Chapter 882 A Sudden Clarity
On the other end of the line, Kevin was stunned. He couldn't believe his cousin was so resolute. Desperately, he tried calling Audrey back, but she didn't answer. Eventually, she turned off her phone.
Why? Why is this happening? Kevin was devastated. He had been getting along so well with Audrey over the past few days. What could have caused her to make such a sudden decision? Did he do something to upset her, or had his relationships with Vanessa, Grace, and Evelyn been exposed?
Kevin paced around his bedroom like a nervous wreck. The thought of losing his cousin forever made it hard to breathe. Everything seemed meaningless.
The room was stiflingly hot, but he shivered as if he were in an icebox. His mind was a chaotic mess, and he had no idea what to do to win Audrey back.
He logged into his social media account and bombarded Audrey with messages, sending hundreds of texts until his fingers ached. But Audrey never replied. It seemed she had made up her mind to cut him off completely.
The day had finally come. Kevin sat on the edge of his bed, wanting to cry but unable to. His heart felt like it was being crushed.
Kevin wanted to scream but didn't want to alarm his mother. He quietly left the house. It was already midnight, and the streets were deserted, illuminated only by the cold light of street lamps, adding to his sense of desolation.
From meeting Audrey to now, it had been less than three months, but it felt like three years. They had gone through so much together, their relationship ebbing and flowing like that of true lovers.
Kevin had imagined many scenarios where he and Audrey would end up together, completely replacing Lucas. At the very least, he thought he could enjoy Audrey's alluring body like he did with Alissa, Grace, and Vanessa. But he never expected to be the one left out. Audrey had ultimately chosen Lucas, and he had lost miserably.
Kevin ran to South Suburb Park. The park, bustling during the day, was now deserted. The swaying trees reminded him of Audrey's graceful figure. He ran to a large tree, punching and kicking its trunk, screaming and crying until he couldn't hold back his tears any longer.
"Sis! Sis! Don't leave me!" Kevin cried out, his face wet with tears. He roared like a desperate beast, his hands bloodied from the rough bark, his heart aching unbearably. He wished he could leave this world and escape the endless pain.
Audrey had truly given up on him. Their sweet moments were now just fleeting memories. Kevin felt like a pitiful clown, as if the whole world were mocking his naivety and self-delusion.
Finally, Kevin left South Suburb Park, instinctively heading south along Oakwood Lane, wanting to reach Starhaven and tell Audrey in person how much he cared for her. He didn't know how long he walked, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and his head throbbed with pain. Yet his mind was in a state of extreme excitement, pushing him forward.
As dawn broke, Kevin could walk no further. He found himself on the road to Starfall Town. A Route 13 bus slowly approached and stopped at a nearby bus stop. A young couple got off, carrying bags, looking like they had just returned from a trip. The boy pointed to a nearby house, saying something, while the girl looked nervous, probably visiting his home for the first time.
Seeing them pained Kevin's heart, but it also brought clarity. Even if he went to Starhaven, what could he do? Could he convince Audrey to divorce Lucas? Compared to his few months with Audrey, Lucas undoubtedly held a more significant place in her heart. They had known each other longer, had their parents' approval, and were a legitimate couple. Kevin was just a shameful third wheel.
He couldn't expose his relationship with Audrey. If she divorced, could he confidently tell her he would take care of her? Could he bring her to his mother and say he wanted to marry her?
Forget it, Kevin thought with a bitter smile. He suddenly realized that Audrey's decision was the right one, the rational one. They could never be together. Why should he keep clinging to her?
Whether it was Evelyn, Alissa, Grace, or Vanessa, they all maintained physical relationships with him because they had lost faith in marriage and partners. But Audrey hadn't. Was he really going to destroy his cousin's marriage? He couldn't do that.
Kevin walked to the bus stop and caught the next Route 13 bus back home. When he arrived, he saw his mother mopping the floor. She looked up and asked, "Kevin, where did you go?"
"Oh, I went for a run," Kevin replied, taking the mop from her. "Mom, let me do it. You should rest."
"I'm fine," Bethany said, straightening up and rubbing her back. "Kevin, how did your lesson at Kimberly's house go yesterday?"
"It was good. Kimberly is very patient, and I learned a lot," Kevin said.
