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.

that her knuckles turned white, the veins on the back of her hands standing out.

deep breath, trying to steady herself.

her eye, she could see his tall figure

of her emotions earlier

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Chapter 138

her like this. And she definitely

just needed a moment to pull herself

gets cold” Doris tried to get Lewis to

can’t just leave you like this” Lewis had seen the glimmer in her eyes when she walked away from the table.

reminded Doris

all their affection to her younger brother, just because he

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

had once wished, ‘If only I were a boy. Maybe then, I wouldn’t have been scolded,

enough, no matter how hard I tried

and their parents

a fuss, their

was a pain

the door and let me see

opened the door. She stood there, head down, lashes casting

still had traces of moisture,

ear. “Seeing Ari

still not looking up.

if you ever need to cry, my shoulder’s right here.”

The words left Doris‘ mouth before she could stop them. Realizing

finish saying “just joking,” Lewis pulled her into a hug. “A hug works too.”

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

scent, she felt herself calming down. “I didn’t mean to cry… I just couldn’t hold it in.”

have a home now.” Lewis ran a hand over her hair. “And from now on, you have me too. I’ll be

the warmth of his words settling something deep inside

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

Ari to the amusement park.” Lewis had already

his arms, avoiding his

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Chapter 133

the fabric of his shirt–it was slightly wrinkled and

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

lightly,

eyes and glanced at him. His laughter didn’t sound like

said, giving her time to