Chapter 9
When we arrived in Seacrest City, Alice gave everyone a month off to rest. We were to set out on another expedition to North Point in a month’s time. Fireworks exploded in the sky as everyone celebrated the completion of a successful expedition.
When I alighted from the ship and exited the harbor, I was stopped in my tracks. Every inch of the parking lot floor was covered in red roses, giving off the illusion of a sea set aflame. Luke stood in the center of that fiery sea. He was cradling a massive bouquet
in his arms. He got onto one knee.
“Summer, welcome home. I don’t care if you have a boyfriend. I still have the right to pursue you again.”
As I studied his clumsy attempt to win my favor, I felt like I was looking at myself from the past. While I was lost in my thoughts,
Luke approached me before once again getting down on one knee.
“Summer, I only realized how much I cared about you after you left. I finally understood that what I felt for Riley was just my
lingering feelings from the past. The only person I truly and deeply love is you.”
A tear escaped from the corner of his eye as he spoke. His confession was supposed to tug at my heartstrings, but I felt nothing. I
wasn’t moved by his grand display of affection. In fact, the only emotion I felt was frustration.
“How many times do I need to tell you? There’s no way we’re getting back together.”
Luke smiled at me. “You were in love with me once. I believe that you’ll accept me again one day. We have so many shared
memories, and we even had a baby together.
“Although it was my fault that he wasn’t able to be born into this world, both of us are still young. We’ll have plenty more
chances in the future.”
“Luke, you’re much too good at acting. Watch out; you might just fool yourself in the process.”
I grabbed my phone and searched for the voice recording I had saved before leaving. The conversation Luke had with Riley that
day in the office echoed around us. Luke’s eyes were trembling after he finished listening to the recording.
“I made everything up just to comfort Riley. It’s not true. Summer, don’t believe what I said that day.”
But Luke had done exactly what he said in my past life. He stole Jesse from me and gave him to Riley. I wasn’t willing to waste anymore time with him. “Stop this pointless act,” I told him coldly.
I was about to leave the parking lot when a car burst through the entrance and sped right at me. Two figures rushed toward me. In
the next second, I was yanked backwards by an incredible force and collided against Caleb’s chest.
The screeching of the car brakes reverberated deafeningly in my ears. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke soar through the air before crashing back to the ground amidst the rose petals. The color of the roses turned even more vibrant when they were dyed
with fresh blood.
