C09
The people Adrien brought along might have lacked a sense of boundaries, but their sincerity and warmth were
undeniable.
I had expected to feel lost and alone coming to San Mirren by myself, but to my surprise, life here was far livelier
than it had ever been in Mirrencourt.
The treatment I received was better than I had imagined. Besides my standard monthly salary, Adrien had even arranged for me to have my own private dorm.
Once everything was settled, for the first time, my thoughts drifted back to Emeric.
When I landed and saw over a hundred missed calls from him, I had felt a flicker of something–hesitation,
maybe.
But after that, there was nothing.
I was convinced my leaving didn’t really matter to Emeric. He was probably back with Marie by now, making the
most of their time together.
Thinking back on everything I had endured in Mirrencourt, it all felt like a dream–one that had never been meant
to last.
We were never meant to walk the same path. Losing each other was always the inevitable ending.
I thought that was it. That Emeric and I had no unfinished story left between us.
But I underestimated him.
On my third day in San Mirren, after an all–nighter in the lab, I was dragging myself back to my dorm, exhausted and barely functioning–when I stumbled straight into someone’s chest.
The scent was oddly familiar. After a night of endless experiments, my mind was too foggy to process it.
I was utterly exhausted and half–asleep.
Mumbling a few quick apologies, I tried to step around the person and leave.
But they didn’t move. They stood firmly in my way.
Annoyed, I was just about to snap when a deep, raspy voice rang out above me–A voice I knew all too well.
“Flora, don’t you have anything to say to me?”
The words hit me like a lightning bolt, jolting me wide awake. Instinctively, I took a big step back.
For the first time, I really looked at the man standing before me,
It was Emeric.
But he wasn’t the same. A faint layer of stubble shadowed his jaw, his bloodshot eyes sunken with exhaustion.
He looked utterly worn down.
When I still didn’t speak, he stepped closer, eyes locked onto mine. “Flora, I’m talking to you. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
I swallowed, my voice finally coming back to me. “How did you find me?”
Emeric looked at me, exasperation flickering in his tired eyes.
“Finding a person is a small matter for the Jacobs. I haven’t slept a single second in three days and nights. And
now that I’m finally here thie ie all you have to say to me?”
8:44 AM
Fading Love, Fading Hate, A Forever Farewell
now that I’m finally here, this is all you have to say to me?”
I had asked out of genuine curiosity. But his words–his tone–set something off inside me.
I lifted my head, met his gaze and curled my lips into a mocking smile.
“Oh? Then let me ask you something. How are things with Marie? How’s the baby? She must love the songs you play for her, doesn’t she?”
His expression darkened. “Enough, Flora. I didn’t come here to fight with you.”
Enough?
Not even close.
I stared at him for a long second, then, without hesitation-
Smack!
My palm struck the left side of his face, sharp and unforgiving.
“How shameless. You think you have the right to question me? To fight with me?! Do you even remember what you did six months ago? Or do you sleep so soundly at night that the nightmares don’t come?!”
C
I grabbed my collar and yanked it open. The scars winding across my chest were laid bare for both of us to see.
My voice was shaking now, but not from fear.
“Emeric, that day in the garden, Marie asked me if it was thrilling when they bit me. Tell me–was it? Did you enjoy watching those animals livestream their abuse of me? You must have, right? Otherwise, how else did Marie end up pregnant with your child that very night?!”
Before he could react-
Smack!
I struck the right side of his face just as hard.