"That's good. You know, Kimberly is helping you a lot. We should show our appreciation somehow. How about you buy some fruit to bring over tonight? We don't want people to think we're rude," Bethany said, handing him a hundred dollars. "You pick something out, and don't forget."
"Mom, that's not necessary. Kimberly isn't like that," Kevin said, feeling a bit awkward. "It might seem too formal. Kimberly probably won't accept it."
"You don't understand," Bethany said, giving him a stern look. "Whether she accepts it or not is her business. Whether you offer it is yours. It's different. It's summer break, not the school term. Kimberly is sacrificing her free time to tutor you without charging. Do you really think she's doing it just to be nice?"
"Okay, fine," Kevin said reluctantly, putting the money in his pocket. He felt a wave of exhaustion and yawned. He hadn't slept at all the night before and was finally feeling the effects.
"Yawning already? Did you stay up late again last night?" Bethany frowned. "If you keep this up, I'll take away your computer. You need to be more disciplined."
"Mom, I didn't stay up late. The weather was just too hot to sleep," Kevin explained, thinking about his agonizing night. Audrey's casual decision had made him feel like he had died. She might be having a sweet breakfast with Lucas, planning their future, while he was completely forgotten.
"Good, I hope not," Bethany said, sighing. "Kevin, there's something I want to discuss with you. I plan to open a store in the city, but I'm short on startup funds. I've tried everything but still have a gap. So, I'm thinking of mortgaging our house to the bank for a loan. There's a risk in business, and this house is the only thing your father left you. I'm not sure if I should mortgage it."
"Mom, I trust your judgment," Kevin said seriously. "This house isn't just mine; it's yours and Dad's joint property. You have the right to make any decision. Whatever the outcome, I support you and won't complain. Go ahead with your plans. I believe in you."
"This child..." Bethany shook her head with a smile. "Alright, I'll go to the bank today. I'll be busy for a while, so take care of yourself."
"Sure, Mom. You can do it. Aim to become a big boss, and I'll be a rich second generation," Kevin joked.
"Enough with the jokes. There's food in the pot. I'm off to the bank," Bethany said, leaving the house.
After his mother left, Kevin's smile quickly faded. He slumped on the couch, turning on the TV and flipping through channels. He was exhausted but didn't dare close his eyes. Every time he did, he saw Audrey's alluring face and sexy figure.
If he had never had her, he wouldn't be suffering so much now. Kevin wished he could go back to when he first saw Audrey and daydreamed like the other boys. That would have been a kind of happiness. But there was no going back.
Kevin forced himself to eat breakfast, then returned to his bedroom, covered himself with a blanket, and fell into a deep sleep. He slept until five in the afternoon. When he woke up, it felt like the conversation with Audrey had been a dream. But when he checked his social media and saw the hundreds of messages he had sent, his heart sank. It wasn't a dream. Audrey had really left him.
Just then, Albert's social media avatar started shaking. What did this guy want now? Kevin opened the message to find Albert had sent him a dozen photos of women in bikinis at the beach.
Kevin shook his head. Albert never missed a chance to share these with him, but he wasn't in the mood to appreciate them now.
"Kevin, there are so many sexy beauties here. I'm so hard I can't stand it. I'll have to jerk off tonight. Bet you're jealous. My mom said she invited you to come last time, but you refused. Regretting it now?" Albert sent a smug emoji, making Kevin want to punch him. Here he was, heartbroken, and Albert was taunting him.
"Buzz off! I'm in a bad mood," Kevin sent a bomb emoji.
"What's wrong? Did Laura dump you? Haha. Serves you right. Now you know how I felt a few days ago," Albert teased.
Kevin was speechless but couldn't help thinking it would be better if Laura broke up with him. He didn't care about her, but it was Audrey who mattered.
"Did something really happen?" Seeing no reply, Albert sent another message. "But I heard from Lucy that you and Laura were doing well. Laura even planned to bring you a gift."
"Laura and I are fine. It's something else," Kevin explained. "By the way, what's going on with you and Lucy? Something seems off."
"Nothing's off. We're just friends," Albert typed quickly. "Unlike you, who pretends not to like Laura but secretly steals her. On behalf of all the boys in our class, I despise you."
It seemed Albert was still bitter about Kevin and Laura, but the fact that he could joke about it showed he had moved on.
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