Skies We No Longer Share

Cecilia did not know how long she had been standing at the door.

Hearing the people inside the booth mock her and Yvonne flirting with Jeff so effortlessly, Cecilia felt a deep ache and had no strength left.

She turned to leave with shaky steps, but just then, Jeff and his group came out.

Yvonne, leading the pack, spun around and crashed right into Cecilia.

Cecilia, caught off guard, tumbled forward. Her hand slammed against a fire hydrant, and blood came gushing out.

"Ah, my dress!" Yvonne shrieked as her dress got stained, and in the next moment, she slapped Cecilia across the face. "Watch where you’re going! You've ruined my dress. Can you even pay for it?"

Cecilia was stunned. Her cheek puffed up, and her hair was a mess. She looked completely disheveled.

Jeff quickly wrapped his arms around Yvonne, worriedly asking if she was hurt.

The others were quick to confront Cecilia.

"Who do you think you are, bumping into Mr. Lawrence's girl like that? Are you asking for trouble?"

"Say you're sorry, now! You've messed with Mr. Lawrence's sweetheart, you better start begging for forgiveness!"

Cecilia's heart sank as she listened to their words.

Everyone knew how much Jeff adored Yvonne, and it was obvious he cared deeply for her.

She closed her eyes, not wanting to fight anymore, and turned to walk away.

However, she then heard Jeff's icy voice.

"Stop!"

He sounded forceful.

"Apologize!"

Those two simple words were filled with anger. Cecilia heard it all clearly.

It reminded her of when they first started dating and a bully had bothered Cecilia. Jeff had demanded an apology in the same stern way, but the bully did not apologize and kept on insulting her.

Jeff's eyes had turned red with fury as he grabbed the bully, almost choking him, and they both ended up in the police station.

After they were released, Jeff had held Cecilia, who had cried until her eyes were swollen, and comforted her, "Don't worry, Cecilia, I'm here. No one will ever bully you as long as I'm around."

That promise seemed so clear, yet then Jeff was protecting someone else, not Cecilia.

With that thought, Cecilia slowly raised her puffy face, her red eyes peeking through her messy hair, and let out a raspy, soft chuckle.

"Mr. Lawrence, how would you like me to apologize to make you happy?"

"C-Cecilia!"

Jeff was stunned when he saw Cecilia's face, and he rushed over to her in a panic.

"How did you get here? Are you hurt? Your hand—"

Yvonne's face twisted with a change of expression. A flash of jealousy and resentment appeared in her eyes.

Cecilia pulled her hand back and looked down again. "The driver said you drank too much and sent me to pick you up. Since you're not alone, I'll head back now."

She was just about to walk away when suddenly everything went black and her legs wobbled. Cecilia fainted.

"Cecilia—"

Jeff ran to catch her and yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Get the car. We need to get to the hospital, now!"

Everyone scrambled to help, except for Yvonne, who stood frozen with her fists clenched. Her eyes were filled with jealousy and rage.