One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 133

Lewis shot Doris a look, silently telling her to stay calm.

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Then, he gently explained to Arianna, “Ari, you’re the precious daughter your mom fought so hard to bring into this world. As long as she loves you, that’s what matters most. If you talk like that, you’ll hurt her feelings. Do you want to make her sad?”

“Of course not!” Arianna shook her head. “I want Mom to be happy every day.

“That’s the spirit.” Lewis spoke with infinite patience. “And being a girl isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, it comes with so many perks. Girls get to wear pretty hairstyles, dress up in all kinds of lovely outfits, and have endless possibilities ahead of them.

“Ari, you have to keep going. Eat well, grow strong, and be happy. That’s what will make your mom happy. And it’ll make us happy too.”

“Okay!” Arianna’s face lit up. “Lewis, I’ll be a good girl. But… can you promise to always like me?” She looked at him with so much hope.

She had never received much love from her own father, but somehow, Lewis filled that void.

She had unconsciously projected her longing for a father’s love onto Lewis, finding solace in his presence.

“Of course.” Lewis gave Arianna a firm answer. “Lewis will always like you, Ari. He’ll love you like his own daughter.

“You’re so nice, Lewis.” Arianna’s smile finally returned.

Doris, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly pushed her chair back, got up from the table, and ran toward the bathroom.

Arianna didn’t understand. “Lewis, what’s wrong with Doris?”

Lewis set Arianna back in her seat and gently told her, “Be good and finish your food. I’ll go check on Doris.”

“Okay.” Arianna nodded.

Lewis got up and walked toward the bathroom.

Standing outside the door, he could hear the sound of running water from inside.

He waited a moment before knocking gently with his knuckles. “Doris, you okay?”

Inside, Doris cupped some cold water and splashed it on her face. When she heard the knock, she slowly turned off the tap.

“I’m fine.” She gripped the edge of the sink, trying to suppress the lump in her throat.

But Lewis picked up on the slight strain in her voice. “Can you open the door?”

She looked up at her reflection in the mirror–her face streaked with water, her eyes slightly red.

again, gripping the sink so tightly that her knuckles turned white, the veins on the back of her hands standing

deep breath,

the corner of her eye, she could see his

control of her emotions

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Chapter 138

Lewis to see her like this. And she definitely didn’t want

a moment to pull

Go eat before your food gets cold” Doris tried to get Lewis to

the glimmer in her eyes when she walked away from the

reminded Doris of herself.

given all their affection to her younger brother, just

parents didn’t love her. She had wanted to be cherished like her brother, to feel

‘If only I were a boy. Maybe then, I wouldn’t have been scolded, beaten, or constantly

not good enough, no matter how hard I tried

never had to do anything, and their parents would still praise and encourage him.

a

was unbearable. It was a pain

let me see

She stood there, head down, lashes casting

were damp from the water. Her pale face still had traces of moisture, her eyes

a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “Seeing Ari

nodded honestly, still not

ever need to cry, my shoulder’s

lean on it now?” The words left Doris‘ mouth before she could stop them. Realizing what she had just

saying “just joking,” Lewis pulled her into

T–shirt. It was warm, smooth, and carried a faint, clean scent of wood.

familiar scent, she felt herself calming down. “I didn’t mean

that Doris anymore. You have a home now.” Lewis ran a hand

his chest, the warmth of his

to heal her wounds, to make the pain a little less sharp.

take Ari to the amusement park.” Lewis had already planned it the

stepped back from his

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Chapter 133

on the fabric of his shirt–it was slightly

head even more, her face burning. I didn’t do that on

lightly, “I know.”

His laughter didn’t

first,” Lewis said,