“Look…”
“Look…”
Both of them hesitated for too long, and when they finally spoke, they did so in unison, leading to a shared laugh.
“You go first,” Edgar gestured to Sherilyn.
Nodding, Sherilyn cautiously observed his expression, “You’re doing alright, aren’t you? Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
She was referring to the situation with Yuna.
“Yeah.” Edgar’s smile curved, “I know.”
Truth be told, he was embarrassed to admit that he wasn’t exactly heartbroken but rather felt a sense of relief.
Being with Yuna was more of his mother’s, Adela’s, doing than his own. He had agreed to it under the relentless pressure from his mother. Logically, finding out Yuna was two-timing should have infuriated him. Yet, he felt… nothing.
Because his feelings for her were lukewarm at best.
This realization spared him any sense of guilt.
As for being upset… there were other things on his mind.
“Sherilyn.”
A mist seemed to gather in Edgar’s eyes as he stuttered. “I’m sorry, I owe you an apology.”
Sherilyn was taken aback, confusion spreading across her face.
Why was he saying this? He was here about Yuna, wasn’t he? But it didn’t sound like it?
A crimson hue filled Edgar’s eyes as he struggled to speak, his voice choked.
“Sherilyn, I’ve come to know…”
Know what? Sherilyn was still in the dark.
“That day…” Edgar continued slowly, “That day in Crestwood, you did nothing wrong. It was my mom… my mom who mistreated you!”
In that moment, tears surged from Sherilyn’s eyes, blurring her vision as she covered her mouth.
Edgar knew! He actually knew!
She had thought this ugly incident would be forever buried with time. How did he find out?
“Sherilyn…”
Seeing her with teary eyes, Edgar realized she looked exactly as he remembered her in his mind. “That day, you must have been so scared, right?”
“… Yes.” Sherilyn’s voice was choked with sobs, the memory still terrifying.
“What about Gilbert?”
Edgar’s voice was gentle as he inquired. He wanted to know the full story of what happened that day. “How did you end up together?”
At this point, there was no reason to hide anything.
Cleaning her tears, Sherilyn spoke truthfully, “That day, Gilbert saved me. He drove that man away.”
“Oh…”
That made sense to Edgar. Otherwise, how could Sherilyn have escaped a grown man’s clutches? But one question remained.
Edgar frowned, struggling to ask, “After that, how did you and Gilbert end up… in that situation?”
Sherilyn stiffened, her voice faltering, “Afterwards, don’t you already know?”
“I don’t know!” Edgar was uncharacteristically forceful, “I only knew you were willing to accept me!”
Sherilyn turned away, avoiding his gaze.
Her avoidance only confirmed his suspicions!
“Sherilyn! Tell me!” Edgar faced her,
demanding an answer. “What really
happened? I refuse to believe
you’d
change your mind halfway tent
She remained silent, leaving him with his conjectures, “Did Gilbert… force you?”
“No!” Sherilyn abruptly looked up, cutting
that… I couldn’t move!” Chet he didn’t do anything to me! It het he did off, “Actually, that
“Couldn’t move?”
Confusion washed over Edgar, his mind buzzing, “Why couldn’t you move? Did my mom… do something to you?”
How was Sherilyn supposed to explain?
After all, Adela was Edgar’s biological mother. Her methods
Deen despicable, b
her
might have been t
s were for Edgar’s sake.