Chapter 18

Vivian had no idea where this sudden outburst of feelings come from. She raised her brows slightly and managed a reply, “Perhaps we humans have a natural sense of fear of darkness. After all, we’re not nocturnal creatures.”

He then went to sit at the table and informed her, “I’ve already ordered the food, if that’s okay with you.”

Vivian found herself being involuntarily nervous whenever she looked at his face. She instinctively tried to soothe herself with humor. “It’s alright, as long as it’s not too expensive.”

He smiled faintly. “I think it won’t be.”

The two of them did not share any common topic of conversation. When he was not talking, she focused on her food with her head lowered. She would not speak to him of her own accord. When they were almost halfway through the meal, he sprung a question on her, “Miss Carraway, can you tell me why you’re afraid of me?”

Taken aback by this, she looked up at him.

“Please don’t tell me that it’s a misunderstanding. You don’t look like you’re loosening your reins just to grasp them better. You seem genuinely afraid of me. That’s made me curious,” he said.

She looked at him for a long while. Then, she rested her chopsticks and spoke frankly, “I met a robber a few years ago, and you resemble him slightly, so…” She flashed an apologetic smile. “So, I wouldn’t be lying to you if I told you that it’s just a misunderstanding.”

The edge of his lips curled slightly. “I resemble him slightly?”

She shrugged helplessly. “Alright, fine, you look a lot like him. I was traumatized by that incident. That’s why I behaved that way when I first met you. I hope you can understand.”

Edward laughed. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. After all, I was the one who scared you.”

Vivan felt much better after getting that off her chest. With a smile, she said, “So, please don’t get the wrong idea. I wasn’t trying to play a cat and mouse game or anything. I’m married, and my relationship with my husband is solid.”

Edward nodded slowly and gestured for her to drink. He spoke with a light chuckle, “I’m sorry. I haven’t told you why I’ve asked you here. I wanted to thank you for before with a small token.” As he said this, he produced a box from under the table and passed it to her.

She was slightly shocked because she thought that he wanted to discuss the matter of Noelle dropping out of school. She hastily said, “You’re being too kind. I can’t possibly accept this.”

However, he would not retract his extended arm. “Take it. It’s not something valuable. Open it and see if you like it.”

Vivian had no choice but to accept the book-sized gift box and open it in front of him. The instant she lifted the lid, her expression changed drastically, and she tossed the box away as if it was scorching hot. The photographs inside the box were scattered everywhere, and one of them fell squarely on her plate. A glassy-eyed man was staring at her through the photograph. His face and body were covered in blood, but the gaping wound on his neck still sent chills down her spine.

He was the criminal named Slim Monkee. She would never forget that face.