Chapter 18
I didn’t dare bring the album back with me, so I asked Bryson to keep it for me, “Absolutely do not tell Antoine.”
Bryson nodded and put away the brochure before saying, “Ms. Oneal, I could help you with more than just this one thing.”
I looked at him with confusion, and Bryson said, “I took you to a place.”
***
After I went back, I was so restless that I didn’t even notice Antoine sitting next to me.
When he hugged me, I got startled and slapped him.
He touched his cheek, but he didn’t get angry at me. He just said, “I know you’re not in a good mood, so I have postponed the wedding for two months.”
“Antoine, I don’t love you anymore,” I reminded him, “Is it interesting for you to behave like this?”
He lit a cigarette and took two lonely puffs, “If you don’t love me, then so be it. As long as I can see
you every day.”
It is hard to believe that one day he would also speak to me in such a humble tone.
At night, as I lay down, he held me in his arms again. I wanted to struggle, but he muffledly said, “Don’t move. I won’t touch you, just hugging.”
He indeed did not touch me again.
One day, out of the blue, he asked me, “Noemi, shall we have two children in the future? Is that
okay?”
No matter whether it was a boy or a girl, they were all like you, the best, unlike me.
. I felt only ridiculous, “We once had a child, and you killed him.”
He held me tighter, “I was wrong, I was blinded by hatred at that time.”
“I shouldn’t have hurt you. That day was the anniversary of Kiley’s death, and I was reminded of the
things she went through and the evil your father did. I really couldn’t control myself.”
I have known Antoine for a long time, and every year on that day, he would indeed disappear, not answering calls or replying to messages. Because of this, I have even had an argument with him.
I remained silent, and he continued, “I said I hate you, but what I truly hate is myself. Kiley died so
agically, and for all these years, I have been living only for revenge. But I unexpectedly fell in love with you. How can I ever justify this to Kiley?”
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“I should have returned to you all the pain she endured. But when I saw you hurt, I felt remorseful and wished I could kill myself.”
That day, when you were kidnapped, I truly felt like the sky was falling. Just the thought of you possibly dying and me never seeing you again, I felt like I couldn’t go on living.
“I pretended to care about Tessa, just to distract Joe’s attention. I have never liked any other women. They meant nothing to me. From beginning to end, my heart only had you.”
“Noemi, I let go of the hatred towards Kiley, and you… Shall we start over?”
Forgetting everything and starting over, how easy is it?
I was a person, not an emotionless animal. I had memories, I felt pain, and I felt sadness.
Antoine, we can never go back again.
I said coldly, “I know, go to sleep.”
His voice was hoarse, “What do you want me to do to forgive me?”
I pretended to be asleep and did not respond.
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