Chapter 27
Lights flickered through, and I just settled for watching the view of Midnight, which was always brighter and livelier at dusk until daybreak.
The city never sleeps.
“How was riding with Athena p>
It was unusual for Ares to be the first to strike up a conversation; well, it was given because he hadn’t stopped staring since we left the estate. I blocked him out, but now I can’t do that anymore.
I pushed my glasses to the bridge of my nose as I replied. “There are no words to describe it p>
That was not a lie, and it was my best chance of stopping him from asking more about it.
Another silence took over the car until we arrived at the penthouse. I came down and slammed the door shut, pausing when I realized Ares was yet to move. Maybe he’s off to his private business. I huffed, strolling through the entrance.
When I got inside, I went straight to my room and quickly dialed Granny’s number.
“Hello, Pumpkin p>
“Gramps? What are you doing with Granny’s phone p>
“She’s sleeping p>
I checked the time. Fuck! I called too late.
“Are you both okay p>
“Yes p>
“I-I’m just checking in, that’s all p>
“You never call me anymore p>
“Don’t be like that, Pa.” I sat on my bed. “I only call you when I have problems p>
I recalled when he told me that if I had any, I should tell him that he had a special ability to absolve them all. My little mind believed him and told him everything.
He chuckled. “And yet you don’t call p>
“Because I’m all grown up now p>
“You’ll always be my little pumpkin. Nothing will ever change that p>
I smiled widely. “I know p>
“You don’t sound okay p>
Another reason I don’t call him is that he always notices something is wrong, and unlike Granny, he won’t let it slide until he knows what. He had his ways.
“Today was a nightmare, I thought I was gonna die and leave you behind p>
He laughed, thinking I was making a joke, even though it was far from it. I felt tingling hearing that carefree sound.
“City life must be dragging too much. Why don’t you come home p>
“Have you forgotten? I won’t give up that easily p>
He never wanted me to leave Rosevale, and even now, he indirectly tells me to come back.
“Giving up isn’t such a bad thing; it also means taking a step back to retrace your steps and open up to other opportunities p>
“That’s not fair p>
“What p>
“Now I feel like leaving it all behind, but I can’t, not yet. I don’t know what to do, Pa, I’m mixed up in something p>
“What is it? Is it bad p>
I wish I could tell him, I really do.
“Just one year,” I said. “One year wearing a mask, and then it’ll all be over p>
I said this more to myself than to him.
Gramps sighed heavily. “Working must be taking a great toll on you. I know your work is important there, but I don’t want you to lose yourself p>
Maybe I already did. The moment I signed that contract, it felt like a drastic shift had happened.
“Dan and I broke up,” I confessed.
“What happened?” he asked, worried.
“We decided it’s time to let go p>
“Sweetie, you have been together since MU. You were so close. Granny planned your wedding in her scrapbook, always talking about it p>
“Don’t tell her, please? T-This was for the best. Turns out I never knew who he truly was p>
“Did he hurt?” he asked sharply, and I could already picture him grabbing his rifle and shooting Dan.
“I-I ended it. We have grown distant since I started working for King Corp p>
That was the truth, except I didn’t add that he cheated on me. It was best not to mention that.
“Then you’re not okay. I’m taking the next flight to Midnight p>
“No, no, no! This is why I didn’t want to say anything p>
“This is my fault p>
“What p>
“If I had stepped up, you wouldn’t have to spend half of your life paying back loans. You would have gotten a lighter job, and maybe you and Dan would have still been together p>
“Gramps, none of this is your fault, and I never blamed you and ma. Ever since mom and dad, you have always been there for me. You worked through fire, and everything I have now is all because of you. I’m not burdened, it’s a bridge I’ll eventually cross p>
He breathed heavily through the line, and my eyes stung.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have talked about them p>
It was always a heavy topic, and it affected us more than we wanted, even though it had been years.
“No, sweetie, don’t apologise, it’s alright. I-I wish I could have done more for you p>
I shook my head as a tear slid down my face. “What you did was more than enough, and now it’s my turn p>
“Catherine p>
“I’ll clear it off soon, in a year’s time, we won’t have anything to worry about. I may even come back to Rosevale, work the farm, get horses, cows, and more of everything p>
“You’d leave Midnight?” he asked, heartbroken even though he was the one who urged me never to go.
I smiled. “Yes p>
I sat up in my bed when I heard scratches on my room door. Puzzled, I took off the sheets and walked barefoot to it. Opening, I saw no one but leveled my gaze at Loki.
“Hey,” I said, watching as he ran in.
That’s a first. He gave a soft meow to me, and I smiled.
“Are you sure you haven’t been switched? What’s with the friendly air p>
He lay down and showed me his belly, meowing more. Seems like the treats I always left around finally worked its magic.
Giggling, I crouched and rubbed him.
“Who’s the cutest cat ever? Oh yes you are, yes you’re p>
He sat up and pounced on my bed. I was about to go to him for more rubs when my eye caught something at the dresser.
I walked to my nightstand to grab my glasses and put them on to see clearly. Is that p>
Startled, I neared it and grabbed the small black box. When I opened it, I saw a ring.
Not a new one, but the same one I had lost. I would recognise the unique craftsmanship anywhere.
How come it’s here? I was sure I took it with me to the equestrian.
Did Reed find it?