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.”

texted him again. “Tyler, can I buy you a meal? To thank you for what you’ve done for Jacob.” She was actually quite nervous after sending

responded later in the afternoon: “Let’s do it tonight. I’ll pick

it was at its peak, and she

replied,

school precisely at 6 P.M. He was driving a different car she hadn’t seen before, and she

to eat?” She wrinkled her nose

to let the smoke dissipate, then turned to her. He noticed she was wearing the dress

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

Chapter 20

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to buy me dinner?”

with seriousness. She also wanted to return the money he had given her, but she

couldn’t afford expensive restaurants, and cheaper ones might not

off her self–imposed trouble.

drove away from the school. Olivia expected that she would have to spend a lot judging by his

the rain.

driving, they arrived at an exclusive establishment. Olivia was taken aback by the place

She hesitated as she slowly exited the car, realizing that

expensive place.

at her and said coldly, “What, you’re unwilling

if I brought enough cash with me,” she

for Jacob? Where’s your sincerity?” Tyler

into the establishment. She followed behind, feeling that he seemed colder today, though she wasn’t sure if