The Shape of Absence

Her eyes fell on the child in my arms.

She frowned, her tone turning uncertain. "Why does this child look so much like..."

"Impossible. The doctor said Adrian cannot have children at all."

I looked sincere and was about to say, "That was a misdiagnosis."

Then steady footsteps came from behind her.

Adrian Blake stepped to Vanessa's side. "What is wrong?"

The moment I looked up, I met Adrian's dark, deep eyes.

For some reason, the back of my neck went cold.

A vicious flicker passed through Vanessa's eyes.

Before I could speak, she softened her voice and turned toward him. "Adrian, you forgot, but she is the one who used to bully me all the time.

"She even threatened me just now. She said she would not let me live peacefully."

She shrank into Adrian's arms, her fingers tugging lightly at the hem of his jacket. "I am scared. Teach her a lesson for me. Have her sent out of the country, okay?"

Adrian let go of Vanessa and lowered his eyes to look at her. His tone gave nothing away. "She bullied you?"

Then he released Vanessa's hand and walked toward me, step by step.

I backed away.

His gaze burned, and his voice carried a faint hoarseness.

"What is your name?"

My heart jumped under his stare. "Lily Parker."

It felt so familiar. Every time he came to catch me, he had that same fanatical look in his eyes.

After a while, he lifted his chin toward the nurse. "Let her see the doctor first. The child has a high fever."

Behind him, Vanessa nearly ground her teeth to pieces, glaring at me with hatred.

Fortunately, Owen was fine. After the IV drip, we could go home.

As I walked, I thought about everything that had happened today. I had to move to another city. I could not stay here anymore.

I was still wondering where I should go when an arm suddenly reached from behind and covered my mouth and nose.

I lost consciousness in an instant.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a pitch-black little room.

Adrian's clear, cold voice scraped past my ear.

"Lily Parker, be good and become my woman.

"I can give you everything you want. You are not allowed to run."

I moved my hands and feet. In the faint clinking of metal, I looked down at the cuffs and shackles locked around me.

Familiar behavior, familiar lines, familiar Adrian.

People say you cannot step into the same river twice.

But Adrian could.

For a moment, I was in a daze. I almost thought I had gone back in time.

"Why did it take you so long to find me this time?"

I did not know which part of that sentence had struck him.

His pupils shrank violently. He raised a hand and pressed hard against his temple.

His whole body swayed. The next second, he collapsed straight toward me.

At that moment, the door was violently pushed open.

Vanessa stood at the very front. Behind her were Mr. and Mrs. Blake.

Vanessa's gaze passed over everything and landed on my shackled wrists and ankles. Her whole body swayed.

Mrs. Blake clutched the doorframe and almost fainted. "Lily Parker, why is it you again? How did the two of you end up together again?"