Chapter 21 The Young Man in the Rain
Chapter 21 The Young Man in the Rain
Pamela turned around and offered a polite smile. “My dear-”
Alisa’s gaze sharpened, cutting her off. “I don’t like that. You’d better change it.”
Pamela faltered. “Ms. Alisa.”
Alisa’s lips curved into a light smile. “Go home. Don’t worry–if the Storms try anything, I’ll back you.”
That reassurance was enough to put Pamela at ease.
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Before leaving, she glanced once more at the towering cabinet beside her, a faint unease settling in her chest. It felt as if Qodon were about to change.
Somewhere, a dark cloud was gathering–growing at a speed so swift and ominous it could be seen with the naked eye.
And once it spread wide enough to cover all of Qodon, no one would escape it.
By the time the last guests left, the Skyrend Hotel was quiet again.
Alisa slipped into her trench coat and left with Megan.
The car was already waiting at the entrance, where Megan stood.
Ricky stepped forward with a thick coat for Alisa, and Megan helped drape it over her shoulders.
“Alisa, you’re still recovering. You need to keep warm,” Megan said with concern.
Alisa had been frail since childhood, a result of years of abuse by the Nelsons. When she returned home, the family doctor suspected it had started even before she was born.
Her mother had likely been overworked during pregnancy, leaving Alisa undernourished from the start.
Years of mistreatment afterward had only weakened her further
“Let’s go, Megan.”
“Mmm.”
They walked hand in hand into the downpour.
“This rain’s coming down hard,” Megan said, holding the umbrella over them.
“I didn’t expect Mrs. Green to stand up for me,” Megan added, still surprised.
Alisa smiled faintly. “Probably just because she dislikes Sabrina. One more person against her is never a bad thing.”
Megan chuckled in agreement. “Exactly.”
At the car, Ricky opened the door, and soon the taillights were glowing red against the rain as they drove off.
As they neared a bend in the road, Alisa leaned against the car door, suddenly spotting something. “Stop the car.”
“What is it?” Megan asked.
“There’s someone over there,” Alisa said, eyes fixed outside.
The driver pulled closer, and both women saw the figure trudging through the rain.
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Chapter 21 The Young Man in the Rain
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“Xander?”
Alisa’s lashes lowered slightly. “So it’s him
Megan wasn’t interested in getting involved. She said casually, “He’s the illegitimate son. Probably got bullied by his older brother again. I’ve seen him before–once the Badmans dumped him in the middle of nowhere, and he had to walk back on
his own.”
Alisa said nothing.
Poor guy.
Walking all the way back to the Badmans‘ estate in weather like this?
Out here, you couldn’t even catch a cab.
After a pause, Alisa said, “Let’s give him a ride.”
“What?” Megan gasped.
The car eased to the curb.
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The driver tapped the horn, drawing the attention of the figure trudging through the downpour.
Xander turned toward the sound. Alisa lowered the window, revealing a delicate face, her calm, clear gaze meeting his.
“Get in,” she said evenly. “I’ll give you a ride.”
He hesitated. Of course he recognized her–after the commotion at the party earlier, who wouldn’t?
Being dumped out of the car had already been spectacle enough; he’d walked far enough for plenty of people to witness his humiliation.
He hadn’t expected anyone to stop.
“No, thank you, Ms. Roffe,” Xander replied in a low voice and kept walking.
The rain came down in sheets, soaking him through
Xander was the sort to endure quietly–tough, closed–off, and unwilling to accept kindness easily.
Alisa had anticipated as much. Without a word, she stepped out, ignoring Megan’s protest, and pressed him an umbrella.
“If you don’t want to take the ride, then take this,” she said. “And don’t be so quick to refuse me. Think about the people who care about you–if you get sick from this rain, who will truly worry for you?”
“Thanks,” Xander murmured.
“You’re welcome. We’ll meet again, Xander,” Alisa said, her voice light but certain.
Before he could answer, she slipped back into the car.
The taillights blurred in the rain as the vehicle disappeared around the bend.
Xander looked down at the black umbrella in his hand. For once, the cool lines of his face softened into the faintest hint of a smile
She’s right.
Even if nobody in Qodon ever cared about me—even my own family didn’t–there’s still one person who did,
My mother. And I won’t upset her.
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Chapter 21 The Young Man in the Rain
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He opened the umbrella, the fabric shielding him from the pounding rain, and quietly tucked the memory of this moment
away.
“Alisa, you’re soaked. Why did you get out?” Megan asked.
“He looked pitiful, all alone in the rain.”
“There are plenty of pitiful people in this world. What’s in it for you to help him?”
Alisa paused briefly, brushed the water off her sleeves, and smiled softly. “Every person you help is someone you gain. Believe me–Xander is no ordinary man.”
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