I Walked Away And He Fell Apart Chapter 09
“Sis! You’re finally back!” The exuberance in the message was palpable. “I thought that jerk had blocked the signal!”
A system notification chimed in, breaking the moment: *The previous signal interruption was an emergency evasion. Insufficient clearance for specific reasons.*
I rolled my eyes at the notification, dismissing it as irrelevant. *Who cares about the reason! Did you have fun on your trip, Sis? How’s the progress?*
As I pulled my suitcase through the bustling terminal, a small smile crept onto my lips. In the quiet confines of my mind, I responded, *I had a lot of fun. As for the progress… I should know very soon.*
“Whoa! Look at that aura, Sis! I love it so much! Sis, take me under your wing!” The general comments erupted into a chorus of excitement, each one more enthusiastic than the last.
Navigating through the throng of travelers, my gaze caught sight of Nathaniel. There he was, standing amidst the crowd, a sharp suit hugging his form perfectly, his hair styled with meticulous care, and his face freshly shaven. Yet, despite his polished exterior, the bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath them told a different story—a tale of sleepless nights and worry etched into his features.
When our eyes met, a flicker of recognition ignited in his gaze, and he hurried over, closing the distance between us in just a few swift strides. Without uttering a word, he took my suitcase from my hand, his grip firm yet gentle.
“You must be tired, right? The car is just outside,” he said, his voice laced with an earnestness that tugged at my heart.
His demeanor was oddly deferential, as if he were trying to navigate a delicate balance between duty and desire to please. I remained silent, allowing him to lead me toward the parking lot. He opened the car door for me with a flourish, carefully stowing my luggage in the trunk before sliding into the driver’s seat.
But the car didn’t move. Instead, an oppressive silence enveloped us, thick enough to cut through. It was as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the stillness.
Then, unexpectedly, his throat bobbed, and a choked sob escaped his lips. “Lilith…”
My heart quickened as he reached into the glove compartment, retrieving a diary with a cover that had yellowed with age. His hands trembled as he extended it toward me, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.
“I… I saw it,” he managed to say, his voice gravelly, a rawness that revealed his vulnerability. “After you left, I found this in the study… Only then did I realize… what I’ve done to you in the past.”
I blinked, my gaze drawn to the diary, recognizing it instantly.
*Yes, yes, yes! That’s the one! Sis, you hid it behind the innermost row of books on the shelf. Thank goodness he actually found it!*
*We helped you recall the details overnight, writing with several different pens. How could it not look real?*
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Yes, many of the memories recorded within those pages had faded from my own recollection, but the general comments had reignited them one by one. Before I departed, I had deliberately tucked the diary away in a spot where it was bound to be discovered, as long as someone took the time to clean with care—all so that he would see it.
“I’m sorry, Lilith,” Nathaniel’s voice broke through my reverie, his eyes red-rimmed, almost pleading. “I was a bastard; I’m the one who hurt you… I’m not asking you to forgive me right away, but that proposal you mentioned last time…”
He took a deep breath, his chest rising as if he were summoning every ounce of courage. “I’m willing.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with significance. “Just like you said, I’ll put myself in your shoes. Starting today, I’ll stay home and take care of our home. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you want.”
He looked up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, filled with a desperate hope that pierced through my defenses. “Just… just don’t leave me again.”
