Chapter 8 I stared blankly at the necklace in her hand. The pendant was actually a tiny memory card. Before I could get a closer look, a pair of large hands reached over my head and snatched it away. A man's furious voice rang out, so harsh it made my eardrums ache. "Nicole, are you out of your mind?" Kenneth's face was so dark it was almost frightening. "Out of my mind?" Nicole's laughter was tinged with bitterness. "That's right, I've been losing my mind for years because of you. Let me tell you, Kenneth, we're going to be tangled up together for the rest of our lives-there will never be peace." Before she could finish, Kenneth's hand landed hard across her cheek. "Kenneth, you hit me?" Nicole stared at him in disbelief, then broke down, sobbing. Kenneth struggled to keep his composure as he dragged her out, half-carrying her as she stumbled away. I'd never seen him so angry. That night, Kenneth knocked on my door. He reeked of alcohol. I didn't let him in, but I went downstairs with him. We walked side by side for a long time, neither of us saying a word. Finally, he stopped, bracing himself before speaking. "Lucy, I'm sorry. I owe you a real apology." I nodded, but I couldn't bring myself to say, "It's okay." Suddenly, he seemed to deflate, leaning against a streetlamp and quietly crying. "I just don't get it. I wanted to protect everyone, but I ended up hurting everyone instead. 0.0 % 12:03 Chapter o "I let you down. I let Nikki down. 1 "Nikki's always been obsessive since she was a kid. I never knew how to handle her. I thought if I sent her overseas for a few years, she'd meet someone better and eventually forget about me. "But I never imagined Isaac would treat her so horribly. When she gave me those photos, so broken and hopeless, I just lost it." I patted his shoulder, but I had no idea how to comfort him. In Nicole's twisted obsession, maybe Kenneth was just another victim. "Lucy, I've been regretting everything these past months. If I'd chosen you that day, would you still be by my side. now? Our baby would be almost here." He couldn't go on once he mentioned the child. I gave a wry smile. "Too bad there's no such thing as 'if.' Who doesn't want to be someone's first choice?" I looked up and met his gaze. His eyes were shadowed, unreadable. "You might not believe me, but I've never loved anyone else. In every plan I've made for the future, you're there. I thought maybe, when we're 80, we'd still be playing chess together in a retirement home... "Forgive me, Lucy. That day, I just couldn't do it. "You said you'd try to forget me. I've tried too, these past six months, but it's useless. "Every night, when I close my eyes, I see the disappointment in yours. It hurts so much I can't sleep. Honestly, I haven't slept a single night without drinking." My heart clenched, but I let the feeling pass. "Kenneth, I asked you once-are you hiding something from me? Were you ever truly honest with me?" He jerked his head up, his pupils trembling in the darkness. 47.2 % 12:03 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!