Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 82

Once the last few people slipped away from the elevator, Shirley finally found her voice. “Odette.”

Odette wasn’t with The Cabinda School anymore. She was now the head of the education bureau, which made Shirley treat her with a certain respect, even after all these years.

“I was hoping I could talk to your son for a bit. Would that be alright?”

Odette was well aware of how her family had failed Bonnie in the past. There was a heaviness to her sigh as she nodded, glancing over at Hannah and Jackson.

“Let’s step over there. I need to talk to you about Jasper’s health too,” she said.

Hannah just stared at Lawrence, who stood off to the side with his head hanging low and his fists clenched. She clearly didn’t want to let Shirley talk to him alone, her lips pressed together in stubborn defiance.

Odette’s voice turned firmer. “Hannah, don’t be difficult.”

The words stung. Hugging Jasper closer, Hannah turned silently and vanished around the corner.

She called Bonnie, trying to keep her tone even. Bonnie insisted nothing was going on, that she would turn him down if he tried anything. But then the very next day, Shirley saw it for herself—Lawrence dropping Bonnie home, wrapped around her like he never wanted to let go.

In all her years of teaching, Shirley rarely called out students for having crushes. She decided to just watch and wait. Sure enough, the two of them started to sneak around together. Soon, Bonnie was glowing—happier than Shirley had ever seen her. She’d smile to herself for no reason at all, sometimes right in the middle of dinner. She started coming home late and eventually moved in with Lawrence. She was always over at the Lane family’s house, too.

Shirley started to worry—she was afraid Bonnie would get hurt, or lose herself completely. She couldn’t help herself and started calling to lecture and warn her daughter. Bonnie would try to listen, but one day, Lawrence took the phone. Shirley still remembered that moment so clearly. Even now, it tugged at her heart. She had always liked Lawrence, maybe more than she should have, which was why she’d turned a blind eye for so long.

It really felt like they had done right by trusting him. Everyone agreed the two of them were perfect together. Both families loved the idea, friends would tease them about being a golden couple, practically made for each other. Now, all of it had unraveled—it was all falling apart in the worst way.