Chapter 221
\nThree Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 221<\/p>\n
Odette let out a quiet sigh, bracing herself against the wall as she eased onto a chair in the hallway. She was waiting for Lawrence to show up. Today, they\u2019d asked Quentin to come over and talk with Hannah.<\/p>\n
She waited more than twenty minutes before Lawrence finally appeared. Snow was melting off his coat and dripping onto the floor. His hair hung a little too long over his forehead, slipping into his eyes and hiding just how lost he looked.<\/p>\n
He shuffled over and sat beside her, hands shaking so badly he couldn\u2019t hide it.<\/p>\n
Odette jumped, then reached for his hand. The cold shot through her. \u201cWhat happened to you? You\u2019re soaked in snow. Why are you so cold?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawrence just shook his head. \u201cDid Quentin get here yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Odette gently touched his forehead, checking for a fever. Her worry softened when she found he wasn\u2019t burning up. \u201cThe snow is bad out there, he said he\u2019d be a bit late.\u201d She hesitated for a moment. \u201cYou haven\u2019t really slept in days. Please, don\u2019t keep putting yourself through this, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t want to suffer. He just couldn\u2019t sleep. His whole body felt off, but the ache was too vague to name. Every time he laid down, closed his eyes, he was suddenly panicked. Sometimes he\u2019d get dizzy or nauseous, feeling like the floor was made of clouds, like he could drop through at any second.<\/p>\n
Lawrence let out a shaky breath, pain written on his face as he leaned back against the wall. The image of Bonnie and Aiken flashed through his mind\u2014walking together under an umbrella, laughing, looking happy. He couldn\u2019t shake it.<\/p>\n
Scenes kept playing and replaying: Bonnie\u2019s bright smile as she held a birthday present, Aiken ducking his head with that gentle grin. The memories broke apart, each tiny piece cutting into Lawrence, digging deep where no one could see.<\/p>\n
He had bought birthday gifts too. For three years, every time Bonnie\u2019s birthday rolled around, every anniversary, he picked something out for her. But each time, he ended up hiding them away.<\/p>\n
Quentin hurried toward them, sounding apologetic. \u201cSorry I\u2019m late. The snow\u2019s awful and there were a few accidents\u2014I had to take a long way around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. You being safe is the important thing,\u201d Odette said, standing up to greet him. \u201cThank you for coming all this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Please, don\u2019t mention it\u2026\u201d Quentin pressed his glasses back up his nose, offering a gentle smile. But his words trailed off when his eyes landed on Lawrence. He froze.<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t actually seen Lawrence since he got back from the States. Back then, Lawrence was definitely quieter, but not this hollowed out. Now it looked like all the life had been drained out of him. If nobody stepped in, it really did seem like he might not make it.<\/p>\n
Quentin\u2019s gaze lingered on Lawrence\u2019s trembling hands, his own expression turning grave. \u201cLawrence, be honest with me. Have you been taking the meds I prescribed, on schedule?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-889","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/889","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=889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}