Chapter 124: Is There Any Difference
As the car arrived at the Amusement Park. Laughter echoed from the Tilt-A-Whirl, sugary scents wafted from cotton candy stands, and bright lights danced across the Ferris wheel. Music pulsed from the live stage, drawing the sisters in.
"This is the surprise she was talking about?" Thea asked, turning to Melanie, who stood beside her.
Melanie smiled. "Yes, it is. Emerson has been longing to come here for ages, and Brother Ryder promised to bring her. We decided to tag along and make it a fun night out."
Emerson walked hand-in-hand with Ryder, leading the way through the bustling ground. Behind them, Melanie, Lydia, and Thea strolled together.
"Sister Thea..." Lydia asked, curiosity sparking in her voice, "Is Brother Liam a professor at your university?"
"Hmm, he was... but he’s not teaching at our university anymore."
"Brother Ryder, I want to ride the Ferris wheel!" Emerson exclaimed, pointing to the towering attraction.However, she mistakenly pointed at the largest merry-go-round instead.
Lydia’s expression turned anxious. "Little sister, are you sure you’re ready for the Ferris wheel? It could be terrifying."
"Emerson, the Ferris wheel’s height might be alarming for you. Are you prepared?"Emerson turned to Ryder, her eyes pleading. "Brother Ryder, is there nothing to fear, right, Elder Brother?"
Ryder glanced at the others. "Do all of you want to ride the Ferris wheel?"
Lydia hesitated before seeking Ryder’s approval. "Hmm, if you allow us?"
Ryder sought Thea’s opinion, his eyes locking onto hers. "Thea?"
She nodded silently, her consent clear.Ryder smiled. "Alright then, let’s ride the Ferris wheel!"
"Then it’s settled. Let’s ride the Ferris wheel!" Emerson clapped her hands, excitement radiating from her.
Emerson gazed up at Ryder, her voice gentle. "Brother Ryder, when will everyone else get here?"
Ryder’s expression was calm. "They’ll arrive soon, Emerson."
He excused himself to purchase the tickets, leaving the group momentarily. Upon his return, two men approached, their faces friendly.
"Hello, everyone!" they chimed in unison, their warm smiles welcoming.
"Hello, Brother Liam! Hello, Brother John!" Emerson exclaimed, her smile bright.
Brother John chuckled, "Thank you, little sister, for asking your elder cold brother to invite us."He winked at Ryder, who smiled in response.
John’s gaze shifted to Lydia and Melanie, his expression teasing. "These two twins have grown so much! Can you recognize me?" he asked,a smile playing on his lips.
Lydia smiled mischievously. "How could we possibly forget you, Brother John? You’ve become even more handsome and dashing, but your playful nature remains unchanged."
Brother John asked with a grin, "Am I more handsome than Ryder, ladies?"
Ryder interjected, his tone laced with humor, "John, no need to fish for compliments."
John’s smile widened as he playfully rolled his eyes, his gaze lingering on Ryder.
"Did you buy the tickets for us?" John asked, turning to Ryder. "We want to ride it too."
Ryder pulled out a handful of tickets. "Of course, I got them."He handed them out, and the group divided into two.
Akai, Lydia, and Melanie climbed into one carriage, while John, Ryder, Emerson, and Liam settled into another.
"The sight is truly breathtaking," Melanie said, gazing out.
But then her attention shifted to the brothers. "Brother John is definitely more playful than the rest of them."
Lydia’s eyes narrowed slightly. "No, no, three of them are like cold icebergs. Only Brother John has been friendly towards us."
"Did you forget the incident?" Lydia asked, her eyes locked intensely on Melanie.
Melanie’s face reflected a sudden recollection. "Oh, yes, I remember now."
Melanie turned to Thea. "Sister Thea, what do you think of them? Aren’t they like icebergs?"
Thea’s lips curled into a gentle smile. "Why are you calling them icebergs?"
"Three of them are like statues.." Lydia said with a laugh. "No emotions whatsoever!"
In the other carriage, Ryder asked Liam.."How is uncle recovering?"
"He is recuperating.." Liam replied, his thoughts still on the car accident that had sidelined his father and thrust him into leading the family business.
