Chapter 38
Lawson didn’t say a word anymore.
Soon, the snowflakes started falling again, fine and dense, turning into mist before they reached the ground. The air got colder, and Lawson shivered, his shoulders shaking with the chill.
In the distance, Elizabeth was freezing, too, but she endured her discomfort, managed to calm the woman down, handed her some money, and gently said to the security guards, “Make sure she gets in the car.
The woman took the money, her eyes filled with tears, and she looked at Lawson with a gaze that was both affectionate and reluctant to leave.
She left quietly, even thanking Elizabeth politely, which was both absurd and eerie. Lawson couldn’t help but mock, “There’s some kind of magic in Elizabeth that can just make people trust her”
Lawson got a bland look from Franklin. He knew he’d spoken out of turn again.
Elizabeth walked o over with some effort. The woman’s gone. She won’t bother you anymore. Let’s go inside.”
Lawson didn’t move, fiddling with his lighter. “You tle beat, what did you tell her! I don’t want her to come back and haunt me in a few days.”
He didn’t know what had touched a nerve.
Elizabeth was no longer meek. She retorted sharply, “When you were cozy with her, did you ever think about today?”
“Ehzabeth, do you think I’d hit your Lawson warned.
She glanced at Lawson, her eyes expressionless. Unafraid, she turned to leave.
s pocket, looked at Franklin
It was like punching air. Lawson felt foolish, with nowhere to direct his anger. He put his cigarette and lighter back in his p out of the corner of his eye, and spoke with a bad tone, but not aimed at him. “Frank, want to come in for coffee!”
Franklin shook his head. Tm heading back”
“Alright, be careful on the road,” Lawson said.
With no attempt to ask him to stay, Lawson was about to chase after Elizabeth when Franklin said in a teasing tone. “Don’t really hit her. She’s still. my wife. Be polite.”
The night was dark.
Lawson glanced at him with a smile. “Worried, aren’t you? Then I’ll have to hit her even more. If not, you won’t know how much you care.”
He dared to talk tough, but when it came to action, he really didn’t dare hit Elizabeth.
Hurrying to catch up, Lawson reached out and grabbed Elizabeth’s shoulder to stop her. “I was asking you. What did you tell her? Don’t think about teaming up with outsiders to trick me.”
Snowflakes accumulated, twisted by the wind, and the cold breeze was like a knife carving into Elizabeth’s face. She shrugged off Lawson’s hand. I’m not that bored”
“So what did you tell her!” Lawson was anxious. He stepped in front of Elizabeth, blocking her way.
If he hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have seen the tears that Elizabeth was trying and failing to hide. She turned her face “I told her I’d give her money and go with her for the operation. What else could I say? Could it be to let her have the baby and become another me?”
Lawson wasn’t a bad guy. He just didn’t have a lot of sense.
When Elizabeth started comforting that woman, Franklin understood why she was doing it. The woman had said she was pregnant, which made Elizabeth think about being an illegitimate child herself. She felt a stronger bond in their slured plight.
But Lawson didn’t get it, only catching on when he saw her nearly in tears.
He was lost and embarrassed, clumsily trying to put the blame on Franklin.
“If you’re mad at Frank, don’t come back here crying. Who are you trying to shame?” Lawson said.
Elizabeth quickly got a hold of herself, moving past what just happened. “Tve never hurt anyone. What about you? Do you really want to be like your dad! No one’s stopping you”
Thabeth, have you lost your mind! When did you get the right to lecture me? Lawson saki, irritated
Elizabeth thought this kind ef arguing was going nowhere. Emotionless, she walked away with arched brows, leaving Lawson alone in the snow. He was so angry that he put luv arms around his waist, kicked at the wet soil, and splashed mud all over his pants.
Chapter 34
finally subsided.
