13:32
<b>Chapter </b><b>225 </b>
<b>Cole’s </b>voice was cracked and fragile, like a child lost in the dark. His <b>eyes </b><b>were </b>clouded with confusion and fear, searching for something–anything–<b>to </b><b>hold </b>onto, Alessia felt her heart shatter at the sound of his words.
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Xander clenched his jaw, <b>turned </b>on<b>. </b>his heel, and strode out of the room.
“Lessie… what am I supposed to do now? Lessie, where are my mom and dad?”
Alessia didn’t know what to say. She didn’t have any answers either.
Words felt empty, useless. All she could do <b>was </b>pull Cole into her arms, hold him tight against her chest. He clung to her, arms wrapped around her waist as if she might vanish too if he let go.
“Cole, sweetheart, let’s let your aunt get some sleep now, okay?<b>” </b>
He didn’t reply–just nodded, silent. Alessia nced away as she felt his tears soak through her shirt, her hand gently rubbing his back.
It was just like two years ago in the hospital. The two of them, holding onto each other, watched as the sheet was pulled over Parrish, before he’d even had the chance to say goodbye.
Now, two yearster, it was still just the two of them. This time, fate had taken Cole’s mother.
At least, this time, there were still words left to say.
When everything was finally taken care of, night had crept in. Larkin drove Xander home, and the house–always quiet–seemed even emptier, the silence almost crushing.
The rain kept falling, relentless.
Coley on the bed, his head resting on Alessia’sp, tears slipping down his face. as he drifted in and out of a restless sleep.
Alessia leaned back against the headboard, her eyes soft and aching with concern.
She patted Cole’s shoulder, slow and gentle, the way you wouldfort a child.
A sh of lightning lit up the room, followed by a booming <b>p </b>of thunder.
13:32
Alessia pressed her hands <b>over </b>Cole’s <b>ears</b><b>, </b><b>blocking </b><b>out </b>the <b>storm</b><b>. </b>
Just as Jade hadforted her on stormy nights like <b>this</b><b>, </b>Alessia now soothed Cole, using the same quiet tenderness she had once received<b>. </b>
The first time she met the Cole family, she was
five years old.
Back then, the Tate family had just started to make their way up in the world. Wanting to break into the right circles, Scott took a deep breath and bought at house in a newly developed upscale neighborhood.
They’d barely lived there for three months before new neighbors moved in next door. Alessia wasn’t interested–she had much more important things to do.
“What are you digging for?”
In the backyard, Alessia was crouched on thewn, a small trowel in her hand,pletely focused on her task.
At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, she nced up, barely sparing him a look before returning to her digging.
“Worms,” she replied. There was a row of flowers along the wall, carefully tended by gardeners, so finding a few earthworms wasn’t hard.
“What for?”
Alessia jabbed at the ground with a little more force than before.
“I’m going to dump them on Max’s bed!”
Little Cole didn’t know who Max was. He clung to the ornate gate of Alessia’s house, a brightly wrapped gift box dangling from his hand.
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“Aren’t girls supposed to be afraid of bugs?” In his ss, there was a girl who’d burst into tears at the sight of a spider.
Alessia picked up her bucket, trowel in hand, and marched right over to him.
Cole stared, wide–eyed. She was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen.
Her skin was soft and rosy, her eyes big and bright. Unlike other girls, she didn’t wear a sweet smile–instead, her lips were pressed into a determined line, her delicate face set in a scowl, as if nothing in this world could possibly
use her.
He had <b>no </b><b>idea </b>what wasing.
*Uh… hi, Tin Co.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!