Chapter 425: Jaw Nearly Dropped
“So… how did you get home, Ava?” Carl asked casually as he changed into house slippers. Then, to Ava’s absolute shock, he bent down to help Nnenna with hers too.
Ava’s jaw nearly dropped.
Wait. What?!
Big Brother Carl was always gentle and nice, yes, but never like this. He had never helped her change shoes. Not once. And now he was kneeling in front of this girl, as if it was the most natural thing in the world?
Nnenna didn’t think much of it. To her, this was normal. Carl had always taken care of her. She smiled warmly and said, “Thank you,” in a soft voice, genuinely grateful, but without any hint of pride or manipulation.
Then she stepped fully into the house.
Ava stared after her, still reeling from what she just witnessed. The soft slap slap of Carl’s and Nnenna’s slippers echoed down the hallway like a haunting melody.
Her thoughts were spinning
Why her? Since when? What did she do to get this treatment?!
But before she could spiral further, Carl’s voice cut through her haze like a blade.
“Ava.”
She flinched slightly. “Y-Yes?”
He was still speaking gently, but there was a subtle weight in his tone now.
didn’t say how you got
didn’t you hear me?” Carl’s voice was calm, even smiling, but there was a sharp
Ava froze.
was little. That tone… it wasn’t loud or angry, but it was dangerous. A warning. Her heart
to sound casual, like she
see,” Carl replied, his
pause. Then he asked again, voice still smooth but deliberate, “Was the driver supposed to
thudded. He
pieces clicked in her mind like a trap snapping shut. Nnenna must have already told him.
palms grew damp. She knew Carl hated dishonesty more than
Sister Nnenna behind,” she said quickly, bowing her head slightly and trying to sound genuinely
His smile was still there,
the one you should
that followed felt like the air itself was holding
mask slipping off.
she said,
sounded convincing. But if he had caught a glimpse of Ava’s face at that moment,
calm, unbothered, even a little amused.
Carl blinked, surprised.
always tried to maintain peace. A sincere apology, especially one from someone younger, would
So why…?
she said, her voice laced
how to respond. Her voice sounded hurt,
he said quietly, almost to himself. “I’ll ask
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