Facade of Love

Chapter 447 Hurting Without Meaning To

Back in the day, I would have teased Alice just to get a rise out of her, the way I used to with Moore. However, those days were gone now. Then, I just stood there, feeling numb until I finally walked away, my spirits at rock bottom.

The rain in Lake City was relentless, the kind of cold that seeps into the bones. I could not go back to the Scotts. When I left town with Lucas, I ended everything with my mom. Coming back now, I was starting from scratch.

I was lost without a home, aimlessly drifting through the freezing streets, my clothes clinging to me and drenched from the relentless rain. The bone-chilling cold had almost numbed me to the core, and my mind was stuck on a loop, replaying the deaths of Officer Jackson and Kobe. I felt like a stray dog with no place to call my own, wandering around without a purpose. Everything had changed so much in the past couple of months.

Maxwell found me in a daze, not even sure where I was. I caught glimpses of his worried face. He shook me, his voice booming, "Yvette, what are you doing?"

His shout snapped me back to reality, and I suddenly noticed the clear river right before me. I had no idea how I had gotten to the edge of the moat, just inches away from a plunge.

Realizing where I was, I turned to him, confused. "I... how did I end up here?"

He guided me away from the edge, his brow creased with concern. "What's going on? You look awful."

I could only shake my head, feeling completely drained and powerless, my legs buckling beneath me. He caught me swiftly, his arms supporting me, panic in his eyes as he scooped me up.

Holding onto his jacket, everything felt so strange, and I whispered in despair, "Maxwell, maybe I shouldn't have come back."

"Don't talk like that," he said firmly, settling me into his car, tucking a blanket around me, and cranking up the heat. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

I resisted weakly. "No, I'm just really tired. Please, just take me back to your place. I'll be fine after I sleep."

He did not look convinced but respected my wishes.

The car ride was silent, with Maxwell stealing worried glances at me every so often.

I wanted to reassure him that I was okay, but exhaustion took over, and I drifted off to sleep against the car window.

...

Waking up again, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, not a hospital but an elegant, simple bedroom. It was probably Maxwell's place. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I zoned out, gazing at the crystal chandelier above me for what felt like ages before I managed to peel myself off the bed. My drenched clothes had been swapped for a set of pink silk pajamas.

I scrunched my eyebrows together. Did Maxwell change my clothes?

"Are you awake?" In the midst of my bewilderment, the bedroom door swung open and Maxwell strolled in with a steaming cup of coffee, which he handed to me. Catching my puzzled look as I fiddled with the pajamas, he arched an eyebrow and said, "Don't make a big deal out of it. You were soaked to the bone. If we didn’t change your clothes, you would’ve died of exposure."

I knew that much, but still, there were certain boundaries. How could he just...

Noticing my look of disapproval, he queried his mouth and explained, "I didn't change you. I got the part-time housekeeper to help out."

I let it go at that, accepted the coffee, and took a tentative sip.

He settled into a chair nearby with a casual expression and stared at me. "Yvette, when did you get so twitchy? You're on the edge, ready to jump at the slightest thing. What's going on in your head?"

Finding myself at the river was just as surprising to me as it was to him. Since coming back from the border five years ago, I would sometimes lose control and hurt myself without even realizing it, trying to dull my thoughts with physical pain. However, I had not done that in ages, and this sudden slip... It must have been the hopelessness of my current mess that made me subconsciously flirt with the idea of ending it all.

At a loss for words with him, I simply muttered, "I wasn't trying to off myself."

He gave a dismissive snort and said, "Whatever's in your head, let's make this the last time. If I catch you at it again, I might just let you be."

I tuned him out, my gaze drifting to the window where the sky hung heavy and gray. "Lake City... it's not the same anymore."

He let out a weary sigh, giving me a long look. "Heard about what happened to Alice?"

I stayed quiet, swallowed by silence.

He straightened up and locked eyes with me. "Yvette, this world is full of people to love. Idris isn't the only one. You won't spend your life loving just him. He's chosen his path, so you should pick

yours. Don't drown in sadness over a relationship that’s already over. I don't want to be disappointed in you."