Chapter 5
11
Paulette thanked her and then left the hospital with Nancy.
“Ms. Davenport, would you like me to call Mr. Chapman?” Nancy asked.
“No.”
Patricia knew Nelson’s attention was all on taking care of Patricia right now. Why would he give a damn about her?
She curved her lips self–mockingly and tried to move her waist slightly. It didn’t hurt that much anymore, so she stuffed the spray into Nancy’s hand and said, “You may go back. I’m going to school now.”
Nancy was a bit worried. “Can you manage?”
“The doctor said it was just some bruises, right? I’m fine, Nancy.”
It took Paulette a few minutes before reassuring Nancy, who finally left reluctantly.
As Paulette sat in the car, she couldn’t help but sigh, overwhelmed by mixed emotions. It seemed she had been protected well since living together with Nelson at eight, but when she was really hurt, only Nancy was with her.
But she didn’t feel bitter about it.
People always parted eventually.
Things between her and Nelson just ended sooner than she expected.
After submitting several documents, she told her professor about her
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internship in Crireton.
“1
Her professor was very surprised. “Crireton? Don’t you think it’s a bit too far? You said you couldn’t bear to leave Mr. Chapman, so you’d intern at his company, right? Besides, he’s gonna be so worried.”
She didn’t know how to explain the tangled web between her and Nelson. Pondering for a while, she said, “We aren’t related by blood. Besides, I’m already twenty. I don’t want him to worry about me anymore, and it’s time for me to be independent. I’m sure he’ll be all for it.”
Her professor nodded and sighed, “I guess. But he’s so good to you–ask anyone in school, and they’ll all agree with me. Even now, he still drives. you to and from campus, protecting you from all the boys.
INT
“No matter what, it’s always a good thing to want to be independent. Go ahead then. It’ll be a great opportunity for your growth. I believe in you- you’ll make your mark no matter what you do.”
Paulette nodded and left after chatting with her professor for a while.
Though her college years were brief, everyone here knew how much Nelson was concerned about her.
When she was a freshman, he had even bought a condo next to the campus just to better take care of her.
But…
Those days were gone.
Now, he was with the woman he wanted to take care of for the rest of his life, and she was no longer wanted. Maybe he was even annoyed by her existence.
Her departure would be the gift he wanted the most.
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She thought he wouldn’t come back because he had to look after Patricia.
To her surprise, the moment she stepped inside, she saw him dealing with work on his laptop on the sofa.
Hearing the sound, he turned around to look at her. “Your classes were over?”
She was stunned for a second before realizing he might have heard from Nancy that she had gone to school.
“Yes,” she answered while putting the things she had taken back from school in the cabinet. After hesitating for a few seconds, she asked, “Is Patricia alright?”
Nelson frowned and said with displeasure, “Patricia? Where are your manners?”
Knowing he wanted her to address Patricia as “Ms. Carver“, she said flatly, “You’re about to get married soon, right? What’s wrong with me calling her by her first name?”
The disapproval in his eyes was still obvious, but for the first time, he didn’t scold her anymore.
Instead, he changed the subject. “I was so worried back then and was a bit too rough. Nancy told me you bumped into the table. Is it serious?”
Paulette clenched her fists on both sides and soon unclenched them. Lowering her head, she said, “No.”
