Chapter 129

Arnold’s voice came through, casual but with an undertone of something unspoken. “Are you free today?

Alex wants to hang out with Abby.”

Cole leaned against the wall, glancing toward Sarah, who had gone back to reading but seemed slightly aware of his presence. He replied evenly, “I’m taking Abby out today. Maybe another time.*

Arnold let out a short chuckle. “You’ve been going out more lately.”

Cole smirked faintly, though there was an edge of something else in his expression. “Abby’s been opening up more. She’s not as reserved as before.”

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call, but as Cole slipped his phone back into his pocket, something lingered in his mind.

Arnold knew all of this knowledge–probably even more than Cole did–but he had never been willing to

teach Sarah.

His eyes darkened slightly at the thought.

The marriage between Arnold and Sarah had always been surrounded by rumors.

Many people say that it was Sarah’s underhanded tactics that forced Arnold to have to marry her in the first place.

Cole had believed it too, once. But after spending time with her, after seeing how she carried herself with quiet dignity, it was getting harder to reconcile that image with reality.

And then there was Linda–the woman who had somehow inserted herself between them.

If anyone had been underhanded, wasn’t it Linda?

Still, Cole couldn’t ignore the fact that Arnold had always resented the very idea of ‘mates‘—that he had

resisted his connection to Sarah not out of hatred, but perhaps out of defiance.

A rebellion against fate, against something he couldn’t control.

even aware of what he

stretching longer than either

as a simple exchange about economics had seamlessly drifted into other topics–philosophy, literature, even the nature

07:57

Farewell: Half A Life

98.5%

Chapter 129

talk

knowledgeable; she had a sharp, analytical mind, the kind that dissected ideas layer by

much time had slipped away, the sun

the room in warmth, making the atmosphere feel

her fingers resting lightly on the

satisfied expression flickered across her face. “Thanks for

“It was helpful.”

his chair, a relaxed smile forming.

his gentleness.

It lingered

promise.

of the room, Elisa had been getting along well

a constant background melody throughout the

they were all preparing to leave, a strange but

them.

found himself speaking without much thought. “See

her expression unreadable, but there was something steady

next time.”

first before heading off on her own, the silence of the car giving her space to think. Cole was different from what she had expected–attentive, perceptive.

were simply

his office, arms crossed, a knowing smile playing on her

cousin–in–law.”

up at her with

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