Chapter 110: A Time To Say Goodbye
The nine year old girl was basking in the garden lawn of her house.However, Charlotte was lying on a mat, soaking up the sun, apparently unbothered by the other things
Basking in the sun was particularly warming and comfortable, especially in winter, making her stretch out lazily.
A lady in her fifties, accompanied by a teenage boy, stood at the entrance of a grand Mansion opposite of her house.
The woman was regal and graceful, walking in black little heels and wearing an expensive white fur coat, with jewelry encrusted with diamonds adorning her ears, neck, and wrists, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight.
The nine-year-old Charlotte had no interest in such things, but her eyes lit up when she saw the boy at the woman’s side, twinkling with
mischievous light.
In time, Charlotte thought to herself, being lecherous was indeed an instinct. Neither men nor women could escape it.
But she couldn’t be blamed, for who would resist such a handsome face on someone so young?
The boy was truly good-looking, fair and youthful, but his brows were constantly furrowed, not prone to smiling, and his eyes were dark and deep, showing a maturity that didn’t match his young age
As Charlotte hid her face with her drawing book, a chill gaze fell upon her, sending a shiver through her body and nearly causing her to tumble from her perch.
It turned out the boy had seen her!
Charlotte rushed to the gate to greet them. Looking up, she asked the boy, "Are you new to this place?" However, the boy simply ignored her.
"Yes, we’re new to this place," the woman, likely the boy’s grandmother, spoke up.
Charlotte’s eyes were fixed on the boy, but he didn’t return her gaze. Instead, his eyes brimmed with disdain. "Skinny and ugly." he uttered, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Are you blind?" Charlotte shot back, her anger flaring.
"Ryan, stop it, how can you speak to her like that ..it’s not like you’re picking a wife for yourself...Be kinder to her." the old lady gave a stern look to her grandson.
Charlotte smiled, taking his hands in hers. "So, your name is Ryan?"
"I don’t like talking to strangers." he added.
Charlotte countered with a smile, "But we’re neighbors. How can we be strangers?"
His Grandma nodded. "You’re right. And what’s your name, dear?"
"I’m Charlotte Wright," she replied. "I’m nine years old. My house is that one." She pointed toward her home.
Ryan’s grandma beamed. "What a beautiful name! Ryan, introduce yourself."
Ryan hesitated, "No, I won’t."
His grandma gently nudged him. "Ryan..."
Ryan relented, "I am Ryan."
Her curiosity grew. "Ryan, what?"
Ryan asked, eyeing her skeptically, "What difference does it make?"
Glancing at his grandma, Ryan surrendered, "I am Ryan Harrington."
His grandma smiled warmly. "Ryan, you’ve got a new friend."
"Considering your age, I should call you ’Brother’," Charlotte said softly, "but I’d much rather call you Ryan, if that’s okay?" Her big, pleading eyes gazed up at him.
Ryan felt a shiver run down his spine as he avoided her intense stare.
Madam Harrington smiled warmly. "That’s perfectly fine, Charlotte. You can call him Ryan. He’s just a tad moody sometimes."
Starting that day, Charlotte’s relentless nagging paid off, and Ryan was compelled to admit, "You’re my friend."
Charlotte frequently looked back on their initial meeting and chuckled at her own audacious behavior.
After wrapping up her conversation with Thea, she settled into bed and impulsively dialed Ryan’s number.
The call rang unanswered.
"Probably busy with that Ava girl." she grumbled, annoyance etched on her face.
Disappointed, she placed the phone aside and fell asleep.
Thea was busy assisting Mrs. Evelyn with packing.
"I can handle the work, " Mrs. Evelyn insisted.
"No need to trouble yourself, Aunt Evelyn, I’ll do it.There’s a lot to do, and you won’t be able to manage it alone. Even if you try, you’ll end up being exhausted and tired. Besides, it’s the weekend, so I’m happy to lend a hand."
Mrs. Evelyn’s home, nestled above her bustling restaurant on the ground floor, was a warm and inviting space. The first-floor residence featured two bedrooms and a cozy living room, exuding the simplicity and comfort characteristic of a middle-class household.
