As the two silently walked on, Ed was following behind Grace like a shadow.
Even though it was still snowing on such a cold night, Grace couldn''t help but think of the time they had spent in that pit-two tiny little figures huddled together, not knowing how many nights they had gone through.
Now, yearster, they were once again looking at magnolia blossoms in the snow at night.
In an instant, her frustration was reced by warmth. She couldn''t help but ask, "Does it hurt?"
In the dark, the corners of Ed''s lips lifted slightly. "Are you asking because you care too much?" he questioned.
Grace realized he always found some way to confirm that she cared and loved him.
She swallowed hard and reached out to tug on his sleeve.
She thought of how these magnolia blossoms had been picked for Ethan and instantly felt a pang of sadness welling up from within her.
It felt like she was a cheating wife suddenly caught by her husband returning home. The guilt was just overwhelming.
She silently intertwined her fingers with his and said, "I''lle to your ce in a bit and treat your wound."
"Mm."
"I''ll bring you some good food tomorrow," she promised.
"Mm."
"Let''s have Christmas Eve dinner together. Are you free that night?" Grace asked. He stopped walking and asked lightly, "Did you do something you shouldn''t?" Grace''s cheeks flushed red. Luckily, it was dark enough that he couldn''t see. "You''re my boyfriend. Of course, I should be nice to you. Do you really want to stay in that pitch-ck house alone on Christmas Eve? Besides, I don''t have any other ns."
He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, leaning in close, and asked, "Then I can do whatever I want with you?"
Anyone could tell what "do whatever I want" implied.
Moreover, he just had to ask that at the exact moment she was drowning in guilt.
She bit her lip, feeling like life kept giving her lemons, and grunted in response. While she was holding tightly onto his hand, he suddenly said, "Grace, I''m really happy."
In that instant, the guilt inside her grew ever stronger. She couldn''t understand why he was happy and thought to herself, "What a fool."
She took a deep breath and said, "Christmas Eve is my brother''s birthday. If it''s okay, I''d like to bring you to meet him."
Ed suddenly froze in his tracks.
She wasn''t sure if it was just her imagination, but it felt as if even the snowkes in the air were frozen in ce.
He pulled his hand back and looked down at the magnolia blossoms in his arms.
Grace had a feeling he was going to reject her. Did he really think he was that unpresentable?
"Let''s see if you''re still willing after you''ve remembered everything..." His voice was hoarse, and he started walking faster.
Grace hurried to keep up, her tone bing anxious.
"Ed, I know you''ve always felt insecure, thinking my feelings for you came out of nowhere. But I''ve figured it out-I like the vulnerability you show me, like you can''t live without me.
"I like being needed like that. Maybe it''s because I''ve never been good at relying on others, and I enjoy it when someone relies on me. It gives me a sense of fulfillment-something I''ve never felt with anyone else.
She blurted it out all in one breath, then grabbed his wrist. "So even if I get my
memories back, I''ll still like you."
But he yanked his hand away.
"Vulnerability?"
"Yes."
Grace stepped closer and shook the snow off the magnolia blossoms in her hands.
"You once asked me how I felt about Ethan. I told you, the two of us don''t
belong in the same world. He''s so
strong he doesn''t need anyone,
always silent and aloof.
"From the start, I knew I could never fall for someone like that. But you... you''re
theplete opposite of him. I feel like I have to be by your side."
As she finished speaking, she heard him mutter to himself, "I see."
That was where he lost.