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“What?!”
Everyone looked at each other in shock, whispering amongst themselves.
Sean Parker stood frozen in place, staring at me as if trying to absorb me with his gaze.
I took a deep breath.
Apparently, letting go of the burden in my heart made even breathing easier.
Claire pushed her way through the crowd and grabbed my hand.
“What’s going on? I just stepped away to take a call, and now this? Did someone bully you?”
6:34 PM
<
I smiled and stroked her face, speaking calmly: “I’m sorry, Claire. I’ve caused trouble for your family’s hotel.”
She shook her head frantically: “Don’t say such silly things!”
Sophie’s bravado diminished somewhat.
She was probably disappointed she didn’t get to tear off my scabs herself.
And disappointed I hadn’t scurried away like a frightened mouse.
I hugged Claire and walked out of the crowd. As we passed Sean Parker, I didn’t even glance at him.
He just stood there motionless, as if shackled by invisible chains.
That night, Claire made time to call me.
“Thea, don’t stay cooped up in that tourist area anymore. Come work at my dad’s hotel.”
I felt both dazed and uneasy.
“Is that… appropriate? Won’t I cause trouble for you?”
Claire brushed it off: “It’s fine, just be a temporary room service staff. You won’t have to be out in public much, and it’ll pay better than selling plush toys.”
This time, I suddenly wanted to give it a try.
On my third day of work, someone was holding a birthday party in the main hall.
It originally had nothing to do with me, but the manager suddenly called me down to help serve drinks.
When I got to the hall, I realized it was Sean Parker’s birthday.
I had completely forgotten.
Not only were many college classmates there, but also friends he had made in the city over the past few years.
I looked around, hoping to find Claire in the crowd.
I didn’t want to show my face at this party.
“What are you looking at? I didn’t call you down here to gawk!” The supervisor impatiently placed a tray of drinks in my hands, filling several glasses in seconds.
She pointed ahead: “Go on, hurry up! The main table is waiting for drinks!”
I had no chance to refuse before she gave me a push, sending me wandering through the crowd like a zombie with the tray of drinks.
Just as I reached the main table, Sophie suddenly turned and bumped my arm.
I lost my grip for a moment, and the tray toppled to the ground.
With a loud crash, glasses shattered and alcohol splashed everywhere, splattering Sophie’s high heels and the hem of her dress.
“Ah! What’s wrong with you? Are you blind?”
“I’m sorry.” I apologized woodenly, frantically trying to clean up the glass shards on the floor.
Sophie was furious.
“What good is apologizing? Do you know how much these shoes cost? Get down and clean them properly!”
Linstinctively glanced at Sean Parker. He frowned slightly but remained silent.
6:34
<
I understood. He had no intention of intervening.
“Hurry up! What are you thinking about? Is this how your hotel staff handle mistakes?”
Forget it.
I took out the handkerchief I always carried and crouched down to wipe her shoes.
In that moment, I was the focus of everyone’s stares.
Before I finished, I heard Sophie’s cold laughter from above.
“Ladies and gentlemen, many of you know this person, right? Do you all know where she’s been these past few years?”
My mind went blank.
She was… doing this on purpose?
ared to
She used a playful tone to ask me: “It’s Thea Brown, right? Why don’t I help you tell everyone where you disappeared to?”
I suddenly understood. Sophie had investigated all my information.
Though I didn’t know why, she was determined to expose me.
The crowd immediately began to stir, like a swarm of annoying flies.
I looked up, meeting Sophie’s smug gaze.
She looked down at me, smiling maliciously.
In that moment, I felt like a cornered animal.
And they were all executioners waiting for me to surrender.
If I was going to die either way, I’d rather jump off the cliff myself than be toyed with by them.
I stood up and looked at her, at Sean Parker, at the countless eyes fixed on me.
No more hiding.
“No need for your help. I’ll tell everyone myself.”
“A few years ago, I accidentally killed someone. I disappeared because I was serving time in prison.”
This moment of honesty wasn’t for anyone else, but for myself.
I just wanted to live a decent life.
“What did you say?”
Sean Parker shot to his feet, staring at me in disbelief, his eyes blazing
