Chapter 15 I bought some steaming hot pretzels. Back in the car, acting as if nothing had happened, I shared them with Preston. Sunlight filtered through the window as I glanced at him. Suddenly I remembered the first time we met. I was three years old, separated from my mom at the train station when a woman took me. I cried hysterically, drawing everyone's attention. The woman panicked, abandoned me on the street, and ran away. An orphanage took me in for a year, where other kids bullied me. I was always hungry, always sick, and the medicine cabinet was always mysteriously "empty" when it was my turn. So I slipped out through the fence. That's when I first saw Preston. He was at a street market, buying a bag of hot pretzels. I was so hungry I followed him, my mouth watering at the smell. He walked very far, all the way to a deserted riverbank. He sat there in silence for a long time. After what seemed like forever, he tossed the pretzels into the bushes and walked toward the flowing water. I was too hungry to hold back. I called out: "Mister." He already had one foot in the water. He stopped at my voice, turned, and looked at me. I saw a boy's face-incredibly handsome yet terribly pale. Clutching my shirt, I summoned my courage and asked carefully: "Are you going to eat those pretzels? Can I have them?" He looked at me in surprise. After a moment, he shook his head. Then paused and nodded. Confused by his mixed signals, I asked again: Chapter 13 "Do you still want your pretzels?" He finally spoke, his voice dull, like an old rusty hinge creaking: "No. Take them." I ran happily to the bushes and retrieved the bag of pretzels. I sat right there on the grass, opened the bag, and began devouring them. I'd been on the run from the orphanage for two days, starving the whole time. When I was being bullied at the orphanage, I'd heard the other kids talking-they said street beggars could find food in trash cans and sleep under bridges. They could collect bottles and cans to sell for money to buy other things. So I escaped, planning to become a little beggar. No more bullying, no more getting yelled at by the headmaster for spilling my food or wetting the bed. But once I ran away, I discovered begging wasn't so easy. There wasn't much food to scavenge, bridge underpasses didn't block the wind, and they barely kept out the rain. But I was too afraid to go back, fearing punishment from the headmaster. As I ate the pretzels, Preston-the foot he'd placed in the water-slowly withdrew it. He came over, sat across from me, and silently watched me eat. I can't remember exactly what else he said to me then. Only remember that after I finished eating, he took me back to the military base. After that day, he never went back to the riverbank. Preston stayed with me for eleven years. But he always said I was the one who stayed with him for eleven years. When we first met, his parents had just died. Later I came to understand that day by the river, he had been planning to end his life. I pulled myself back to the present. Preston placed the last pretzel in my palm. He must have been remembering too, smiling gently as he said: "You were so tiny back then. Look how grown up you are now." Bare i sauldin join them, and had nothing else to do, I decided to go to the apartment the Fosters had given me to pick up my parent toppage Batural inte had finished mumer of his business in Boston. My transfer to a southern hospital was elen complete in obou ten days, we'd be heading back south, Twant to the apartment alone: Carter was waiting inside, sitting on the sofe he'd apparently been there for Thadn't planned to tell him I was leaving All three years, he'd never truly cared about me. We had nothing to discuss, Llooked at him calmly: "Did you need something He suddenly stood up and turned to face me, looking devastated and lost. After a long moment, I heard his trembling voice, As if he'd finally made some difficult decisions Eleanor, L. 1 Dipped the coin this afternoon. It came up heads" In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.