Chapter 130
Once I got home, I was feeling uneasy, but I couldn’t directly ask Bonnie about it. Then, my mom called. She already knew that Bonnie had come to Caladonia, and Orlando was the one who told her
“What on earth does she want? Is she deliberately pestering you? You and Neil are divorced already, what else does she want?” My mom was furning I responded with a hint of irritation, “She’s here as a student, and happened to work at Orlando’s company Some stuff happened, and she quit”
“Did Neil go too?” Mom hit the nail on the head.
I didn’t deny it.
Mom was really pissed She thought Neil and Bonnie were just bullying me. She wanted to give Neil a piece of her mind over the phone, but I stopped her. “Mom, just let me handle this. You and dad need to take care of yourselves, especially you. You can’t get too worked up, okay?” I worried that mom’s health might take a toll if she got too upset.
Mom knew what I was like, no amount of talking would change anything. I would have to face this on my own, so she didn’t say anything more. Thankfully, the next few days were peaceful, with no disturbances. My morning sickness started to ease up, too. The doctor said that for most people, it got better after the first few months. But what I was really worried about was my baby bump. I could hide it for now, but in two or three months, it would be hard to keep it under wraps.
“Excuse me” Early on a weekend morning, as I was about to go out shopping. I saw a moving company bringing furniture upstairs, and the door to the apartment across from mine was wide open.
The residential area that I lived in was mid–range, not anything fancy But it was close to both my office and Harold’s house, so Orlando chose it for me. The apartment across from mine had been empty for a while, but it seemed like it had been rented out I didn’t think much of it. After a glance, I took the elevator downstairs. When I returned from shopping, the door across from mine was closed. It looked like they were all moved in.
‘Ms. Finch?‘ Just as I was about to close my door, Louis came out of the elevator, his face full of surprise. “You live here too?”
I stared at him in shock. “You’re the one who moved in across the hall?”
Louis grinned. “Yeah, more accurately, it’s me and Neil. It’s close to my office, so we’re staying here for now.”
I was taken aback. Neil was living across from me now? Wasn’t he living with Bonnie?
“Why the long face? You don’t seem… too thrilled about us being your neighbors.” Louis sounded worried. “Is it because it’s awkward being neighbors with Neil after the divorce?”
Of course it was awkward. I even suspected that Neil deliberately moved here to make me uncomfortable. If Bonnie found out we were neighbors, she would definitely get jealous.
What was he thinking?
Seeing that I didn’t say anything. Louis sighed. “Looks like he hurt you pretty badly.”
“It’s all in the past. I hope you guys enjoy living here “I managed a smile, then closed the door
Even though Louis and Neil were the ones living across from me, I never saw Neil. Every time I went to and from work, Louis was always the only one around. That was fine. I didn’t want to see Neil anyway. If all went well, I would move away in a while.
“Off work, Ms. Finch?” Louis would always greet me first. He was always enthusiastic.
“Yes” I nodded.
“Russel’s here too, did you know?” Louis laughed “We’re having a get–together tonight. You’re welcome to join.”
How could I possibly join? I wanted to avoid both Neil and Russel at all costs.
“No, I’m a bit tired today. I’m going to rest early.” I shook my head.
Louis didn’t push it. “Alright, rest well.”
Around nine–thirty at night, I heard a lot of noise from outside. It sounded like a lot of people talking. I went to the door and peeped through the peephole. Sure enough, the apartment across from mine was quite lively
Neil, Russel, Bonnie, Malinda, and a few other men and women I didn’t recognize were all there.
Neil seemed to sense that I was watching them. He swiftly turned around and looked straight at my door. His gaze was intense and mysterious.
I quickly withdrew from the peephole and took a seat on the sofa.
Gradually, the noise from the other apartment died down. They probably closed the door, so they wouldn’t keep me from sleeping
After I finished my night routine, I was ready to go to bed. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. My heart started racing. I went to check the door, and a woman was standing outside waiting for me.
“What can I do for you?” I asked
The woman seemed a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, I was wondering if you have any salad dressing. We’re making a salad but we ran out.”
I glanced at the door across from mine. I could vaguely saw shadows moving in the living room. I didn’t want to be seen by Neil and the others, so turned her down. “Sorry, I don’t have any salad dressing”
The woman seemed a bit disappointed and went back I didn’t know what she told the people inside, but soon, Louis and her came out, followed by Malinda. The three of them got in the elevator and went downstairs
They were probably going to buy salad dressing. I was feeling a bit frustrated. I felt like a fugitive, hiding in my room, afraid of being discovered.
Chapter
I went back to my bedroom, lay down, closed my eyes, and cleared my thoughts. I was ready to sleep and soon fell asleep.
“Boom!” A loud thunderclap woke me up from my dream. I looked at the window in my bedroom in a daze. Outside, there was lightning and thunder, and the wind and rain were heavy
I was instantly wide awake and on edge. I checked the time on my phone. It was already three–thirty in the morning.
Something fell in the living room. The sound was very piercing. I had no choice but to get up and check. I’d forgotten to close the balcony door, and I was afraid something might have been blown in by the wind.
There was nothing unusual in the living room. The rack I used to dry my socks on the balcony had been knocked over by the wind. Rain drifted into the living room. I walked over, intending to close the balcony door, but at the crucial moment, the door wouldn’t budge when I tried to push it
Suddenly, another thunderclap. I screamed in fear, my heart pounding in my chest. I was really scared of this kind of weather, and always wanted to wrap myself up like a cocoon to feel safe.
Trene!” Suddenly, I heard Neil’s voice from outside the door. Despite the thunder, his voice was not drowned out.
I tried to cool my jets, then dashed to open the door, hoping Neil could lend me a hand by closing the balcony door.
No sooner had I opened the door when a lightning bolt zapped out of the blue. I quickly clamped my hands over my ears, only to be hugged tightly by Neil. He patted my back, “It’s just thunder. Don’t be afraid.”
