2nd. Season -
After rushing out of the restaurant, Carlyle walked aimlessly on the crowded streets. She looked up at the cars on the road, feeling lost. How could a simple class reunion lead to hearing Lane's voice? She originally thought she could brush off the incident as just sex, separate from love, but why did his annoying face constantly pop up in her mind? And he even said no one else could touch her, yet he was about to get married! What a despicable jerk!
Tears started to fall as she thought about this. Carlyle walked faster in her sadness when suddenly someone grabbed her hand from behind. A familiar voice entered her ears.
"Miss Carlyle, how can you keep breaking traffic rules? You've just run a red light again!"
Carlyle's heart jolted, and she turned around in shock to see the man standing in front of her. She cried out, "Lane... Lane..."
Lane approached her, noticing the tear stains on her cheeks. He was equally shocked and asked, "You’ve been crying..."
Carlyle nervously wiped away her tear stains and said, "Do I cry or not is none of your business!"
At this moment, Lane suddenly took her hand and led her to a corner of the street. They stopped and looked at each other.
Carlyle shook off his hand and said, "Lane, what are you doing?"
Lane's eyes deeply gazed into hers as he said, "Are you crying because you overheard my conversation with my sister in the restaurant?"
Carlyle, startled by his words, blurted out, "I don't know what you’re talking about."
Lane suddenly moved closer and said, "I saw you in the restaurant earlier because I saw you rush out!"
Carlyle looked at him, momentarily speechless. In a panic, she said, "So what if I was there, it has nothing to do with you!"
"Really? Why do I feel like you care about my marriage? Do you like me? Did you cry because I’m getting married?" Lane asked, testing her.
Carlyle’s heart raced at his questioning, but she remained calm and said, "Lane, how could I like you? You know I like your future brother-in-law."
In an instant, Lane felt as though he had fallen from heaven to hell. He thought that Carlyle's tears were for him, but it turned out that it was all because of his own excessive confidence.
"Fine, you’re destined to be sad because my brother-in-law and sister are the most loving couple I’ve ever seen." For some reason, Lane spoke to her in a spiteful tone.
After Lane left, Carlyle felt like a deflated balloon. She never expected Lane to realize she was also dining at the restaurant.
She walked slowly down the street, with streetlights casting a long shadow of her, and she bitterly smiled as she thought; how strange it was that the person she wanted to forget the most appeared right in front of her and said some incomprehensible things!
Was it wrong to have a secret crush on Xavier?
Was it wrong to like Lane?
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.
Could it be that she had fallen for Lane?
Carlyle asked herself the same question twice in one night.
Was the answer yes?
Suddenly, she bumped into someone. She quickly apologized, "Sorry!"
When she looked up and saw the person clearly, her face was filled with fear. She started to back away and immediately turned to run. The man quickly blocked her way, smiling, "Carlyle, did you forget that no matter where you run, I will find you!"
Carlyle, trembling with fear, said, "It’s been five years, why can’t you just leave me alone?"
The man approached her step by step and said, "Why should I leave you alone? I can’t stand that you betrayed me. I can’t stand that you love someone else. Don’t you know? I still love you!"
Carlyle, shaking all over, said, "Declan, you’re terrifying. You’re a stalker. I can never forget how you hurt me physically and emotionally. I can’t love you!"
Declan Hawthorne suddenly softened and said, "Carlyle, I truly love you. I promise, if we get back together, I won’t hurt you again!"
Carlyle, terrified, shook her head and said, "I’d rather die than see you again! I will never get back with you!"
"You—" Declan suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Carlyle, I can’t stand it. I told myself that after I got out of prison, I would make you pay!" He suddenly dragged her into a dark alley.
Carlyle used all her strength to break free, but her petite frame was no match for him. "Declan, let go of me, I beg you..." Tears of fear streamed down her face.
Declan pinned her against the wall, wiping her tears with a twisted smile. "Tonight, let me have my way with you. Maybe then I’ll let you go."
Carlyle continued to struggle, hating him, "You wish—I’d rather die than give myself to you!"
Declan laughed maniacally, "Carlyle, don’t say that. We’ve done it before. I can’t wait to taste you again!"
"You filthy beast, let go of me!" Carlyle screamed in terror.
Back at the restaurant, Lane couldn't stop thinking about Carlyle. Seeing Carlyle's teary, flushed eyes, he knew Carlyle must be upset about his wedding, even if she wouldn't admit it.
Then, suddenly, he stood up again, and Alison looked at him and asked, "Lane, do you have something else to do?"
Lane quickly replied, "Yes, I remember I have an appointment." He looked at Lila and said, "Lila, I'm sorry, I can't have dinner with you tonight. Let's find another day, and I'll take you out to eat again."
In just a few words, Lane was eager to leave the restaurant.
Lane retraced the path she had walked with Carlyle, searching for any sign of her. He thought, it hasn't been long since we parted, she shouldn't have gone far. Yet, the more he searched, the more anxious he felt.
Then, he spotted something glinting under the streetlamp—a blue hair tie on the ground. Picking it up, he recognized it instantly. A familiar dread washed over her. This hair tie had been in Carlyle's hair just moments ago. How could it have fallen without her noticing? A woman would surely feel her hair come loose. Could something have happened to her?
At that moment, his panic intensified as he desperately searched for her.
