Jackson pretended to be upset. "I don''t care. If you don''t treat me to a fancy dinner today, you''re not leaving."
Bradley chuckled, "Where do you want to eat?"
Jackson replied, "Wherever''s the most expensive."
Bradley nodded. "Alright."
Jackson patted him on the shoulder. “Brad, it''s been years, and you''ve only gotten more impressive. I always knew you were going to be something special, and you really proved me right."
Bradley took Jackson to the priciest luxury hotel in Steerfall for dinner.
During the meal, the two of them talked about thetest in their industry and the news of the day, thoroughly enjoying each other''spany.
Suddenly, Jackson thought of Cameron and let out a sigh. "Brad, thank goodness you helped Cameron with herwsuit back then.
"You helped her break free from those bloodsucking foster parents and even got them thrown into a detention center. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be what she is today."
"Cameron?" Bradley looked puzzled, setting down his wine ss. "Who''s that?" Jackson stared at him, dumbfounded.
He said, "Wasn''t she your high school ssmate? That poor kid was forced to pretend to be a boy ever since she was little. Who would''ve thought she''d
be so incredible now."
"What do you mean, forced to live as a boy?" Bradley was getting more and more confused. "Jackson, none of what you''re saying makes sense to me."
Jackson was stunned, too.
He thought, ''How could Brad not get it?''
Jackson asked, "Did you lose your memory or something?"
Bradley replied, "I didn''t!"
Jackson waved his hand. "Never mind if you don''t remember. It''s not really important anyway."
Soon, the two of them started talking about something else.
767812
At ten o''clock that night, Bradley returned to Saunders Manor. Beth and Eddie were both there.
Now, Eddie was a well-known counselor in Steerfall.
He had even opened his own counseling center in the city.
Eddie was lounging on the couch in a ck coat, his hair-once a wild mess of colors-now restored to its natural shade,
He sat there in silence, and when he heard someonee in, he nced up. "Brad, you''re back."
There was a lingering mncholy in those soft, alluring eyes that just wouldn''t fade.
He was apletely different person from who he used to be.
10.03
FII, ZO JUL
"Eddie, Mom," Bradley greeted them with a slight nod.
Beth smiled. "Brad,e here."
Bradley walked over.
Beth slid a thick stack of photos across the table to him. "Brad, take a look at these."
Bradley shot her a suspicious look before ncing down, only to see that those were all girls'' photos.
Bradley fell silent.
Beth continued, "Brad, you''re always so busy with work that you never have time to meet new people. These are all girls around your
"See if anyone stands out to you. If you think someone looks nice, I can set up a date for you."
Bradley just nced at the photos and shook his head. "Mom, you really don''t have to worry about this for me. I''m really not interested in dating right
now."
Beth stared at him, speechless.
Bradley stood up. "Mom, it''s gettingte. I''m going to bed now. Goodnight, Eddie."
With that, he headed upstairs.
"Goodnight," Eddie replied.
Bradley headed upstairs.
Eddie nced at Beth. "Mom, if we''d known it''de to this, would we have
made those choices back then?"
The past... was better left unsaid.
Beth''s eyes turned red. "Eddie, I regret it so much. I never should''ve listened to Nell. But what can I do? Life just has to go on, doesn''t it?*
Eddie fell silent.
Seeing how down he looked, Beth couldn''t help but try tofort him. "Eddie, you too. What''s done is done. You''ve already paid for it. Can''t you just let yourself off the hook?"
Eddie pressed his lips together. "Mom, I''m tired."
''Let myself off the hook?'' Eddie thought. ''Do I even deserve that?''
When that person appeared, he wished he could start his whole life over.