Chapter 5
David’s heart got torn in half right there!
On one side was his unconscious dad, on the other was his suffering girlfriend and their unborn baby.
He looked up instinctively, his eyes frantically scanning the crowd.
Looking for that person who’d always been there for the past ten years, cleaning up his messes no matter what shit he got
himself into.
‘Rachel, help me-”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Everywhere he looked, I was nowhere to be found.
Where I’d been standing, there were only disgusted stares from the crowd.
The person he’d always taken for granted but never respected, had vanished completely when he needed her most.
David’s heart just sank.
While he was dealing with his shitstorm all alone, I was calmly wheeling my packed suitcase out of that house that had rapped me for ten years.
1 shiny black luxury car was parked on the street. The window rolled down, showing Helen’s face:
Get in! Time to show you what actual good men look like!”
When we drove past city hall, the crowd was still there.
We quickly passed all those people pointing and gossiping.
David’s carefully built reputation, the balance he’d tried so hard to keep…
None of my problem anymore.
Before leaving, I stopped by the principal’s office.
‘Ms. Blackwell, you’re doing so well here. Why do you suddenly want to leave?”
The principal looked really bummed out.
I handed him my resignation letter. Before I could say anything, his phone dinged with a news alert:
[BREAKING: Famous Psychologist David Blackwell Caught in Sex Scandal-Suspected of Cheating and Getting Student Pregnant!]
The principal glanced at it, his expression went through a whole range of emotions,
and finally he just let out this long sigh:
Chapter 5
“You really never know what people are like behind closed doors…”
Walking out of the office building, I suddenly stopped.
Out front of the main building, my students were all crammed together like sardines.
All those young faces looked so sad to see me go.
“Ms. Blackwell…”
“Please don’t leave…”
‘We’re gonna miss you so much…”
A few of the girls had tears in their eyes.
Looking at their genuine faces, all the hurt I’d been holding back hit me right in the throat.
I’m just changing jobs to somewhere else.” I tried to smile, my voice cracking a little. “I promise I’ll come back to visit you uys.”
ruth was, I should’ve left ages ago. I just couldn’t bear to leave these kids.
In the ride home, “David Blackwell” kept flashing on my screen.
kept a straight face and just ignored every call.
Helen was all excited:
You have no idea-my brother insisted on opening a factory in this dump of a town years ago. God knows what he was hinking. Every year around this time he makes me come here on business, and he always tells me to bring you birthday
resents…”
But perfect timing, right? Soon as your mom called, I rushed over to rescue you…”
istening to her talk, I actually closed my eyes and fell asleep peacefully.
A few hours later, the car turned down a familiar tree-lined street and pulled up in front of this fancy house. That was the
Morris estate.
Mom saw me get out and rushed over to hug me tight:
You’re home! You’re finally home!”
Dad was standing on the porch, and even his usually serious face had this relieved smile.
The lights inside were warm and bright, and all the staff looked genuinely happy to see me.
“Ms. Morris, welcome home!”
My eyes got all watery.
After ten years of feeling lost, all that hurt and coldness just melted away in the warmth of home.
Abe resting at home for a few days, Helen came bursting in:
Come on, let’s go to my family’s forest preserve! Get some fresh air and wash off all that bad energy!”
I was so used to being busy all the time that sitting around was driving me crazy, so I said yes.
The car drove deep into this hush forest preserve.
Right after we got out, this tall figure walked out from behind a wooden cabin.
