I’d been lost in so many dreams.
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One of them took me back to when Owen killed me in my past life, leaving Mom and Dad so grief- stricken. No matter how desperately I called out to them, they kept walking away from me.
I snapped awake, the harsh scent of disinfectant stinging my senses.
A familiar, worn figure was sitting by my bed. His eyes sparkled when he noticed me stir, though a fleeting thought seemed to make him pout.
“I happened to be passing by and thought I might as well help,” he said.
I noticed his hands were fully bandaged and gave him a smile. “Thanks for the help. It’s been a while, Reuben.”
Reuben Mowbray was the younger son of Dad’s friend. Growing up, he was always teasing me, and it led to plenty of fights with Owen. Since Owen didn’t like him, I didn’t exactly warm up to Reuben either. Eventually, the Mowbrays emigrated to grow their business abroad, and Reuben went with them. I never thought I’d see him again in Avendale, let alone have him be the one to save my life.
Though his face was usually set in a permanent scowl, the worry in his eyes was hard to miss.
After saving me, Reuben made sure to find ways to help me recover. Under his watchful care, I regained my strength quickly, and the tension between us faded. Sometimes, we even exchanged playful banter. One day, while sipping a hot cup of beef broth, I asked him, “What brought you back here? And why Avendale, of all places?”
Reuben gave me a long, contemplative look before answering, “Someone once told me that when she turned 20, she had to watch the sunrise from Avendale’s observation deck.”
My hand trembled slightly.
He pressed on. “I came here for you, Audrey. Since you don’t have anyone else at the moment, why not marry me? I’ve got the looks, the money, and I’m more than enough to be a good husband.”
I stayed quiet, unsure of what to say. The light in his eyes faded, and he let out a cynical laugh.
Just then, my phone rang, shattering the silence. It was Owen calling. I picked it up instantly.
“Are you alright?” I asked, worry creeping into my voice.
I’d been wanting to ask Reuben about Owen for a while, but every time I mentioned Owen’s name, Reuben would scowl and snap that Owen wasn’t about to die anytime soon.
His response always made me uneasy, so when I saw Owen’s name on the screen, I felt a sense of relief.
“Sorry, Vanessa’s been upset, so I took her out to clear her head and left my phone at home.” Owen’s voice came through the phone.
His words pierced my heart.
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Chapter 5
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He continued, “You should come get your things and everything you gave me. Mr. and Mrs. Millar won’t let me back into their place.”