After a few deep breaths, his anger finally
Lawson slowly walked toward the small building and arrived at the porch outside. The snow on his shoulders hadn’t been brushed off when he heard Gilbert’s voice inside, hushed like he didn’t dare to sprak loudly, mysterious
Instead of going in. Lawson stood outside eavesdropping.
Elizabeth’s voice was soft, showing endless fatigue, but she said, “It’s okay. I just fainted today because I didn’t eat anything. It has nothing to do with Franklin
Gilbert didn’t buy it, saying through gritted teeth. “The doctor clearly said you fainted because of frequent blood donations. What did he make you dor
“There’s no such thing? Elizabeth said.
“Just tell me Gilbert said louder.
Lawson didn’t know anything about her blood donation or fainting. It was clear just now that Franklin had sent Elizabeth back. They weren’t super close, but it wasn’t like he was heanlesly indifferent because she moved back to her parents house.
The mystery turned into a loose fog. He quietly listened to Elizabeth say, “Uncle, I said it’s okay It really is. If there was something, I wouldn’t hide it. You can rest easy. I’m going back to rest
Gilbert wasn’t planning to let her go so easily. “Do I have in
to call the doctor to get the truth our of you”
When Elizabeth got angry, she was like a firecracker, exploding and burning up. She frowned with all the traces of softness gone. It’s already very late. I don’t want to disturb Mom because of my own affairs.”
The slightly closed door suddenly opened.
Backlit, Lawson stood blankly at the vent. The snow on his shoulders had already melted, soaking his clothes. He blinked, his gaze circling around and finally seuling on Elizabeth’s face
“What blood donation! What are you talking about!” Lawson asked, confused.
Galbert was about to speak, but Elizabeth clutched at him, her eyes pleading so earnestly it was hard to say no “I’s nothing Uncle was just talki about a blood drive at the hospital. That’s all.”
As Elizabeth finished Lawson fell silent for a heartbeat.
Then his hand shot up swiftly as a shadow. He slapped Elizabeth’s head. Her heart lurched. Before she could even cry out, she was scolded. “You think I’m a fool! Lawson questioned.
Elizabeth stood there, stunned, her ears ringing from the impart
Gilbert stepped in, taking the tone of an elder. “Lannion, don’t be violent
nly and burned hot. He
“This girl’s stubborn. If I don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll think she can do whatever she wants!” Lawson’s anger flared up suddenly grabbed Elizabeth by the collar, staring into her innocent eyes. Tell me, what’s this about a blood donation?”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together silently.
The mention of a blood donation had already made Lawson think of Yvonne
Anyone who knew Franklin was aware he had a sister, Yvonne, who was often sick with an
a rare blood disease. Their family had a unique blood type. and they couldn’t donate to each other, so they looked to non–relatives.
Elizabeth was listless and quict. It was her usual response when she was in the wrong
Lawson, now furious, blurted out, “Did he ask you to donate blood for his sister?”
Even Gilbert was taken aback by this.
They’d all heard a bit about Yvonor–enough to know her illness was a tough one, even for Franklin. Yet, milly, she’d managed to stay healthy these past three years
Gilbert let go of Lapeson’s hand, and they both turned to Elizabeth, whose skin was as thin and transparent as paper, her body frail and thun, as
Tietty, is what your brother saying true?” Gilbert askeil.
Hizabeth’s collar was tightly gripped. She was struggling to breathe Eyelids drooping in confusion, she whispered. “I wanted tun”
Hearing her amerr, Lawson was even more enraged. He lifted Elizabeth by her collar and threw her across the mom. She spun through the air and crashed neto the flone, feeling as if every bone in her body had shartered. Yet she bit her teeth, not daring to shed a tear-
Chapter 38
“How could you be so reckless?” Lawson made a move as if to kick her, but Gilbert held him back, unable to stop Lawson’s curses. “That man’s been
dead for three years. If you’re so devoted, jump off a building and join him in death, and see who stops you! Using Franklin as a stand–in and getting yourself involved, who do you really want to hurt?” Lawson asked.
