Andrea's disclosure had touched Hendrix. He was always a lonely child. No matter how much love Dalton showered him with, there was still a void in his heart.
Casper's friendship and Andrea's dependence were all that he asked for.
Sometimes, being needed was also a way of love.
I stood at the side, having mixed feelings. In fact, I knew from the very beginning that I couldn't compete with Andrea. Just her tears alone could beat me to Hendrix's attention.
Hendrix stepped forward to help Andrea up. I saw the subtle gentleness and other emotions in his eyes, and I knew that the effort I made during this period was in vain.
No one spoke during the trip from the cemetery back to downtown. Other than the sobs from Andrea, it was silent in the car as though someone had muted the radio.
We were at a junction, waiting for the green light when I broke the silence. I said in a very flat voice, "Drop me off at the next intersection. I'll go back by myself later."
Hendrix's brows furrowed as he looked at me. He asked, "Where are you going?"
I pulled a seemingly soft smile and answered, "I'm going for a walk. Monique said she wants to eat green mangoes, so I'll walk around and see if I can buy some for her."
"I can buy it with you later."
"There's no need for that!"
Realizing that I was losing control of my emotions, I softened my tone and continued, "Just drop me here. It's close to the hospital from here, so I won't be lost. You should send Miss Burton home first, and... Come to the hospital later."
Hendrix pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment. Then, his dark eyes fell on me, and he said, "Okay."
Hearing his answer, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
I still wore the same gentle smile when I got out of the car. I even waved them goodbye. It seemed normal for me to have Hendrix send someone off.
Lowering my eyes to avoid his questioning gaze, I used the wet tissues to wipe my face. My mind cleared up a little after that. Then, I realized that there was someone else in the passenger seat. Stunned, I asked, "Why is Mr. Clark here as well?"
"I was just passing by," Sawyer answered, leaning on the seat and looking at me. "What happened to you? Why were you crying by the roadside? You're pregnant, do you know that?"
I pressed my lips together and decided to change the subject. I looked at Ian and said, "Ian, let's go to the mall before we visit Monique."
"Which mall? Why?"
"Any mall will do. I want to get a new phone because the last one is broken."
Ian nodded and started the engine, turning the car around without asking any question.
Being accompanied by two men, I got a new cell phone and SIM card. Since I didn't know much about electronic products, and I was used to my old phone brand, I was going to buy one with the same brand for my new phone. However, Sawyer frowned at my choice, and he suggested, "If I were you, I'd opt for a local brand. It’s safer."
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