Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2635

“I didn’t get in the car,” she tried to explain, “because you just reminded me not to let my guard down around strangers showing kindness.”

“Mm,” the man replied, his tone unreadable. He, of course, offered no explanation for why he hadn’t accepted the ride.

Sylvia felt a wave of embarrassment, as if every word she spoke was only digging her deeper into a hole.

“If I’d known this would happen, I would have just taken Grace’s car. I wanted to protect you, and instead I’ve become your burden.”

“Whether or not you’re a burden is for me to decide,” Gabriel’s voice was low and even, devoid of any emotion.

Sylvia’s eyelashes fluttered. She watched their merged shadow on the ground and asked, her voice soft, “Well, am I?”

“No.”

A warmth spread through her chest. Relaxing, she rested her head on his shoulder and asked, so quietly it was almost a whisper, “Why did you make me leave all those years ago?”

The question that had been buried in her heart for so long was finally out in the open.

Gabriel’s steps faltered. In the same steady tone, he said, “You were being targeted. The people after you were powerful, and I couldn’t eliminate them immediately. Sending you away was the only way to keep you safe.”

Sylvia bit her lip, blinking back the lump that formed in her throat. She looked at the distant mountain range, a dark silhouette against the night sky.

“I… I suspected as much,” she finally said. “Thank you for telling me yourself.”

“If there’s anything you want to know,” Gabriel said, “I’ll tell you.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

After a moment of silence, he asked, “Are you cold?”

Sylvia shook her head. “No.”

She rested against his shoulder, so comfortable she could have fallen asleep. But when she closed her eyes, his words echoed in her mind. A wave of sorrow washed over her, sharp and bitter. She fought to control it, but a single tear escaped and slid down her cheek, landing on his neck.

Sylvia turned the biscuit around, wrapping her arm around his neck to offer him the uneaten side. “Try a bite. It’s actually really good.”

He frowned slightly but leaned over and took a bite from her hand. Perhaps he was hungry too, or maybe the biscuit had softened inside the leaf wrapper, but it did taste better than before.

“See? It’s good, right?” Sylvia took another large bite herself. “I never lie.”

Gabriel let out a low chuckle. “Is there more?”

She immediately offered it to him again, not thinking about where she had bitten. Gabriel didn’t seem to care either and took another bite.

And so they finished the biscuit, one bite at a time.

After they were done, Sylvia rested her head on his shoulder again. “I’m just going to rest my eyes for a bit. Wake me when we’re close.”

Gabriel gave a quiet hum of assent and walked on, his steps even more steady than before.