chapter four
1147 Words
(Alice Pov)
“Why did you suddenly run off like that?” she complained, though her gaze softened as she moved closer and sat beside me. “Do you know how worried I was? I thought something had happened to you.”
Despite us being the same age, Amanda was always the caretaker—the one with motherly instincts, even though she could be carefree at times. She was popular, always surrounded by people, but she never forgot about me. Never.
We were in our final year of college and had been assigned a group project. During the discussion, the crowd and noise had overwhelmed me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe—so I came here to steady myself.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I just needed to catch my breath somewhere quiet.”
I looked at her with exaggerated puppy eyes, hoping to keep her from staying mad.
She sighed, then pulled me into a one-armed side hug. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “Just don’t do it again. At least tell me before you disappear.”
I looked up at her and smiled.
“There,” she said, pointing at my face. “That smile—that’s my girl. Now come on, let’s go have lunch. I’m starving.”
She stood and helped me to my feet, and for the first time that day, the weight on my chest felt a little lighter.
I turned to see Amanda standing behind me, glaring. She was my best—and only—friend. We’d known each other since high school. Kind-hearted, loving, and fiercely protective, we had become each other’s pillars.
“Why did you suddenly run off like that?” she complained, though her gaze softened as she moved closer and sat beside me. “Do you know how worried I was? I thought something had happened to you.”
Despite us being the same age, Amanda was always the caretaker—the one with motherly instincts, even though she could be carefree at times. She was popular, always surrounded by people, but she never forgot about me. Never.
We were in our final year of college and had been assigned a group project. During the discussion, the crowd and noise had overwhelmed me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe—so I came here to steady myself.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I just needed to catch my breath somewhere quiet.”
I looked at her with exaggerated puppy eyes, hoping to keep her from staying mad.
She sighed, then pulled me into a one-armed side hug. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “Just don’t do it again. At least tell me before you disappear.”
I looked up at her and smiled.
“There,” she said, pointing at my face. “That smile—that’s my girl. Now come on, let’s go have lunch. I’m starving.”
She stood and helped me to my feet, and for the first time that day, the weight on my chest felt a little lighter.
Amanda looped her arm through mine as we walked toward the cafeteria, chatting about lunch options and deadlines. I listened, nodding along, but my mind drifted in and out of the conversation.
..........
The closer we got, the louder the campus became. Laughter, voices, footsteps—too many sounds blending into one. My chest tightened slightly, and instinctively, my fingers curled around the small pendant hidden beneath my blouse.
A Livingston crest.
Uncle Shedrak had given it to me on my eighteenth birthday, saying it was meant to remind me that I wasn’t alone anymore. That I had a family—even if it wasn’t the one I was born into.
“Hey,” Amanda said softly, noticing my sudden silence. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I replied quickly. “Just tired.”
She studied me for a moment, unconvinced, but didn’t push. “We’ll grab something light then.”
As we stepped inside the cafeteria, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a message from Aunt Rose.
Did you eat lunch yet, dear? Don’t skip meals.
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
Before I could reply, another message came in— "make sure you have lunch on time, and come home early; immediately you are done at school"she reminded because I often go to check out on one of our restaurant's stay there a while,my family business has been facing a little problems with our shareholders lately threatening to out their shares even though the company is doing well, according to them the don't think I will be able to manage the company properly like my dad and uncle shedrak who has been helping to run the company since I lost my parents.
i was still lost in my thoughts will walking to get a table at the cafeteria with my phone still in my hand when another message popped up on my screen I even reply the other two,it was still aunty,she wanted to inform me that we were having dinner together with Alexander today at home.reminding me once again not to be return late
I stared at the screen longer than necessary before typing a simple response.
"sure aunty don't worry I will be there on time"I replied choosing to ignore the lunch part.
Amanda peeked over my shoulder, grinning. “Livingston?”
I rolled my eyes. “Mind your business.”
She laughed, but as I slipped my phone back into my pocket, a strange awareness settled over me. No matter where I went—no matter how far I tried to run—the Livingstons were quietly woven into my life now.
And Alexander…
He lingered in my thoughts far longer than I was willing to admit.
Though he had always been cold and indifferent toward me, I still respected him deeply. It was clear that he hadn’t fully accepted me as part of the family, yet he had never crossed any boundaries. He was never rude, never particularly kind—he simply existed. Detached. Blank. Indifferent.
Except, of course, when he was with Aunt Rose and Uncle Shedrak.
With them, something subtle shifted. His emotions were still carefully guarded, hidden behind that cold façade and those murky green eyes, but there were moments—rare ones—when he allowed his guard to lower. On those days, he spoke more, shared interesting thoughts, and went out of his way to please his parents. It was obvious how deeply he cared for them, even if he never said it out loud.
- Writer
