Chapter69CallMyName Chapter69CallMyName +10FreeCoins Behindtheirondoorlaya small,emptyroom.Althoughnoonewasinside,thewalls werecoveredwithphotos Lukemovedcloser,inspectingtheimages.Ashestudiedthem,herealizedthateverysingleonefeaturedhimasthe subject.
Ihad longsuspectedAnnasunhealthyfixationonLuke,butIhadntanticipateditcouldreachsuchachillinglevel.
Iexaminedthephotoscarefully.Theearliestone waswhenAnna firstarrivedatthe Boltonresidencewithherfostermother,Sheila Manyweretakeninsecret,showingtheyoungLakewithacoldexpression.HisdisgustandhatredwereespeciallyevidentwheneverhelookedatAnna.
Lukehadalwaysdeeplylovedhislatemother,andAdams remarriagetohissocalledfirstlove-somethinghismotherhaddespisedwasunbearableforhim.
Astimepassed,theharshnessinLukes eyesdiminished.
Hisexpressionsoftened,andthewayhelookedatAnnachanged,losingthedisdainthathadoncebeen there.
Thephotosfromthelasttwoyearsweredifferent.Theywerenttakeninsecretanymore;theywereoftheTwoofthemtogether.
Lookingthroughthem.Icouldseehowthingshadchanged.Atfirst,Lukeappearedreluctant,hisfaceawkwardanddistant,withnosignof closeness.
Butovertime,theygrewmorefamiliar,andhisresistancefaded.
Hesmiledfreelyinthephotos,posingwithAnna and evenembracingher.
Theytraveledtogether,visitingvariouscountriesand watchingsunsets.
Itwasno wonderhehadbeensobusythesepasttwoyears.Wheneverheleftforwork,hehadbeentakingAnnaalong.
Eachphotowaslikeadaggertomyheart,apainfulreminderofwhatIhadlost.Standinginthisroom,Ifeltliketheworldsbiggestfool.
Thearrangementofthephotoswasevenmoreingenious.Theywerentrandombutformedaheartononewall,withLukesportraitprominentlydisplayedonanother.
Laketookastepback,his expressiondifficulttoread.This…thisis… Annapressedherselfagainsthim,wrappingherarmsaroundhiswaistassheburiedherfaceinhischest.
Lukeshemurmured.IvelikedyousincethemomentImetyou.Ididntunderstandmyfeelingsbackthen.Ijustwantedtoseeyoueveryday 1/3 17:59Sat,Dec Chapter69CallMyName So,youtookallthesephotosofme? +10 FreeCoins Imsorry,shesaid,tearsstreamingdownherface.Icouldnthelpit.Ilikeyoutoomuch.Iknow youdidntwantmearound,and Icouldntgetclosetoyou.ThesepictureswereallIhadtoconsolemyself.
Hervoicetrembledas shecontinued.Atfirst,InevermeanttocompetewithChloeforyouraffection.Ijust…Ijustlovedyoutoomuch.
IfIhadntseenhowshetreatedGrandma,Imighthavebelievedheract.
ButLukewasaffected.Heseemedoverwhelmedbyherwords.Inamomentofweakness,hetiltedherchinandkissedher.
Annarespondedimmediately,wrappingherarmsaroundhisneck.Icaughtthetriumphantgleaminher eyes Ismiledtoo.
So,thatwasLukessupposedloveforme.
PerhapshehadfallenforAnnawithoutrealizingit.Maybeheonlyclungtomemoriesofthepastratherthanmeasaperson.
IfAnnasearlierseductionswerecalculated,Lukesresponsewasgenuinethistime.
Annaleanedclosertowhispersomethingintohiscar,hertoneplayfulyetbold.Thisismylittlesanctuary,Lukeoursecretplacewherenoonewill hearus.
Lukepushedheragainstthewall ofphotos,hismovementsdeliberateashebeganremovingherclothes, Frommyhiddenspotbehindthedoor,Iheardtheirescalatingpassion.Revulsionchurnedinmy stomach.
1returnedtoGrandmasside ,fullyawarethatAnnahadmanagedtoturnLukeagainstme,leavingmewithnowaytorevealmywhereabouts.
Grandmawasalreadyasleep.Igazedoutthewindow,watchingsnowflakesdriftthroughtheair.TheNewYearwasdrawing closer.
Iinstinctivelytouchedmyflat stomach.
Thebabyhadntbeenwith melongnotevendevelopedyetbutIstillcouldnthelpfeelingattachedtothattinylife.
Whatanunfortunatefatetohaveamotherlikeme.AndwithafatherlikeLuke,even moreso.
Lukehademirelyforgottenaboutmymiscarriage.Worsestill,hemightbelieveAnnasliesand dismissCartersfindingsaboutthepoisonedorchids.
WhyhadIwastedsomanyyears lovingamansospineless? IwishedIcouldgobackandknocksomesenseintomyyoungerself.
AsIturnedback,InoticedGrandinawatchingmeintently,concernwritteninhergaze.
2/3 峻:72%圖 17:59Sat,Dec7tiGD Chapter69CallMyName +10FreeCoins Ireachedouttostrokeherhairgently,eventhoughshecouldntfeelit,and whispered,Dontworry.Grandma.Imfine.
Icouldtellshewantedtoaskwhat hadhappened.
Withaquietsigh,Iadded,Lukecantbetrusted.Anna hashimwrappedaroundherfinger.Youneedtorecoversoon.Grandma.
Grandmablinked,and Ishared theupdatesCarterhad uncovered.
Theorchidswerepoisoned,thoughonlyslightly.Someonemusthavesprayedthemrecently.Butthankfully.UncleCarterdealt withitrightaway.
Eveninthissituation,Grandmasconditionwasntimproving.Lukeslackofvigilancemademattersworse,andtherewas notellingwhatchaosmightunfoldnowthathedfallenforAnnasschemes.
Cartersplanhadbeenacompletefailure.
Grandma.Ifeelhelpless.Icantprotectyouanymore.Themostimportantthingisforyoutorecover.
Hergazewassteadyandfearless,silentlytellingmenottobeafraid.
ItremindedmeofwhenIwasachildhowshealwaysencouragedmetobestrong,nomatterthesituation,asifeverythinghadalreadybeendecidedbyfate.
Lukehadntvisitedindays,andAnnas appearanceshadbecomelessfrequent.Whenshedidcome,itwasonlytocheckonGrandmascondition.
NoticingthatGrandmashowednosignsofimprovement,Annaseemedtorelax.ShewaslikelyworriedthatCartermightuncoverherplan,soshechosetolielowfornow.
Italsogave Grandmasomebreathingroom,allowinghersomeprogress.Shehadbeguntomoveherhandsslightly,thoughshestillstruggledtoformwords.
Despitethetemporarycalm,IcouldntshakethefeelingthatAnnawasuptosomething.Lukesabsenceonlyheightenedmyunease,soIdecidedtocheckonhim.
Thankfully,hestillworethebeadbracelet,allowingmetolocatehimanytime.
WhatIdidntanticipatewasthesightthatawaitedme.
Notlongago,LukehadorderedAnnasbelongingsthrownoutofhisoffice.
Now,Ifoundhimpinning heragainstafloortoceiling window,hisvoicelowandthickwithdesire.
Callmynamehecommanded.

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mehe Luke,begentleshewhisperedback.
Agustofwindsweptthroughtheroom,knockingovertheframedphotoofusthathekeptonhisdesk.