My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

I nodded, knowing that Nerissa was being considerate. Besides, I was indeed a little tired.

There weren't many people in the cafe, making the environment extra cozy and welcoming. Nerissa sat me down at an empty table, and she went to order coffee for us.

Then, she returned to the table, looked at me, and she began to ask, "Arianna, can you tell me more about Hendrix and you? I'll be honest with you, I used to often go back to Ucrebury to see him in secret, but he never wanted to see me. He even went as far as to avoid me. Hendrix has always been this aloof... Until the last time, he came to Jarold City. You don't know how happy I was when he came to tell me that he's taking you here for a few days."

Nerissa seemed to be reminded of something painful as she looked visibly hurt. She continued, "I thought that I had been abandoned by my family for the rest of my life. So, I'm really glad that Hendrix is willing to come to visit me, and he's even bringing you with him!"

Her eyes were now brimming with

tears. Seeing that, I flustered and soothed, "The Roberts won't leave you behind, Aunt Nerissa. We welcome you whenever you're ready to come home."

She looked at me and pulled a bitter smile. "But it has been so many years... Father won't want to see me."

at

asked, "Grandpa had passed away

her coffee cup. She looked at me in disbelief, "What did you

it seemed like she didn't know it. For a brief moment, I didn't know how to respond. My heart jumped hard against my chest when I saw the state she was in. Nerissa lowered her head and took a deep breath. When she looked

the past few years. And he died of colorectal cancer at the end of last year. He-" Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

the cup in her hand. She crouched down in a panic to pick the shattered pieces, but the worker at the cafe had already come

repeatedly in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry...

all right. I just need

place. I didn't know how to comfort her, and for some reason, I had a feeling that she wasn't only apologizing to the worker. The apology was for Dalton too. After the episode, Nerissa was quick to recompose herself. After all, she was still a woman of good-manner, and the cafe was a public space. A lady needed to be poised at all times, or at least in public eyes. However, she was no longer as calm as she had been when we sat down

suppose Nerissa would still be in the mood to shop

"Yes, of course. Let's go. You're probably tired after a day of walking. You should go home

the front while I trailed behind her, preoccupied with my handbag, and paid no attention to the front. However, she abruptly stopped before the cafe door, and I almost ran into her back. Following the

things came