Chapter 9 "I... "I'm scared..." His voice was swallowed by the darkness. I had never seen him so fragile. I didn't know what he was hiding-only that there was already an invisible wall between us. Truthfully, I wasn't even trying to uncover his secrets. I just wanted him to realize that there was no going back for us. Kenneth's phone rang abruptly in the quiet night. He rejected the call, but it rang again, relentless. "Aren't you going to answer? She's looking for you." Kenneth sighed and picked up. "You don't need to know where I am, or who I'm with. I've told you a thousand times-none of this has anything to do with you." He hung up and switched off his phone. I could hear his angry, uneven breaths. It was a long time before he spoke again. "On my 19th birthday, she drugged me. "I hated her so much after that. I didn't speak to her for a year. I didn't even go home. "It wasn't until Dad got sick that she knelt in front of me, begging for forgiveness-promising she'd never touch me again. That's when I finally went back to the Garcia's residence. "All of this happened before I met you. I thought I could turn the page, that those memories would rot away inside me. But she kept pulling out that video, threatening me over and over." Kenneth's shoulders shook uncontrollably. A cold sweat crept down my back. "I was terrified you'd find out. Terrified you'd see those photos and videos. Terrified you'd think I was filthy and nev- er look at me again. 0.0 % 12:03 "I coulan i de nonest will you. Silent tears slid down his cheeks, soaking his collar. Saying all this seemed to drain the last of his strength. He looked at me, desperate. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "So why are you telling me now?" His voice was helpless. "Do you pity me? Can you forgive me? Even just a little?" 1 shook my head. "If you'd been honest from the start, we never would've begun. You two are tangled up too deeply-I don't want to trap myself in that kind of relationship." The light in Kenneth's eyes slowly faded. The streetlamp stretched its shadow long across the pavement. When he walked me home, Kenneth pulled out a small sketchbook. "This... I was supposed to give it to you at the wedding." I flipped through it. Every page was a drawing of me by Kenneth's hand. Me reading in the library. Me splashing in the ocean. Me asleep, my lashes long and soft. On the last page, I was trying on my wedding dress. I'd always known Kenneth could draw beautifully. Sometimes I'd catch him sketching and ask to see, but he'd never show me. But now, this carefully prepared gift meant nothing. I smiled and handed the sketchbook back. "I can't even remember anymore." His expression shifted, his hands trembling as he gripped the book. "I'm sorry, Lucy." "It's all over." I turned and walked upstairs, never looking back. After that day, I never saw Kenneth again. 46.8 % 12:03 Chapter 9 But every Friday morning, the gallery still received a bouquet of white flowers. Later, I sold the gallery-its prime location and decades of reputation earned me a tidy profit. I never found out if, on Friday mornings, someone still sent flowers to the gallery. 91.6 % Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!