The Beginning Of All Sins

Chapter 20

It began to pour when Olivia returned to school. She sat by the window, watching the rain outside and feeling as gloomy as the pouring rain itself.

She was discreet about not taking the clothes Tyler had bought her home. Instead, she left them in her school dormitory.

After washing the lingerie, she hung it on the balcony. The wet, white lingerie swayed in the wind.

As Tyler drove away from the hospital, he felt annoyed. He continued driving for a while before pulling over under a tree by the street.

The rain poured down, and the car windows were tightly shut. Inside the car, he sat and smoked. The smoke filled the car, and his expression remained blank amidst the silent swirls of smoke.

Thoughts of the previous night unexpectedly filled his mind as he smoked. He continued to smoke, one after another, in the pouring rain, until he crushed the last cigarette in the ashtray.

His life felt as trapped as the relentless downpour.

While sitting by the window, Olivia contemplated her situation. Eventually, she decided to send Tyler

a text message,

consisting of only two words: “Thank you.”

Her heart raced after she sent the message, and she remained silent, lips pursed.

The rain poured until midnight, gradually stopping the next morning. By that time, Tyler had replied

with four words: “Don’t worry about it.”

“Tyler, can I buy you a meal? To thank you for

“Let’s do it tonight.

was on a rollercoaster ride. At that moment, it was at its peak, and she knew it

quickly replied, “Sure.”

the evening, Tyler arrived at her school precisely at 6 P.M. He was driving a different car she hadn’t

you like to eat?” She wrinkled her nose as she detected a faint smell of cigarette

turned to her. He noticed she was

but Tyler looked away first. He responded to her question, “Are you

Chapter 20

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to buy me dinner?”

to return the money

afford expensive restaurants, and cheaper ones might not suit Tyler’s status. She was

self–imposed trouble. “I’ll pick the place since

lot judging by his tone, but she didn’t really

the rain.

half an hour of driving, they arrived at an exclusive establishment. Olivia was taken aback by the

got out of the car first. She hesitated as she slowly

expensive place.

“What, you’re

if I brought enough cash with

wanted to thank me for Jacob? Where’s your sincerity?” Tyler remarked, leaving Olivia

feeling that he seemed colder today, though