Gwen could not help frowning as she stared at the text.She was not a child anymore. Winson's insistence on sending her home and his sudden interest in her sent a clear message.Besides, she remembered a time when Winson used to have a crush on her in high school, just like Ben. However, she turned him down and chose to be with Ben instead.After a moment's hesitation, Gwen took out her phone and replied, [I'm not up to anything in particular tomorrow, but I don't want to waste your time, Winson. Ever since my ex-boyfriend passed away, I don't think I can fall for anyone else anymore. Let's remain friends.]With that, she let out a sigh, put down her phone, and strode out onto the balcony.The moon was exceptionally bright and full that night but emanated a cold hue, much like her heart.As she closed her eyes, Luke's face appeared in her mind's eye.She had come to terms with Luke's passing, but she could no longer find it in herself to open her heart to someone new. It was as
A woman's piercing scream echoed through the master bedroom of Orchard Manor.Luna finally caught sight of Gwen's message the moment she returned to the room. She could not help letting out a shriek of excitement, and, ignoring a drunken Joshua entirely, plopped onto the bed to reply to her message. [Gwennie, did you see our wedding photos? Where are you now? Bonnie told me that you've lost touch with us ever since what happened with Anne and me, and I thought you decided to cut all ties with me!]When they were getting their makeup done shortly before the ceremony, Luna had been talking about this to Bonnie.Everyone that she knew had come to the wedding, save for the two most important people in her life—Anne and Gwen.Unfortunately, Anne would never be able to share the joy with her anymore, and as for Gwen…Luna was not certain whether Gwen had chosen to leave out of disgust for her actions.She was so ashamed by this that she could not even pluck up the courage to call Gwen.
Neither Luna nor Bonnie expected this response from her. They sent her a playful sticker in reply, retorting, [I can't believe this. We're just concerned about you, yet you've resorted to attacking our husbands. We're going to tell them about this now, and they'll find a way to track you down and capture you home!][Please don't. I was kidding, I'm fully aware of Joshua and Jim's ferocity.] Gwen snickered at this. [I'm not done having fun yet, so I'm not ready to come home.]Luna could not help sighing at this. She tilted onto her side, trying to ease her sore muscles, and continued typing, [Haven't you had enough fun, considering how long you've spent out there all by yourself now? When are you coming home? We all miss you dearly.][I don't have any plans for that as of now.] Gwen paused, then told them everything her father had told her on the phone. [Banyan City and Sea City are too close to each other. I think I'd better stay away for now, lest I get in trouble.][What are you
Luna was dumbstruck when she saw the text Gwen sent. Dazedly, she looked back at Joshua. "Did…you send someone to protect Gwen?"Joshua, playing with his phone at the moment, paused and nodded. "Yes."It only triggered more questions in Luna's mind. "When did you arrange that?"After she was released, she did ask Bonnie about Gwen. At that time, Bonnie said Gwen told no one when she left, and no one knew where she was headed to.Why would Joshua arrange for people to protect Gwen? If he did that, why did he not mention it when she talked about Gwen with him?"I did it after you went to jail." Joshua coughed and looked in another direction to avoid looking into Luna's eyes. "I was afraid someone is going to hurt your friends after what happened to Anne. Bonnie has Jim with her, so I wasn't worried about her. Gwen, on the other hand, has no one, so I asked a friend to protect her."Luna's eyebrows furrowed. "Your friend?"When did Joshua have a friend who worked as a bodyguard?A
"It's in the city. Do you want to come?" chirped Winson over the phone. "I'll wait for you here!"After hesitating for a few seconds, Gwen eventually agreed. She did want to see the painting Winson mentioned.Theo never told her he painted her before, but…she and Luna did not know Theo when they were in high school. Maybe Theo did paint her before, but she did not know for sure.She believed Winson could tell it was her because they studied in high school together. Thus, she eventually agreed to go with a stomach full of curiosity. "Okay. Share the location with me. I'll go over now."After refreshing herself, she put on a jacket and went out. When she was downstairs, she saw the man waiting outside of her building again.Same as before, he dressed entirely in black with a cap and mask covering his face.His presence reminded Gwen about what Luna told her last night."Joshua sent him to keep you safe. His face is covered because he doesn't want to scare anyone with his disfigure
The man dressed in black took a step back and used his hand to reach for his other injured arm. He remained silent and merely shook his head in response to Gwen.By then, Gwen could tell the man did not just hurt his back but also his arm too. He had been trying to protect her from slamming on the ground to the extent that there was obviously blood wetting the sleeve of his black sweater.Gwen's heart throbbed when she saw blood on him."You look like you're hurt badly."She bit her lip and wanted to go near him, intending to bring him to the hospital. After just one step, however, she remembered the thing Luna texted her last night.This man did not want anyone to go near him. He was self-abased and ashamed because of his disfigured face. Gwen knew she should not go near him or break the rules he set for her.She paused and frowned. "You…should go to the hospital."The man took another step back and shook his head silently again."Hey, if he doesn't want to go to the hospital,
The man dressed in black frowned upon hearing what Winson said. He looked up at Winson's face with his frosty gaze. "So you're getting close to her because you want her?""Wrong." Winson looked in the direction where Gwen left. He took out his lighter from his pocket to light up the cigarettes and puffed out a ring made out of smoke into the air."Since you and I have the same motive, I'm going to be frank with you: I'm getting close to her to bring her back to Sea City to claim a reward.""Claim a reward?" The man dressed in black stared at Winson. "And what's that?""Don't pretend like you don't know anything." Winson scoffed at that question. "Aren't you after the reward too, seeing as you're trying to win over Gwen? Don't tell me you don't know the gang in Sea City has put a bounty on Gwen to avenge Luke?"The man dressed in black trembled, and his eyebrows furrowed. "A bounty on Gwen just to avenge Luke? Didn't he give Gwen his heart? Isn't it the same as destroying the last
Winson grunted in pain as his body slammed against the ground.At that moment, Gwen was walking out of the pharmacy with some alcohol pads, sanitizer, and bandages, so she saw how Winson was flung to the ground by the man dressed in black.Shocked, she quickly rushed over. "Winson!""Gwen…" Winson used his hand to support his back when Gwen helped him to get up. He said weakly, "Do you even know this guy? He's so fierce…"Gwen bit her lip and looked at the man dressed in black. "I…"She wanted to say she knew him, but she remembered what Luna and Joshua told her.Gritting her teeth, she answered, "I don't know him.""You don't know him…" Winson glanced at the man dressed in black in disdain.Although this man did not have the same motive as him, they were both here because of Gwen. He, however, was much closer to Gwen.The first one to arrive normally had the advantage of being in a favored position. He and Gwen had known each other since they were in high school, and Gwen had