleigh couldn't see his pale face, but she knew that he was in a mournful mood.
After they entered the elevator, she gazed at him. "Have you searched thoroughly? Is there a mistake?"
Jepherson stared at her. "She won't come back."
Raeleigh peered at him. "Maybe you have been looking for the wrong person?"
"No, I'm very sure it's her." Jepherson turned his head away and stared blankly into space. Although he was a little overbearing, he had never done anything that would harm innocent people. Indeed, he was ruthless to certain people. With that being said, those people had committed evil deeds and they got their just paybacks. He wondered why heaven would have administered such a punishment to him.
Incest?
It was extremely absurd!
He didn't speak for a long time, as if he had become a piece of wood furniture. His eyes were fixed at the wall of the elevator, watching the images of the two people reflected on it in a daze.
He blamed himself for being so dim-witted. Raeleigh was nineteen years old, and his sister was also nineteen years old, but he had never made the connection.
He still remembered the emotions when he met her for the first time. Back then, she had appeared in the crowd and barged into his line of sight. He had turned around and noticed that she was gawking at him with her large gleaming eyes. They were full of mischief, curiosity, and a hint of naivety thrown into the mix...
He seemed to have found her among the tens of thousands of people, and was utterly captivated by her. She had not only bedazzled him with her comportment and grace, but also the way she frowned and grinned.
He thought that it was a marriage promised to him by heaven, and that the two of them could be like his parents, who managed to stay by each other's side forever. Unexpectedly, God had played a big joke on them by letting their first meeting leave an indelible impression on them, and then plotting such an unforgettable culmination to their romantic relationship...
Suddenly, Jepherson let out a bitter smile. Raeleigh was right in that autumn was accompanied with a sense of sombreness, especially that autumn. Wherever he was, a feeling of desolation would engulf him.
He had nowhere to hide, escape, or express his sadness.
When the door of the elevator opened, Raeleigh looked inquiringly at him. "Shall we go out?"
Jepherson came to his senses, asking, "What's wrong? Aren't you feeling well?"
She froze momentarily before she replied, "You are too keyed up. Take a rest in the afternoon. Grandma hasn't seen you for a long time. How about paying her a visit?"
"Yeah." Jepherson soon regained his composure. He let go of Raeleigh's hand, stepped out of the elevator, and turned back to look at her. She came out with her head lowered, throwing a glance at her hand, which had been released by him.
She wondered what exactly had happened to him. Could it be that his disposition had completely changed because the news of his sister's death was too devastating a blow to him?
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