Love After Leaving: No Regret (Agnes and Raymond) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52 The Origin of a Bond

Finished

Rebecca suddenly switched gears, snuggling against Agnes’s shouldek with a conspiratorial look.

“Speaking of which, Agnes-why don’t you have a boyfriend? You’ve got the face, the body, and you’re basically a billionaire.

“I feel like you could have literally anyone. Spilk

Agnes replied, “Because… no man has met my standards. Is that a valid enough answer?”

Rebecca blinked. “Huh?”

“Anyway, hurry up and go home. You talk too much, and it’s getting dark. Remember to text me when po get back.

“You’re a young girl-stop worrying about ‘love’ all day and focus on graduating first!”

Agnes didn’t want to elaborate. She shooed Rebecca out the door.

She’d known Rebecca for years and had never once mentioned that she was married.

It wasn’t a deliberate deception; she just never brought it up, and over time, especially with the Hillary drama, she didn’t want to mention it at all.

When they’d first met, Rebecca had been a timid, wispy little thing who could barely make eye contact.

In the blink of an eye, years had passed, and she had grown into a young woman longing for romance.

Agnes had found Rebecca in a supermarket. The girl had been caught shoplifting.

A cluster of aproned store ladies had surrounded her, all talking at once, berating her in overlapping

waves.

One of them was holding a plastic bag with a few packs of stolen cookies inside.

Rebecca was filthy-wearing a thin, ripped long-sleeve tee, rail-thin, maybe 13 or 14 at most.

It was already winter, but she was barefoot in a pair of summer flip-flops.

She kept her head down, rubbing the hem of her shirt, silent.

Γ

The moment the woman mentioned calling 911, she started bowing and apologizing frantically, begging them to let her go.

Tears rolling down in fat drops. Eyes wide with a terror that made her look like a rabbit waiting to be carried off by the hunter.

Looking back now, Agnes understood-the fear in Rebecca’s eyes hadn’t been about the police.

Despite the bowing and the begging, the store ladies weren’t going to let her off.

Chapter 52-The-Origin of a Bond

They said it wasn’t her first time. She’d been caught before. A repeat offender. They were calling the cops.

The girl was a sobbing, sotty mess-pitiful beyond words. And all she’d stolen was food.

Was she in some kind of desperate situation?

Agnes couldn’t bear it. She opened her wallet and told the woman she’d cover whatever the girl owed.

Money settled, the ladies dropped the 911 threat though they warned Rebecca never to set foot in the store again.

Outside, Rebecca’s eyes were swollen red. She thanked Agnes over and over.

Agnes said, “I live nearby. I have some clothes that are too small for me. Want them?”

Rebecca looked embarrassed, but she was cold and starving. Pride was a luxury she couldn’t afford. She nodded.

She followed Agnes home. Agnes offered her a shower.

Rebecca refused. She was so shy she wouldn’t even sit down. She just stood by the door.

So, Agnes brought out a basin of hot water and set it in front of her, gesturing for her to at least wash her face. Rebecca did.

While Rebecca washed, Agnes dug through her closet-new clothes, pants, socks, shoes. She snipped off every price tag, then packed in as many snacks as she could carry.

She handed it all to Rebecca. She’d meant to ask where the girl lived, but Rebecca just bowed deeply and

ran.

Agnes hadn’t even gotten her name.

The next morning, Agnes stepped outside and found the entire front yard swept spotless.

A little bouquet of wildflowers sat by the gate, bright and pretty in the sunlight.

Agnes knew immediately. It was the girl. And she was even more certain-this kid was ‘t bad.

She’d been driven to stealing by circumstances beyond her control.

Agnes wanted to find her. Maybe she could do something.

For days, every morning was the same: a pristine yard and a fresh bundle of wildflowers.

One morning, Agnes set her alarm early. She heard sweeping outside.

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