Chapter 653
Halsey stood frozen for a moment then slowly turned and walked away She and the masked man drifted apart heading in opposite directions until they disappeared from each other s sight
Back at home Madeline came running out Halsey you re back
Slightly surprised Halsey smiled and pulled Madeline into a warm hug What are you doing home today Madeline beamed We got a day off from the team so I came back
That s great I ll have Isabel make some of your favorite dishes you re still growing after all
Is aw you through the window walking with your head down You seemed bothered Didn t you go out with Wendy today Did something happen
Threeyearshadpassedsincetheyhadlastseeneachother.Madelinehadgrownfromamiddleschoolgirlintoagracefuleighteen–year–old.Asabrilliant youngresearcher,shecouldtellsomethingwaswrongwithHalsey’smood./1
Halsey forced a small smile Is aw Dwight today
Madeline s eyes widened in shock Really Halsey Where is he He s been gone for three whole years I haven t seen him at all
Actually I didn t actually see him I only saw someone who looked a lot like him I got the wrong person
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The light in Madeline s eyes faded quickly After their mother passed away Dwight was the only family she had left but he suddenly vanished and noone could find him
“WheredoyouthinkDwightwent?Whyhasn’thecome backtousinalltheseyears?”TearswelledupandspilleddownMadeline’scheeks.
HalseywrappedherarmsaroundMadeline.”Idon’tknowwhereheis,orwhyhenevercame backtofindus.”
Dwight had disappeared from the world never to return
Did he know there were people out there who missed him desperately
Outside the villa at all figure wearing a black mask stood quietly He was the same man who had saved Halsey twice today Dwight
Dwight didn t reveal himself to Halsey His face had changed beyond recognition and she couldn t even identify him
Threeyearsago,he hadfallenoffacliffwithhiscarandwasrescuedbyvillagersnearby.Hehadsufferedsevereinjuriesandspentalongtimerecovering.Thoughhesurvived,hisfacewaspermanentlydisfigured..
Overtheyears,heoftenheardnewsaboutMadeline–howshewonstate–levelawards,wentabroadtowinprizes,gotintoStanfernUniversityintheCapital,andwasnowworkingon rocketresearch.Shewasdoingevenbetterthanheeverdid.
Of course that was because Madeline was luckier She had Halsey by her side
For three years Halsey had raised his sister doing what he as an older brother should have done
Dwight stood silently outside the villa Inside the lights shone bright and warm There within those walls were
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Chapter654
the two most important women in his life the warmth he had dreamed of his whole life
But that warmth was now too far out of reach
HewasnolongerDwight.
+25BONUS
Sometimes when he looked in the mirror and saw his disfigured face he couldn t even remember what he had once looked like
Today,whenHalseypulledoffhismask,thefearandshockinhereyeswereabundantlyclear.Hewasnolongerthe man shehadloved.
Sobeit.
Dwightdecidednottorevealhimselfsotheycouldsaygoodbyetothe pastandfindtheirhappinesswithouthim.