7 Years Of Love Chapter 03
Dylan frowned, studying me like I was a stranger.
“You… you’ve changed.”
I let out a soft, scoffing laugh.
“Have I? You weren’t like this before, either. You didn’t use to make me apologize when other people were the ones who screwed up. You never let anyone walk all over me, never gave my stuff away, and you certainly never put your hands on me.”
His eyes reddened. He looked down, his expression heavy with conflicting emotions.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Save it,” I cut in. “As long as the check clears, we’re good.”
He handed me the check. After I finished cooking for Amalia, he drove me to the hospital.
The whole way there, Dylan kept promising he wouldn’t let me suffer anymore. He talked about how we were going to build a good life together.
I didn’t answer. I just kept staring at the flight itinerary on my phone for the next morning.
I was going to get my leg treated, get fitted for a prosthetic, and get the hell away from all this pain.
In the hospital room, Mom and Dad were sitting by the bed. They looked guilty.
Amalia sat up abruptly.
“Lori, have you forgiven me?
“See, Dyl wasn’t lying. Lori is so strong. Getting assaulted and losing her leg? It doesn’t even matter to her.”
Realizing that the only thing left between us was a financial transaction, and hearing her minimize my trauma so easily, I actually felt some of the tightness in my chest loosen.
I managed to smile at her.
“You’re right, it doesn’t matter.
“I’m not angry, so there’s nothing to forgive. I came here to apologize to you. I’m sorry. Don’t overthink it, just get some rest. Mom and Dad need you.”
I glanced at my stunned parents, keeping my smile plastered on.
“You two, as well. Watch your health. Don’t work too hard.”
I turned to Dylan.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m going.”
For some reason, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
He reached out to grab my arm, but Amalia interrupted, complaining she was hungry.
He hesitated, glancing between us.
“Hang on. I’ll drive you back. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
I shook my head, waving my phone.
“Not this time. I’ll call a car. Don’t trouble yourself.”
I turned and left.
Mom suddenly chased after me.
“Lori, she just speaks without thinking. Don’t take it to heart. We know you’ve been treated unfairly. We spent years looking for you—how could we not love you? We can’t live without you, either.”
I gave a perfunctory nod.
“Okay. I have to go, my ride is almost here.”
She pursed her lips, her voice timid.
“Text us when you get home.”
I wheeled myself out of their line of sight, then pulled my backpack out from under the seat.
I went to the nearest bank, cashed the check, opened a new account, and deposited the money.
By the time I booked an international flight leaving in three hours, the taxi had arrived to take me to the airport.
As I entered the jet bridge, a voice message from Dylan popped up on my screen.
In the background, I could hear Amalia saying I was just pretending to be generous because I still held a grudge.
Mom and Dad were agreeing with her.
“Right, do you think we should make her apologize again?”
Dylan sighed on the recording.
“Hey, Lori, can you come back and clear things up? You sounded kind of sarcastic back there.”
Over a dozen lecturing messages from Mom and Dad flooded in instantly.
Without a second of hesitation, I blocked them all.
I pulled out the SIM card and dropped it into the trash can on the jet bridge.
As the runway disappeared from view and the distance between us grew, the harsh, critical voices in my ear finally vanished completely.
In that moment, I let everything go.
I looked at the stars outside the window and smiled.
“Lorelei, forget the past. Start a new life.”
Back in the hospital room, Amalia was still quietly sobbing.
Usually, they couldn’t stand to see Amalia upset. They would’ve rushed to comfort her.
But now, all three of them—Dylan included—remained unusually silent.
They stared intently at the chat window. It had been five minutes. No reply.
They couldn’t say exactly what was wrong, but something felt off.
First, Lorelei had apologized without any emotion, then said goodbye like she was checking off a list. Now, for the first time, she hadn’t replied to their messages within a minute.
It was all too abnormal.
In the six months since Lorelei returned, she had been desperate for family and love. She always answered every message and call immediately, enthusiastically.
Why was this time different?
Dylan snapped out of his daze, pushing down the uneasy feeling in his chest.
“Alright, Mia. She might be busy. We’ll talk about it when you get home.”
Tessa Nicolson, mother of both Amalia and Lorelei, recovered as well. Remembering Lorelei’s cold, distant look made her uncomfortable.
It made her subconsciously want to adjust her attitude to prove she wasn’t playing favorites.
“Yes, Mia. Lori just came back, and the past was a huge blow to her. You have to give her time to process it. Try not to bring those things up in the future.”
Amalia froze. Seeing their strange expressions, resentment coiled in her heart.
“Okay. I was being difficult. I’m sorry.”
Dylan’s expression softened, and he patted her back.
“It’s okay. Get some rest. Tomorrow is New Year’s Day. Let’s all be in good spirits. It wasn’t easy for us to all be together this year.
“Mr. and Mrs. Nicolson, let me drive you back so you can rest. I’ll stay here with Mia.”
Thinking that this was their first New Year’s since reuniting with Lorelei, he felt a surge of anticipation.
They had finally walked out of the gloom of the last seven years and were stepping into a new year.
Everything would be like it was before.
2:00 AM.
The villa was pitch black.
Dylan looked up at Lorelei’s bedroom window.
In the six months she had been back, she was afraid of the dark. She always needed a nightlight on to sleep.
A wave of anxiety washed over him again.
The maid heard the noise and turned on the lights.
“Mr. and Mrs. Nicolson, Mr. Wheeler, the breakfast ingredients for Ms. Amalia are ready in the fridge.”
Dylan nodded.
“By the way, for tomorrow night’s family dinner, make two versions of the dishes. One with extra celery and one without. Lori hates it. She’s been losing weight lately.”
Seeing the elevator resting on the first floor, Dylan stopped the housekeeper again.
“Isn’t Lori back yet? Why is her light off?”
The housekeeper looked confused.
“Didn’t Ms. Lorelei go to the hospital with you? She never came back.”
