FATE REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 3

That boy chuckled, and it only made Lucy more confused.

"No, we did not."

As the boy said that, Lucy finally relaxed.

"Then why am I…?"

"Wait, lemme explain. You got out of the club and that man, I don't know who he was, he was kissing and was going to… well, take advantage of you. I went there and stopped him and brought you here because you wouldn't tell me where you lived."

Lucy listened to everything while her mind started working a little.

"Then, when I brought you here, you started saying that you were so hot and tried to take your clothes off, but I didn't touch you," he further explained.

"I am Austine, by the way," he said and smiled, offering his hand for a handshake. Lucy glanced down at Austine's hand and shook hands with him.

"I am Lucy." "Thanks for last night."

"Here, drink this. This is post hangover tea, you will feel better," said Austine as he presented her with the cup.

Lucy took it and sipped slowly.

"I'll go and make some breakfast. Come into the lounge whenever you are ready," said Austine, smiling and leaving the room.

Lucy got dressed after drinking tea, feeling a lot better. Then she stood up and walked to the window, staring outside the apartment. People walked on the pavement, dew-kissed leaves rustled as the trees swayed, casting different patterns of light and shadow on the ground, and the chirping of birds filled the atmosphere with its unique melody with the distant hum of traffic. The sun's rays shone through fluffy clouds, spreading a soft glow across the sky and lighting the world in its warm and golden hue.

The aroma of brewing coffee started to fill the apartment. Lucy stood back and took a glance at the bedroom. The whole bedroom was a white accent, a bed in the center with a modern white side table on the left side, and a lamp sat on it with a nightstand. On the bed were many pillows in different shades of white and hues of grey. A cream-colored sofa chair was placed near the window to sit and enjoy the view, accompanied by curtains of the same colour.

Lucy took a deep breath and left the room. Outside, the mixed aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon, along with fried eggs, wafted through the air. Austine stood in the kitchen, wearing shorts and an inner shirt. Lucy walked in and sat at the dining table. He put the plates on the dining table and then the cups and sat in front of her. Another memory flashed through Lucy's mind.

Lucy shifted from left to right in her bed, cocooned in her blankets even in the heat of June. She coughed and sniffed as she changed her position. The sun had just kissed the horizon, the sky dimly lit by the sunlight. The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating her bedroom with a soft glow. As she was in somnolence, she could hear the buzzing sound of a vacuum cleaner, the cling and clang of utensils, and the slow humming of people chattering downstairs; everyone in the palace usually woke up early. The door creaked open, and she peeked at the door. There stood Blake with a tray in his hands.

"Rise and shine, Lu," sang Blake as he entered Lucy's room. "Come on, get up now."

Lucy struggled and got up while coughing. Blake sat beside her and put the back of his hand on her forehead. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes a little and took deep breaths.

"It's still a little warm," informed Blake.

Blake put the tray in his lap; on the tray were scrambled eggs seasoned just the way Lucy liked, a stack of fluffy waffles drizzled with maple syrup, two slices of toast, and a glass of milk shake.

"Blake, I can't eat this much," she said and grimaced.

"You have to, you haven't eaten properly in days," said Blake, picking up some scrambled eggs with a fork and offering her. She opened her mouth and took a bite of it.

"If you don't eat, it will only make you sicker," said Blake, and Lucy nodded.

He fed her scrambled eggs and toast with his own hands.

"Blake, I can't eat waffles, I am too full."

"Okay then, be a good girl and gulp this down," ordered Blake as he picked up the glass of orange juice. Lucy made a face and then drank but only half a glass.

"And now, I am gonna stay here in your bedroom the whole day, right at your service, ma'am," said Blake and bowed; as he did, Lucy chuckled and instantly felt better.

She rested her head against the pillows and admired her best friend, Blake. The efforts, the love, the care he had for her, no one could ever love her the way Blake did.

That day, Blake stayed in Lucy's room the whole day; he really was at her service, doing everything, whether it was giving her medicines on time or feeding her; he even cancelled his football match for her. It was at that moment that she started falling in love with him.

She came back to reality as Austine snapped his fingers in front of her; she looked at him and then at breakfast.

"Come on, dig in. It's getting cold," said Austine. Lucy nodded and started eating her breakfast. Lucy ate her breakfast, staring at a wall and lost somewhere. Austine noticed it but didn't ask her. He cleared his throat, and Lucy turned her head and attention towards him.

"So, where do you live?" asked Austine.

"I… I don't… I don't have a home."

"Then?"

She thought for a second, struggling with whether to tell him the truth or just lie. Still, he had been so good to her the whole time; if he weren't there, that man would have taken advantage of her, and she would wake up in that man's house instead of. Or maybe he would have left her there, in the parking lot or somewhere on the road after fulfilling his desire. Would it be fair to lie to him? But she can't just trust him right away.

"I ran away."

"W—what?" asked Austine, raising his eyebrows.

"I am sorry; I am new in the city, so I have no place to live right now. I am finding one," lied Lucy.

"Oh, hope you like LA," said Austine. Lucy smiled faintly.

"Where is my purse?" she questioned.

"In the bedroom."

Lucy gets up and grabs her purse.

"Thank you, Austine, for everything. I will always be indebted to you," she thanked him and walked towards the door.

"No need to be that formal."

Lucy smiled at him and put her hand on the doorknob. She opened the door to leave and then froze in place, with her eyes widened. She gulped as her heart raced against her ribcage, her face as white as a sheet as if she had seen a ghost, as if every ounce of blood had been drained out of her body.