Andrew swung his hand at me, and I flinched, eyes shutting on instinct.
But the slap froze inches from my face. Not a hair closer.
Cold fury spread through his gaze.
“I never realized your mind was this filthy.”
I said nothing.
I just bent down, gathered my luggage, and didn't look at him again.
Clutching the overstuffed suitcase that wouldn't latch, I made the long walk back to Graceheart Orphanage.
Beds were tight, but when Director Harris heard I only needed a few days, she nodded and let me stay.
The next day, the water and electricity cut out without warning. Director Harris came to find me, sighing heavily.
“Joy, sweetheart, you know how tight funds have been. We barely have room as it is, and you're grown now. It'd really be better if you found somewhere else.”
I wanted to offer my part-time earnings to rent a room and cover a few months of utilities for everyone.
I went to talk it over with Director Harris, but I heard her on the phone before I could knock.
“Please, don't let the Curry family pull their funding yet. I've already told the girl to move out. Yes, within three days, I promise!”
“Mr. Curry can't possibly be short on cash for a yacht. Could you talk to him one more time……”
My fingers went white around the doorframe. Then, slowly, I let go.
It wasn't long before Andrew posted on Instagram.
The photo was a selfie angled at the fresh tattoo just below his collarbone, the skin still flushed red around it.
Vivienne's initials.
His caption read:
【Happy birthday Princess Vivienne! Didn't know what to get you so I bought a yacht. Anyone free tonight, come to the west-side marina.】
One of the comments said:
“Damn, Andrew finally ditched the charity case? About time! Congrats bro!”
Andrew replied ‘yep’ right as my thumb hit the like button.
At the same time, a video call from Andrew came through in my DMs.
His features were as sharp and handsome as ever.
But his tone was stiff, almost defensive.
“Today's Vivienne's birthday. I only got the tattoo because I couldn't think of a gift. It doesn't mean anything.”
I stared at the streamers glinting in the background behind him and murmured ‘mm’.
“And that comment I replied to, I was just mad about yesterday……”
Andrew cleared his throat.
“Why is it so dark where you are? I can barely see your face.”
When he was eight, Andrew used to crouch by the small hole in the orphanage's back wall and peer through it,
asking me:
“How come it's so dark in there? I can't even see your face.”
Back then I'd answered in a tiny, timid voice:
“We can't afford the electric bill. We have to save power.”
Little Andrew had blinked, then broken into a grin.
“Then I'll do a magic trick for you. Ten minutes and there'll be light in there!”
Ten minutes later, every light in the orphanage blazed on, and I could just make out Director Harris weeping with relief：‘We got funding.’
I hadn't known what funding meant then. I only knew that when Andrew said there would be light, there was.
I also knew this boy who climbed the wall to play with me,
who stepped in front of the rocks other kids threw at me,
who still grinned at me with those bright, crescent-moon eyes even as blood ran down his brow, was different from anyone else.
I hadn't spoken in a long time. Andrew broke the silence first.
“Vivienne said there might've been a misunderstanding and she wants to apologize. She's really just spoiled, Joy. She doesn't mean any harm.”
I had fought so hard to test out of Riverside City, to claw my way up high enough to stand beside Andrew.
And one careless stunt from Vivienne had sent me crashing back down.
That was "no harm."
I drew a long breath and swallowed the bitterness whole.
“Are you done? Then I'm hanging up.”
I ended the call before he could answer.
Outside the window, fireworks burst in huge blooms across the sky. Every kid in the orphanage pressed against the glass to watch.
When the final volley rose, the sparks converged into the shape of Vivienne's face.
Vivienne sent me a selfie moments later. Her and Andrew, standing together on the deck of the yacht.
