Chapter 14
\nThree Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 14<\/p>\n
Jasper grew up with his grandparents and didn\u2019t really know his parents that well. But for a toddler who\u2019s just over two, the best thing in the world is having someone to play with.<\/p>\n
His dad lifts him up high, zooms him around like an airplane, even carries him on his shoulders. Jasper loves it.<\/p>\n
He nodded hard, a little voice full of joy. \u201cLike!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawrence smiled at that and turned to Hannah. \u201cYou should get some rest. I\u2019ll put him to bed tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannah wanted to go along, but Lawrence had already scooped Jasper up and was heading upstairs. His steps were quick, and in a blink, they both disappeared up to the third floor.<\/p>\n
Left alone under the crystal chandelier, Hannah stayed where she was, the room around her empty. Her eyes turned red at the edges.<\/p>\n
She looked down at her feet, small and a little misshapen from years of dancing, tucked into soft slippers. Her toes were wrapped in fresh bandages.<\/p>\n
Her wrist was wrapped too.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d hurt herself in practice again today.<\/p>\n
Hannah remembered being ten, getting into the Cabinda School of Architecture and Design to learn ballet. Every day had been tough. She\u2019d pushed through, grit her teeth, and collected more injuries than she could count.<\/p>\n
Back then, whenever Lawrence saw her, he was so gentle, always worrying over her. \u201cHannah, slow down. You\u2019re getting bruised all over. Even if you\u2019re not hurting, we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019d grown from a clumsy boy to a teenager and now to a quiet, responsible man. And somewhere along the line, Lawrence had changed.<\/p>\n
He stopped caring about her. Now he just seemed to avoid her altogether.<\/p>\n
Hannah\u2019s heart wouldn\u2019t settle.<\/p>\n
Being back in this country didn\u2019t feel free like living in America did. When they were abroad, even if Lawrence was busy, he always found time to come home, always by her side when she needed it.<\/p>\n
But now, living with his parents and with Jasper here, Lawrence just slipped away whenever he could.<\/p>\n
It was the same last night. And again tonight.<\/p>\n
With her jaw set, Hannah thought about Bonnie\u2014pretty Bonnie, who was still single after three years apart and somehow could still make her ex restless and distracted at dinner.<\/p>\n
Hannah pressed her fingernails into her palm. She didn\u2019t say a word.<\/p>\n
He always used the same excuse. She almost wanted to laugh at how old it was.<\/p>\n
Lawrence turned to leave, and Hannah forced her voice back into something steady and calm. \u201cDon\u2019t work too late. And try not to smoke so much. I put out your clothes for tomorrow\u2014they\u2019re in your room. Good night, Lawrence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night.\u201d Lawrence\u2019s reply was barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n
His bedroom was at the far end of the hall, but tonight even that short walk felt heavy. When he turned on the lights, he saw a crisp white shirt and suit pants hanging neatly by the bed.<\/p>\n
As he got closer, he could smell the perfume on them.<\/p>\n
Cedarwood, tonight.<\/p>\n
Lawrence took the clothes over to the window and pushed it open just a bit.<\/p>\n
With no cigarette in hand, the quiet of the night felt almost impossible to bear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-682","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}