Worthless Gift

Chapter 3: The Stranger, William

William’s car turned onto quiet streets, the streetlights casting shadows on the windows. Amelia sat silently in the passenger seat, her cold hands clenched tightly together. She could hardly believe she had escaped Charles, but fear still lingered in her mind. The man next to her-William-was a complete stranger, yet he had saved her. That was the only reason she remained in the car instead of running away from it all.

"Do you have somewhere you want to go?" William broke the silence, his voice calm but firm.

Amelia turned to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion. Go where? The question made her realize she had never truly had a place to call home.

"I don’t know," she whispered, avoiding his gaze. "I have nowhere to go."

William nodded, as if he had already anticipated her answer. Glancing at the clock, he said, "For now, you’ll stay with me. I have a small house, and it’s safe enough. You need time to recover before we figure out what’s next."

Amelia didn’t respond, but she knew she had no other choice. She needed a place to hide, and at this moment, William was her only hope.

. . .

After nearly an hour of driving, the car stopped in front of a small house tucked away among tall trees. The house had an old-fashioned charm, with a weathered red-tiled roof and wooden window frames covered in ivy. Warm light spilled from inside, creating a cozy atmosphere in the cold night.

William turned off the engine and stepped out of the car. "Welcome to your temporary refuge," he said, his voice gentle yet tinged with exhaustion.

Amelia stepped out, her bare feet touching the cold ground. She looked up at the house, feeling a strange mix of safety and skepticism. Was this truly a haven, or just a temporary reprieve before another storm?

William opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Inside, the house was warm and tidy. The small living room was furnished simply but harmoniously. A fireplace in the corner burned brightly, its flames dancing on the walls.

"Sit down," William said, pointing to a sofa near the fire. "I’ll make some tea."

Amelia sat down, her eyes scanning the room. The atmosphere here was completely different from the place she had just escaped. No cold glares, no threatening words. But the doubt in her heart lingered.

. . .

William returned a few minutes later with two cups of hot tea. He placed one in front of Amelia before sitting down in the chair across from her. "You don’t need to worry," he said, his eyes sincere. "I won’t let Charles find you."

Amelia gripped the tea cup tightly, the warmth spreading to her hands but failing to dispel the fear within her. She looked at him, her eyes full of doubt. "Why are you helping me? We don’t even know each other."

William was silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as if recalling something painful. "I’m helping you… because I couldn’t help the most important person in my life."

Amelia didn’t understand what he meant, but she could feel the sorrow in his voice. William stared into his tea, speaking slowly: "My sister. She was in a situation similar to yours. But by the time I found her, it was too late. Since then, I’ve vowed never to let anyone go through the same thing if I can do something about it."

Amelia felt her heart tighten. She didn’t know what to say, but she began to believe that William truly wanted to help her.

"Thank you," she said softly. "Truly, thank you."

. . .

William stood up and walked to a desk nearby. He opened a drawer, pulling out a stack of papers and a pen. "We need to plan," he said. "Charles won’t give up easily."

Amelia shivered at the mention of Charles’s name. "He… he won’t stop until he catches me," she said, her voice trembling.

William nodded. "That’s why we have to be cautious. I have a friend who specializes in forged documents. I’ll contact him to get you a new identity. We also need to be ready to leave this place at any moment."

Amelia froze. The thought of abandoning everything, even her name, filled her with unease. But she knew this was the only way to escape Charles forever.

"All right," she said, her eyes showing determination. "I’ll do whatever it takes."

. . .

After finishing their discussion, William led Amelia upstairs and pointed to a small room. "You can sleep here," he said. "If you need anything, just call me."

Amelia nodded, feeling slightly more at ease. The room was simple but clean, with a single bed near a window. She walked to the window, looking out at the garden behind the house. The pale moonlight cast eerie shadows on the bushes.

She lay down on the bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. Memories of the auction and Charles’s cold gaze haunted her mind like an unending nightmare.

. . .

Downstairs, William sat in front of his computer, his fingers typing quickly on the keyboard. He was emailing Alex, an old friend he trusted completely.

William: "Alex, I need your help. There’s a girl who needs a new identity. Everything has to be done as quickly as possible."

Alex: "Understood. Send me her details. I’ll handle it in a few days."

William sighed with relief after receiving the reply. He knew this was only the first step in a long plan. Charles wouldn’t give up easily, and William needed to prepare for every scenario.

. . .

Upstairs, Amelia finally drifted off after hours of tossing and turning. Though fear still gripped her, she felt that she was no longer alone. William wasn’t just the man who had saved her-he was the only beacon of hope in her life at the moment.

But she knew her fight wasn’t over. Charles wouldn’t stop, and if he found her, would she be strong enough to face him?

Looking at the moonlight streaming through the window, Amelia took a deep breath. She knew tomorrow wouldn’t be easy, but she was ready to start anew.