Chapter 25
The guests whispers rose like a tide
“How do they have the nerve to show up? Do they think everyone’s forgotten what they did to Jordan? |
They were so based and hurt her a mach, now they’re crasting back because she’s successful, trying to guilt–trip her.“[
ed immediately!
“Where’s security? They should be removed
Emunett started forward, bat Jordan gently placed her hand over his
She straightened her back and walked to the entrance, bathed in winter sunlight.]
When you pushed me into the abyss, you should have anticipated this day would come,” she said calmly, her eyes showing no affection for the pair. Turning away, she heard her mother’s heart–wrenching cries but never faltered in her steps.]
“We’ve admitted our mistakes! Why are you so heartless? We’re bound by blood
We even confronted Maxwell Stone for you! We helped you get revenge! Why won’t you forgive us? We were right all along–you ARE ungrateful! I should. have drowned you the toment you were bom“]]
Instantly, police officers appeared and silenced them, nodding respectfully to the couple
“Mr. Calloway, Miss Hayes, these troublemakers are being charged with harassment. We’ll remove them now.”
Their whimpering was quickly drowned by celebratory cheers as everyone tactfully ignored the incident, offering congratulations instead |
At the back of the crowd. Marwell Stone stood beneath a sycamore tree outside the hall, wearing a faded military uniform ||
He watched the radiant bride inside, remembering a little girl with pigtails who had once pressed a good luck charm into his palm, saying “stay safe, Mat“]
The wind stirred fallen leaves around has feet. He raised his hand in a military salute, ultimately choosing not to approach, disappearing into the dusk.
After marriage, Jordan’s creative inspiration flowed abundantly.
Her works appeared in
red in prestigious literary journals, and royalty checks arrived steadily.
Emmett continued teaching at the university, accompanying her on rural research trips during school breaks.
They lived in a small apartment building–cramped but homey. Whenever jordan worked late into the night. Emmett would quietly prepare strong coffee and place golden–lossted bread stres beside her.
Meanwhile, after jordan’s wedding, Maxwell had requested a transfer to the remote border. He could bear to remain in places filled with memories.]
The desert winds quickly weathered his once sharp features, his hack gradually stooping beneath his camouflage uniform.]
Contades often saw him staring at a good luck charm he wore the one jordan had gotten him from a temple fair when she was ten. The red string had faded, the paper yellowed and brade the only memento of Jordan he had kept
In the deep autumn of 1988, Jordan received a package from the border region. The delivery man looked at her hesitantly before finally sighing deeply.
“Colonel Stone sacrificed his life defending our country. These are as he entrusted to his comrades in seal to you before his death.
“My condolences”
She trembled as she accepted it. Inside the yellowed envelope were several unsent letters and the faded charm ||
The handwriting on the letters was blurred by water stains. The final page read “Jordan, I dare not ask your forgiveness these years, only hope that you are well..
She opened her mouth, but tears fell first||
Will she had experienced in her previous life seemed to flash before her eyes. Now, the man who had caused her so much pain was gone, their final encounter
ending so ignominiously
Teardrops fell onto the charm, Jordan suddenly remembered her chlichood–Maxwell carrying her on his back to watch open–eir movies. She wondered when wady ther brother who had protected and cared for her had let his heart stray
Emanett gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, embracing her shoulders. “It’s all in the past now.
Outside, the first show fell seemingly covering all grievances
Three months later, Jordan wrote in the preface Wuminates our path forward. |
of her new book “Tafe may contain suffering, but it will eventually dissipate, transforming into the light that
The following spring, her publisher held a book launch
In the crowd, two shabbily dressed figures lingered outside the venne
Her parents, separated by glass, watched their radiant daughter on stage, their eyes filled with regret, tears blurring their vision.
Meanwhile, Jordan held Emmers hand, powering reporters‘ questions, Outside, magnolias bloomed magnificently, the spring breeze carrying the scent of hope
Years later, in a herder martyrs‘ cemetery, a simple gravestone regularly received hunches of wild azaleas
some said they were gefit by a writer each year, though only the spring breeze knew the reason why.]]
In a small courtyard in the city, Jordan and Emmett sat under a grape trellis, looking through yellowed old photographs.
Senlight filtered through the leaves, highlighting the wrinkles at the corners of their eyes–peaceful days, a stable present
