Eliza's Pov

  After a long wellness speech, Ethan finally considered leaving early. I couldn't risk it; I didn't know when my parents would arrive, but I had to be careful and not cause more trouble.

  As I lay in bed thinking of Arthur, I heard the sound of a vehicle. I quickly checked my face in the mirror and went out to the living room. They seemed to have enjoyed themselves a lot.

  "Good morning," Arthur said.

  It was a conversation I wanted to avoid at any cost. I was really irritated by how he looked into my eyes, as if he could see what I was thinking. I just broke eye contact and looked at my mom and said, "Good morning. Thanks for driving my parents."

  I didn't know how to make a smiley face in this situation, but I smiled anyway. He didn't return it, just stood there looking at me.

  "Why don't you have breakfast here? It's already late anyway for when you get to the clinic," my mom offered.

  Was she serious right now? I couldn't take it. I was about to yell at him, "Don't act like a good kid; I know your true side," but I couldn't.

  "I really don't want to trouble...." he said.

  Again, that respectful conversation he started without finishing. I glared at him. I think he noticed; he just scratched his eyebrow as if thinking about something.

  "Let's eat together, come on," my father insisted, so he accepted.

  I had never eaten my food so uncomfortably. I wished Ethan were here. While eating, I looked at Arthur, who sat beside my mom, who was in front of me. Actually, the table had three chairs at three corners, leaving one empty. Now it was full, but not with Ethan, like I had always dreamed, but with Arthur. I had insisted on installing a chair; now I was regretting it. While thinking this, I realized my gaze had been on Arthur's plate the entire time.

  He looked at me sharply, as if I were asking his boxers size.

  "So Ethan stayed the night here?" he asked, which made me choke. I was stunned by his question. Was he serious? He was literally asking for it.

  "No, he just drove me and left," I said confidently. Then I realized it was easy to lie to Arthur.

  Arthur smiled. My mom nodding convincingly was just the reaction I wanted. I took another bite. I was a late eater; thank God everyone left me in peace. As I entered the kitchen, Arthur was there, taking water from the refrigerator. I silently put my plate in the sink and left the room.

  Silence was the key option now. Later, I heard Ethan's bike and ran into the living room. At least he had to be prepared to understand the inside situation. I whispered in his ear like a headline, "Arthur is here and had breakfast with us." He nodded like a police officer.

  Everyone was on the sofa when I entered with Ethan. Wow, what a sight. I just sat beside Arthur, regretting why the sofa was so small right now. And Ethan took the left side of Arthur. It was hellishly awkward. I could grasp that Ethan was angry with Arthur but confused about some feelings. Was Arthur a bad person?

  "Actually, we have work, so we'll be in my room. Call me if you need anything," I said, breaking the silence and gesturing to Ethan. He was making a face like, "Are you serious?"

  My mom sighed and just continued to stare.

  "I have to go. Thank you for every..." Arthur said.

  Again...

  "No problem, it's like your own house, isn't it?" my mom said.

  "Hey, see you," Arthur said, smiling at me. I realized he never broke a sentence when he spoke to me. So, was this how he was saying he was guilty towards my mom?

  "Yeah, thanks for caring for my parents. I know you don't owe them anything, but people like you are hard to find. I hope you consider my thanks," I said. I really wanted to do something big, but this was enough for now, as Ethan was pulling the sleeve of my dress.

  He was staring, so he was definitely thinking about the past. He was angry, the way he was staring. I was the one who should be angry.

  "Yes, she said the right thing for the first time," my mom said mockingly while touching Arthur's shoulder.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I rolled my eyes. If I had said that day before yesterday, you should consider I meant it, but now, no way. Arthur didn't take his eyes off me the entire time. Then I realized neither did Ethan take his eyes off Arthur. I just grabbed Ethan's arm and took him to my room.

  "You just almost committed suicide, are you nuts?" he said after closing the door.

  "I just want to remind him. Seeing him happy pisses me off," I said. Why hadn't he told me? If he had, would I have forgiven him then?

  "So why didn't he bring the ring back to you?" he talked to himself.

  "Literally, he should have spent all the money and betrayed us while we were living in hell," I said. I knew I was overcrossing my line.

  "Let's find out. I hope he didn't realize about this book," he said.

  "You still want to read it?" I said.