Liam’s world had been shaken when his father, Simon Flynn, was involved in a devastating car accident on the rain-soaked highways. The crash had left Simon with severe injuries, including broken ribs, a punctured lung, and partial paralysis.
The doctors had called it a miracle that he survived, but the road to recovery would be long and arduous. Liam, as the eldest son, had shouldered the responsibility of taking over his father’s business empire, putting his own teaching career at Thea’s University on indefinite hold.
Now, Liam navigated the daunting task of leading the company, all while anxiously awaiting his father’s recovery and struggling to come to terms with the new reality.
Only two trusted friends knew about the car accident that had left Liam’s father, Simon Flynn, hospitalized. To the rest of the world, Liam’s life seemed unchanged.
Liam’s gaze turned to Emerson, his expression serene. "Are you enjoying Emerson?" he asked.
Emerson’s face broke into a warm smile. "Yes, Brother Liam..." she replied, her eyes shining with happiness.
After an action-packed evening of rides, the group headed to a renowned restaurant for dinner.Inside Ryder’s car, Thea felt a subtle pang in her stomach and gazed out the window, her head against the glass.
The car came to a stop, and the others filed out, stretching their legs. John and Liam, who had arrived earlier in John’s car, waited patiently by the entrance.
Ryder joined them after parking, and John flashed a warm smile. "I’ve already made a reservation. My treat tonight."
Thea winced, experiencing a sudden twinge of stomach pain.
As the others walked ahead, sge lagged behind. Ryder glanced back, noticing her standing still.
"Thea, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ryder asked softly.
Thea shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "N..no... Let’s go."
She began walking, Ryder falling into step behind her. A faint smile crossed his lips as he watched her.Ryder’s gaze drifted to Thea ’s dress, and his eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a faint stain.
Ryder’s gaze met her, and he sensed her unspoken distress. "Ryder, you can go ahead.." she said hastily. "I’ll just use the washroom."
He understood the reason behind her sudden pause, her hesitant words, and her hurried excuse to visit the washroom.
Ryder closed the distance between them, his voice low and gentle. "I’ll follow you there."
Thea’s pace slowed, Ryder’s presence reassuring as he walked closely behind her, his eyes fixed on her with quiet understanding.
When she reached the washroom entrance, Ryder’s voice halted her. "Did you have some tissue with you?" he asked gently.
Thea silence spoke volumes. Ryder’s expression softened further.
"Wait for me...." he said. "I will get some."
Ryder turned to fetch tissues, leaving her alone inside the washroom door. She slid back against the wall, her eyes drifting to the mirror beside her.
She caught a glimpse of herself,...her gaze froze on the unmistakable stain on her dress – a light red smudge ..
"He had seen...." she thought, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Her eyes dropped, her cheeks burning as she processed Ryder’s knowing glance.
Standing there, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of vulnerability, wondering what Ryder must think of her predicament.
Ryder stepped into the nearby shop, venturing into uncharted territory. For the first time in his life, he was about to purchase sanitary pads.
"Honestly, shouldn’t it be better if Lydia or Melanie be doing this?" he thought to himself, feeling a tad uneasy.
But time was of the essence. "If I call one of them now, it’ll be too late.." he reasoned, shaking off his hesitation.
Ryder made his way to the sanitary pad section, confronted by a bewildering array of options. Various brands and sizes lined the shelves, leaving him perplexed.
He picked up a packet, scrutinizing the label. "This one’s S... wait, this other one’s XL. Is there really any difference in them?" Ryder wondered, unsure of what to choose.
He stood there, hesitating, unsure whether to opt for Regular, Long, Ultra-Thin, or Overnight pads. Ryder’s mind raced with questions:
What size did she need?Was there a specific brand she liked?
Ryder paid for the sanitary pads and then suddenly remembered something. He detoured to the clothing section, quickly grabbing what he needed.
After completing his additional purchase, Ryder returned to Thea’s location.
Meanwhile, Thea was squatting down on the floor, lost in thought.
The silence was broken by a gentle knock on the door. "Knock knock... Is it Alethea?" a soft voice asked.
Thea rose to open the door, revealing a kind-faced stranger.
