Chapter 72
\nThree Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 72<\/p>\n
The air in the room felt weird.<\/p>\n
Bonnie\u2019s return didn\u2019t bring the easy warmth of a daughter who visited all the time, but it also wasn\u2019t the over-the-top excitement you might expect after a long absence. Instead, there was this heaviness, like everyone was skirting around some unspoken topic.<\/p>\n
Aiken dipped his head and broke the silence. \u201cHi, I\u2019m Bonnie\u2019s friend. I\u2019m Aiken.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took Shirley a moment to respond. When she did, she looked Aiken up and down, her manner polite but guarded. \u201cOh, so you\u2019re Candie\u2019s friend. You sound local\u2026 Where do you work? How did you meet Candie?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonnie started to chime in, but when she saw the determination on her mom\u2019s face, she thought better of it and stayed quiet. If Shirley wanted answers, she was going to get them, one way or another.<\/p>\n
Aiken gave her a reassuring smile. \u201cShirley, I work at the police station. Bonnie and I met back in college. My family lives near Horizon International School. My dad\u2019s a police officer too, and my mom\u2026 she\u2019s a teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n
That seemed to do the trick. Shirley\u2019s sharp look softened, and a real smile tugged at her lips. \u201cSo your mother teaches at Horizon International School? I gave a lecture there once. Maybe we\u2019ve met. Aiken, what\u2019s your mother\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Shirley could dig any deeper, Bonnie jumped in. \u201cMom, that\u2019s enough, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley glanced at her daughter, who looked unusually thin and tired, then quietly let it go. She turned back to Aiken, her voice back to polite hospitality. \u201cWould you like to come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
Aiken shook his head in apology. He could tell this wasn\u2019t the right time. Instead, he handed Bonnie a bag from his trunk, then grabbed a box of tea from the other side for her mom.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy holidays,\u201d he said, his voice light.<\/p>\n
Bonnie blinked in surprise at the gift. She stared, and Aiken just grinned, winking at her playfully.<\/p>\n
In front of her parents, Bonnie felt awkward. Her cheeks went pink as she collected the bags, her gaze dropping to the floor.<\/p>\n
Bachelor sat down on the couch, his expression stern as always. As the oldest son and head of the White family, it was his job to keep order\u2014at work, at home, everywhere.<\/p>\n
He called out to Bonnie, his voice heavy. \u201cCome here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonnie shuffled into the living room and stopped in front of her father, her head bowed, her words caught in her throat.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t waste time. \u201cNow that you\u2019re back, we don\u2019t have to talk about the past. But no matter what the issue is, running away is never okay. You\u2019re younger, you should be able to handle a few harsh words from us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He leaned forward, frustration clear in his voice. \u201cA few arguments, and you disappear for three years? What am I supposed to tell people? That you\u2019ve cut off your family? That just because I scolded you, you decided you didn\u2019t need us anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused, the anger and hurt mixing on his face. \u201cYour grandparents get upset even hearing your name. Your uncle and aunt might say things you don\u2019t want to hear, but they\u2019re still your elders. Even your brother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-740","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/740","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=740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}