Chapter 13
Cliffe drove aimlessly, desperation fueling his every tum. He stopped at all the places Aya used to frequent, hoping someone might know where she had gone. Each stop ended in disappointment, leaving him more agitated with every passing moment.
There was only one place left to check, but dread settled in his chest at the thought. He hadn’t been there in ages, and returning now felt like facing ghosts he wasn’t ready for
Before heading there, he stopped at a gift shop, hastily grabbing a few items, a hollow gesture, but it gave him a moment to collect himself
When he finally arrived at the orphanage, the sun blazed high in the sky, its brightness mocking the turmoil brewing inside him. Mrs. Leonard appeared at the entrance, her expression a bittersweet mix of familiarity and sadness.
“Hey” Cliffe greeted, his voice carefully neutral ⠀
She offered a small, weary smile. “Come in,” she said simply, tuming back toward the building without waiting for him to follow. “Tea?” Mrs. Leonard offered as they settled into the modest sitting room. Her movements were slow, her years evident in the deliberate way she handled her teacup, Despite her frailty, her sharp eyes betrayed her wisdom and understanding. She already knew why he was here
“No, I’m fine Cliffe replied, his voice tight as he rubbed his palms together in a nervous rhythm. Tm here for Aya
“She isn’t here,” Mrs. Leonard said simply, blowing on her tea. “Oh, that’s hot.“R
“Don’t keep her away from me.“|||
Mrs. Leonard chuckled softly, the sound laced with irony. “Aren’t you being a little greedy? You already have Beta Evelyn, and now you want Aye too?”
“The relationship between Evelyn and me is purely contractual Cliffe clarified, his tone defensive “You’ve misunderstood.”
Contractual?” Mrs. Leonard raised her brows, setting her cup down.
He nodded, his jaw tightening
“Then why didn’t you tell Aya?” she pressed, her voice calm but firm. “Why go so far as to fake it in her presence and let Evelyn pull her stunts? She told me everything before she left.“)
His hands balled into fists. I’ve learned my lesson, and I can fix it, if you’ll just tell me where she is.”
Mrs. Leonard sighed, a flicker of pity crossing her face. “Oh, honey Aya really isn’t here.”
“You must know where she is,” he insisted, his voice almost pleading. “She tells you everything, doesn’t she?”
For a moment, Mrs. Leonard studied him in silence, her gaze searching his face as though weighing her next words. She’d always been a soft spot for pairing the two, but she also knew Aya deserved peace
“She’s in Paris,” she finally said, her voice gentle: “With her biological parents ”
“Biological parents?” Cliffe repeated, his confusion evident
“Yes,” Mrs. Leonard said with a soft sigh. “Aya’s parents found her during her senior year of high school. They pleaded with her to come home, but. She paused, her sharp gaze meeting his. “She didn’t leave. Do you know why?”
Cliffe swallowed hard, unable to speak as the weight of her words settled on him.
Mrs. Leonard continued, her voice tinged with both compassion and reproach. “She stayed for you, Cliffe. Despite everything, she stayed because you mattered to her. But you.. you were too blind to see it.”
When their conversation ended, Cliffe stepped outside, the cool air hitting him like a slap. His chest tightened, and his world felt like It was shattering piece by piece. Aya could have left at any moment, gone to live a better life with her family. but she stayed. She stayed for him.”
How had he not seen it? How had he let things go this far?
Lost in his thoughts, he barely registered his phone ringing. Without glancing at the caller ID, he answered it, his voice hoarse
