Chapter 12
557words
He looked at me, seemingly surprised by my question.
He remained silent for even longer.
Then, he slowly, word by word, said:
"She is my sister."
My heart, the moment I heard those last two words, felt like riding a roller coaster, suddenly soaring from the valley to the clouds.
"However, she is no longer here."
I was stunned.
I didn't expect to receive such an answer.
Looking at his profile that appeared somewhat lonely under the light, that slight, untimely sourness in my heart instantly transformed into deep, overwhelming sympathy.
"I'm sorry," I said softly, "I didn't know..."
"It's alright." He shook his head, quickly returning to that calm, undisturbed expression, as if that moment of vulnerability just now was merely my imagination. "It's all in the past."
The more casually he treated it, the more my heart ached for him.
"I'll pour you another drink!" I picked up the wine pot, poured myself another cup, and filled his too, "This one's not for celebration, nor for anything else. It's just to thank you for appearing in my life."
He looked at me, his gaze becoming somewhat different.
In his eyes, there seemed to be something intense that I couldn't quite understand.
He didn't speak, just picked up his cup and drained it completely in one gulp.
That night we drank a lot.
My alcohol tolerance is actually very poor. After a few cups of sake, I was already feeling dizzy.
I also became more talkative.
I told him about my childhood, about my strong and capable mother, about how she built the Su Corporation from nothing all by herself.
I also told him about my weak and incompetent father whose heart was blinded by lust, about when he betrayed my mother and brought Melissa Lewis and her disgusting daughter into our home.
I also told him how, after my mother fell ill, I struggled alone in this man-eating family, like a trapped beast, desperately holding on while surrounded by enemies.
These words, I had never spoken to anyone before.
But in front of him, in this warm little pub, with the slight intoxication of alcohol, I poured out all the grievances, resentment, and pain in my heart without any reservation.
He just kept listening quietly. Occasionally he would pick up a piece of char siu for me, or refill my empty wine glass.
But his gaze remained constantly, attentively fixed on me.
I don't know how I finally walked out of that little pub.
I only remember that the night breeze outside was cool.
And his hand was warm.
It was he who, holding my hand, led me step by step out of that quiet alley.
I dizzily leaned against him, entrusting almost all my body weight to him.
I could smell that clean, pleasant scent on him, mixed with the rice fragrance of sake, creating a... aroma that made me feel incredibly secure and utterly captivated.
"Luke Shaw..." I raised my head, looking at his blurry jawline so close to me, murmuring his name.
"Hmm?"
"You're so nice," I said, and I meant it from the bottom of my heart.
I felt his hand on my waist tighten slightly.
Then I heard an extremely soft sigh tinged with resignation.
After that, I knew nothing more.