  "I told you, you have to live at his steps to feel him," he said.

  "Seriously?" I said.

  "So should I read it alone?" he asked.

  "Kill me," I said, taking the book and sitting on the bed. He immediately sat beside me, making himself comfortable.

  Arthur Diary

  After leaving Eliza's home, I immediately ran to school, but the teacher's office was locked. Running to Mrs. Williams' home, getting the ring back from her was the only option I had. I realized the pain of losing the most valuable thing in your life. If Eliza knows that's the end, I can't look her in the eyes while holding this.

  I rang the bell. Mrs. Williams opened the door and looked more shocked than I expected.

  "What is it? Why are you here?" she asked, dragging me to the side of the house.

  "I just want the ring back, please," I said, tears welling up, almost trembling for an unknown reason.

  "I told you never bring this ring up again between us," she said angrily, glancing inside the house through the window from time to time.

  "Please, it belongs to someone I know personally. I can't end up with it," I said.

  "Why would you bring it to me in the first place? You took the amount very happily. What happened now?" she said, irritated.

  "It made me happy when I saw the amount, which could give me a house with an oven in the kitchen, but losing someone from my life is more than I can give. Please believe me, I will give you more money than you gave me if you give me time, please," I said.

  "See, I sold it. I don't know to whom. It's online. Please leave before my husband asks me questions," she said as if she didn't care about my situation.

  "Can you share the link or something of the person I can get it from?" I asked pleadingly.

  "Please leave. I can't help you now. I even asked you where you got that thing, and now you are making a fuss. Just leave," she said.

  "See, I wouldn't take it back if the situation wasn't like this," I said angrily.

  "What big thing do you think losing a person in life is more valuable than the money I gave you? Grow up. A woman fell for that money. If you are like this for a girl, just buy her things and leave right now," she said, going into the house and locking the door. I rang the bell... again... again... again... till night, but there was no answer. I called my friend to find the same ring. He told me if he had it, he would have taken Mrs. Williams' offer. It cost a fortune of 900,000, so everyone wants it. Now I realized I had even been scammed with the money.

  After getting home, I was miserable. I told my mother, unable to control my tears. I told her I would apologize in front of Eliza's parents. I knew it wasn't the solution, but I couldn't give the actual cost of the money. I was all tears, knowing a big, never-erasable mistake. She grabbed me by my shoulders.

  "You know what people say about me, how much I suffered to raise you. The Hawthornes are the only ones who treat us like humans. At least you literally took the only thing I hang on to in this world. It's my fault. I should have stopped you when you wanted to work. It's my fault. I know money can make you stupid and crazy, but why did I allow you? It's my fault," she said, unconsciously hitting me. After some time, she just sat in a corner crying, and I stood where I was.

  It was getting dark, and my mom packed stuff to leave this place. I tried to say I would leave and she should stay, but she said she couldn't face her, fearing the truth. So we left. To live. To hide. For the last time, I wanted to see Eliza, but I didn't. I knew I would spill the facts right away.

  I'm a coward.

  Like the truth haunting us, so is my present. Mom can't get a job. The city is already filled with more skills than we can provide. I'm working in a game club and as a delivery boy, but it didn't solve the issues. My mom started to drink and not leave the house. She is in depression. I know she feels all this is worthless, but I want to prove to her we can survive very well, so I quit one job and started studying hard.

  After grandma passed away, we visited our hometown again, but I was so scared. At that time, I completed my university and got an internship. The day always passed like taking a slap. I had never seen my mom smile until now. Is this called karma?

  I prepared more and more to become more stable and stronger.

  I still have a clear vision of how my mom smiled when I finally performed my first heart surgery. Everyone just smiled. I want to know how Eliza is doing. Maybe it is her second year in university. What did she choose? Is she a doctor, or an actor, or did she choose something like fashion?

  I'm curious. A long time passed. Suddenly, Mrs. Hawthorne visited our house. I was stunned, but my mom wasn't. I understood then that they were always in touch. I greeted her. My mom offered some biscuits and coffee. I sat beside my mom in front of Mrs. Hawthorne. I wanted to ask about Eliza, but the sentence cut through me. They talked about their lives and retirements.

  "Actually, I'm here to ask if you would consider marrying my daughter Eliza," she said.

  Continues....