Chapter 79

Chapter 79:
The memory of that encounter had been buried deep in her heart for so long.
The truth was, she really needed to share it with someone.
For some reason, tonight it came out easily.
She quickened her pace.
“What encounter?” Milton prodded.
“Oh, it’s not that big a story. I was once locked inside that place for a whole night. I was young then, so I was really scared.”
She sighed in relief. It felt good to share her feelings with someone who simply listened.
Milton stopped as if nailed to the ground. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. He stared blankly at Candice’s back, unable to move.
After she finished, Candice walked briskly, growing bolder.
She quickly strode past the cold storage.
But where was Milton?
She heard no footsteps behind her.
She turned around.
Only then did she see Milton standing a few feet away. Moonlight caressed one side of him, making him look tall, handsome, and noble.
“Mr. Lopez? What’s wrong? Are you all right?” Candice called softly.
Only then did Milton snap back to reality, feeling as if awakened from a dream.
He quickened his pace and fell into step beside her.
Confused, Candice looked at him and asked, “What happened back there?”
“Nothing,” Milton replied quickly, shaking his head. Though calm on the surface, inside a storm of emotions raged.
Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Candice was the girl with whom he got trapped in the cold storage all those years ago — the girl who kissed him.
He still remembered that kiss.
The school was vast, and they were strolling under the moonlight. Time seemed to rewind to when they were young and free.
They walked in silence for a few moments.
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Then, he noticed the wristband on her left wrist.
“Why do you need a wristband?” he asked.
“Oh, this?” Candice held out her hand with a bashful smile. “I can’t take the bracelet off. It’s very expensive, and I’m afraid I’ll break it. I can’t afford that.”
Earlier, she hadn’t wanted to fight with Cathy and her companions precisely because she was terrified of damaging the bracelet.
The bracelet had become her shackle.
Milton was stunned.
“Why would you even want to take it off?”
“Because I want to return it to you. I can’t accept such a lavish gift,” Candice muttered, glancing at him. “Besides, I can’t wear something like this regularly. What if I have to get into a fight? It would just hold me back.”
As Candice averted her eyes, Milton’s eyes widened.
Then, he burst into laughter.
What if she had to get into a fight? She was too cute.
It was the first time Candice had seen Milton smile. She’d always known him as a proud, serious man whose resting expression was a scowl.
Seeing him crack up, she blinked twice.
His happy face was stunning.
It made him even more charming and handsome than usual. The shimmer of his smile outshone the beauty of the moon that night.
Candice let herself get lost in that smile. She gazed fondly at him.
Where had he been hiding that enchanting twinkle in his eyes?
“You look really charming when you smile. You should smile more often,” Candice sighed.
Realizing he had lost himself for a moment, Milton immediately stopped laughing.
“Have you seen enough?” he said with displeasure.
Startled by his abrupt question, Candice felt embarrassed. She turned around and tried to run, but twisted her ankle, and the sharp pain made her scream.
“Ouch!” she cried out.
The heel of her shoe had snapped. She really didn’t like wearing high heels, but to match the clothes Bettina had chosen for her tonight, she had to wear these shoes she hadn’t used in years.
Since the shoes had been unused for quite some time, they didn’t hold up.
She lost her balance and began falling to the ground.
It was too humiliating.
She couldn’t bear to see the look on Milton’s face.
So she shut her eyes.
However, she didn’t feel the impact of the fall as she had expected.
.
.
.