Cutie Pie, you still have me,” Wayne said, gently patting the back of my head before letting go.


    I hadn’t cried at all until now. Suddenly, my eyes filled up, and the tears just started pouring. I didn’t


    want to cry in front of him, but I couldn’t stop. ‘I can’t let these tears fall, they’ll give me away,” I told


    myself.


    Swallowing them back only made them flow faster. I turned my head, trying to hide my face.


    Wayne’s handnded on my head again, gently ruffling my hair. It’s okay to cry in front of me, you


    remember?”


    He had said that before. Now, he said it again.


    But in this moment, his words tore at thest shreds of my dignity. I turned my back to him, quickly


    wiping away the tears.


    Sensing my difort, he picked up my suitcase. “I’ll put this in your car.”


    As he left, I covered my face and let the tears flow freely. When I finally went downstairs, Matthew


    and Lindey were still busy in the kitchen, their joy at Wayne’s return overshadowing their anxiety


    about losing me as a daughter–inw.


    I didn’t say goodbye. I couldn’t bear for them to see my tear–stained face or risk them trying to


    make me


    stay.


    Wayne was waiting by the car, staring off into the distance, lost in thought. Seeing me approach, he


    smiled softly. “Need a ride?”


    I shook my head, forcing a smile. “You’ve been gone for four years. Seavora has changed. You


    might get


    lost.”


    Wayne’s lips twitched slightly. “Is that so?”


    I focused on my feet, avoiding his gaze to hide my red, swollen eyes. “I’ll be going now. I’ll treat you


    to dinner another day.”


    Wayne said nothing as I opened the car door. Just as I started the engine, he leaned in at the


    window. Can you tell me where you’re staying?”


    My grip tightened on the steering wheel, and I stayed silent.


    He gave a sad smile, stepping back. “Drive safe.”


    As I drove away, I watched the house shrink in the rearview mirror, and my tears started all over


    again.


    I whispered to myself, ‘Goodbye to the home I lived in for ten years. Farewell to my first love.


    Farewell to -the person I used to be.”


    Lindey didn’t call me. Maybe Wayne had talked to her.


    Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Back at my own ce in Emberholm, I unpacked, cleaned up a bit, and then crashed into bed.


    I slept until the next morning. When I opened the window, the rising sun promised a fresh start.


    I’d made a promise to Jace, so I’d spend most of my time at the amusement park, conveniently


    avoiding any run–ins with him. Demi was all set for a month of hard work since that was the


    deadline for the park’spletion.


    “Double–check the arrival times for the twopanies‘ reps tomorrow,” I told Demi.


    “It’s confirmed. One’s arriving at ten in the morning, and the other at two in the afternoon. I’ve got


    their rooms booked at the nearest Holiday Inn,” Demi reported efficiently.


    “Book one more room,” I said.


    “Is someone elseing?” Demi asked.