Chapter 6
By the time I arrived at Pemberly, night had already settled in. Although they were usually in bed early, my parents stood by the station exit, their eyes scanning the crowd.
The moment I spotted them, I ran straight into their arms, my voice trembling with emotion. “Mom… Dad…”
My father, Charlie Lennox, gently stroked my hair, a warm smile spreading across his face. “It’s alright now. You’re home. That’s all that matters.”
Everything at home remained exactly as I had left it, untouched by the passing of time.
After two days of rest, I officially began working at the law firm my parents had built from the ground up. They kept my identity hidden from the staff, so I joined like any other newcomer.
If I wanted to stay, I’d have to prove myself by passing the probation period. Nevertheless, I felt a joy I hadn’t experienced in a long while. From now on, I was finally living for myself.
I had succeeded in Aberton. There was no reason I couldn’t shine in Pemberly too.
Three months later, I officially passed my probation. When my parents heard the news, they threw a big feast at home. “We always knew you could do it!
11
Making it through probation at their prestigious law firm was no easy feat.
Just as my mother, Camilla Marsh, was about to set the last dish on the table, the doorbell unexpectedly rang.
Without much thought, I opened the door, and there stood Damien, whom I hadn’t seen in three months.
“Nora…”
.” He looked worn and exhausted, and his hair was tousled and unkempt. He was nothing like the polished Damien I knew from Aberton. His voice was rough, almost hoarse.
When I remained frozen by the door, my mother stepped forward and asked, “What’s going on?”
Knowing how much my parents disliked Damien, panic surged through me. I grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. “I need to step out for a moment, Mom,” I called over my shoulder.
Clutching Damien’s arm, I hurried down the stairs. Only when I was sure that my mother wasn’t behind me did I finally let him go. “How did you know I was here?” I asked.
Damien shifted his weight nervously, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t be angry. I’ve been searching for you for a long time. Just yesterday, I saw Mrs. Lennox enter this neighborhood, and with the help of some old classmates, I managed to get inside.
“I followed her quietly all the way to your doorstep, hesitating for what felt like an eternity before finally finding the courage to knock.”
He carefully pulled a bracelet from his pocket and held it out to me. “This is the bracelet you broke back then. I found it in the trash and fixed it.”
At the sight of the bracelet that had been with me for four years, now lying before me, I froze. Even with all the careful repairs, the faint cracks remained.
I didn’t reach out to take it. Instead, I said, “It’s fine. Why don’t you give it to Astrid instead?
“But with all the luxury things you’ve given her, I doubt she’d care about something this cheap.”
Damien lowered his head, guilt plain on his face. “I was wrong. I’m sorry…
“It wasn’t until after you left that I realized just how badly I messed up. Please, let me make it right.” “No,” I replied without hesitation. “I won’t fall for the same mistake twice.”
