Chapter 100
“Holly is Sierra’s friend,” John answered directly. “I’ve already limited how much she can help financially. I can’t take away her emotional support, too.”
Kenneth paused, then smiled.
A little over forty minutes later, they pulled up in front of Kenneth’s home. He got out and shut the door in one smooth motion.
John was about to drive off toward Lakeside Villa when Kenneth called out, “John.”
John lifted his foot off the gas and glanced over.
Before he could speak, Kenneth said, “Stop living in the past. Don’t carry that weight around. If he were still here, he wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
John’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his lips pursed. He said nothing in the end.
“Drive safe. Take it easy,” Kenneth said, lifting a hand in a casual wave, as if he could throw a bit of cheer his way.
John stepped on the gas and left.
On the way back, his thoughts kept drifting to the past, to that radiant, optimistic boy. Famous even when he was still a teenager, his talents were dazzling and bright. A life that burned so intensely yet ended forever at seventeen.
A car horn sounded.
John snapped back at himself. At some point, the red light had already turned green.
He gathered his thoughts and drove on.
Whether it was from being up all night or from those memories haunting him, he walked into Lakeside Villa wrapped in a chill that kept everyone at a distance.
He heard the door of the adjacent bedroom open. Pamela stepped out in silk pajamas. Seeing him, she glanced at the clock.
It wasn’t even six yet.
“John, why are you here so early?” she asked.
“Did I wake you?” John’s tone was stale, his expression unreadable.
Sensing something off, Pamela hurried to make an excuse. “No.”
“Then go back to bed. It’s still early.” John’s hand grabbed the door handle of the door that led him into his bedroom. “When you wake up, call me. I’ll go shopping with you.”
“Alright,” Pamela answered softly.
John hummed faintly in acknowledgment and went into his room.
The door shut, blocking her outside of his world again. Pamela stood there for a while, staring at the door, trying to find some clue from it.
She didn’t know him well, but she knew that even if he didn’t want to be close, he would at least show some concern out of duty and his promise.
Today, he said almost nothing.
With no better explanation, Pamela decided to blame it on Sierra.
Sierra would never have imagined that something like this would be pinned on her.
Chapter 100
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At six thirty, the alarm rang.
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