Mrs. Evelyn’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes misty with nostalgia. "This place... your uncle loved it so dearly. When we first moved here, I was heartbroken to leave behind our ancestral home. But as I got to know all of you, this community became my own. Now, the thought of leaving is unbearable.But circumstances offer no alternative."
"Circumstances?"
Mrs. Evelyn’s gaze drifted, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Ah, yes... the promise we made to each other."
"You’ve mentioned that before, but you said ’circumstances’... I thought something was wrong, that you were facing some kind of problem."
Mrs. Evelyn’s voice cracked as she spoke. "I’ll finally find peace, knowing we’ve made that promise. Grateful to keep it... because..." She trailed off, leaving her emotions unspoken.
"Thea, will you miss me when I’m gone?" Mrs. Evelyn asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Hmm"
"Will you visit me?" Mrs. Evelyn pressed, clinging to hope.
Another "Hmm" from her."I have one last request," Mrs. Evelyn said, her eyes welling up.She hummed again.
"After one year... don’t come visit me." Mrs. Evelyn’s words hung in the air, heavy with sorrow.
Thea’s puzzled expression deepened, unsure why Mrs. Evelyn would ask her to abandon her.
"I’ll find some work to keep myself occupied." Mrs. Evelyn said, "then you’ll be too busy with your own life to visit me."
"I’ll still make time to visit you, don’t worry."
Mrs. Evelyn’s face softened into a warm smile as she watched Thea return to her work.
"Although I never had children of my own," Mrs. Evelyn said, her voice filled with gratitude, "I’m so glad I got to know you."
She glanced up, her face mirroring Mrs. Evelyn’s smile. "Me too – I’m happy to have met you and all the people who’ve become like family. It was fortunate for me."
As she continued working, Mrs. Evelyn’s gaze lingered on her, filled with affection.
In that moment, Thea felt grateful for the people who had filled the void left by her parents’ passing – her grandmother, Ryder’s family, her friends like Mrs. Evelyn, and many others. Though God had taken her parents, He had brought her people who loved and cared for her.
Her heart swelled with emotion, and she smiled, knowing she wasn’t alone. Yet, a gentle ache remained – a longing for her parents that would always be a part of her.
"Be careful when you visit me at our ancestral home," Mrs. Evelyn warned. "It’s in a rather remote area."
"Is it beautiful? Does it have rivers, mountains?" she asked, her eyes shining.
Mrs. Evelyn smiled wryly. "The landscape is breathtaking, but some of the locals leave much to be desired."
Undeterred, she exclaimed, "If it’s that beautiful, I’ll visit you all the time!"
Mrs. Evelyn laughed at her words. "Okay, you would."
As she finished most of the work, with packing nearly complete, she asked, "Aunt Evelyn, won’t you be opening the restaurant today?"
The latter shook her head. "No, I’ve decided to close the restaurant."
Mrs. Evelyn’s expression turned sentimental. "Before I leave, I want to give you a special farewell. This Thursday, bring your grandma along, and I’ll treat you both to a meal. You’re also welcome to invite your friends – including those three men who came to dine here. I promised them a treat next time, and I’d like to keep that promise."
Her eyes sparkled. "Aunt Evelyn, they’ll all appreciate it."
Mrs. Evelyn smiled wistfully. "Yes, I know they are rich ..But it’s not about wealth; it’s about kindness. I won’t have another chance to show my gratitude."
"Aunt Evelyn, they’ll come. I’ll make sure to invite them and convey your message."
At 7 o’clock in the evening, she left Mrs. Evelyn’s home and headed to her own house. She went directly to take a shower, as she was feeling sweaty and her clothes were stuck to her body. She stood under the shower head and continued with shampooing.
"Ah, it feels so fresh.".Wrapping a towel around her body as she stepped out of the bathroom. She was drying her hair when her phone buzzed with an incoming video call from Charlotte.
She accepted the call without hesitation, assuming Charlotte wouldn’t be able to see her. But as soon as she answered, Charlotte’s teasing voice filled the air.
"Just took a bath?" Charlotte asked, her tone playful.
Her face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly turned off the video, realizing she was still in her towel.
