Chapter 17
Paisley sat in the police station, looking as usual.
There were some policemen casting a curious look at her occasionally. It might be very rare that a person who came the police looked so calm, just like waiting for friends to have dinner. Some policemen had been sent out and the police promised that they would bring Matthew for investigation.
As Paisley waited, she thought of the grand engagement party covered with white roses.
Matthew asked her what kind of flowers she wanted that day. She answered, "White roses. Don't pluck the thorns on them."
In the past, when he sent her flowers, he plucked the thorns for fear of hurting her. Now she wanted to live on those thorns. Her grandpa passed away, which made her lose most of her life. Only pain could make her feel alive. Everyone loved flowers, and why not love the thorns on them?
Her engagement party should be very grand. There would be a large number of people attending. Most of them were influential in Oakwood. The venue would also be very beautiful, with champagne, balloons, and white roses. It was as white as snow. On the long red carpet, Matthew and her walked past arm in arm in the eyes of the audience.
It would be quite a beautiful picture. When Paisley was thinking about it, there was a lot of noise at the door, and a person came in surrounded by a large group of people.
Paisley looked up and saw the handcuffs in his hands at first sight.
He had been pampered since his childhood. He wore a famous watch, Buddhist beads, and sometimes, like a celebrity, some decorative bracelets. But in his lifetime, he did not expect to be handcuffed one day.
Paisley looked up, and she thought she would see a pair of angry and hateful eyes, but no, Matthew was very calm and looked at her quietly with his dark eyes, as if saying, "I know you'll be here. I know you'll do this. This is the Paise I know."
Compared with the people around him who were angry and out of control, he seemed to have expected it to happen. Pure white roses, suggested that she was waiting for him to enter the trap.
Don't pluck the thorns. Didn't you say you like me and love me? Then can you love my thorns?
Paisley sat still. The policeman who was holding him pointed at her, seeming to say something to Matthew. Matthew nodded and said something else.  Then he walked straight to Paisley. He walked calmly as usual, but when he got closer, Paisley felt a little painful and uneasy. She would destroy him.
Matthew walked to Paisley. He was wearing a black suit. That day, he knelt down to make a promise, also wearing the suit and looking very handsome.
Paisley didn't escape, looking at him calmly.
Matthew also looked at her. His deep eyes were as affectionate as ever. He said, "Paise," which was like a sigh.
He liked to call her name, which sounded different from others, like the whispering of a lover.
He asked, "Will you forgive me for doing this?"
Paisley didn't answer. She was stunned. After that night, he never begged her to forgive him. He also told her not to forgive and that he would let time prove everything.
Matthew saw her lowering her head and not speaking. She would be universally condemned because of this affair today. It was a pity that he could not stand beside Paise and protect her. He could not help but stretch out his hand to touch her.
Paisley didn't recoil and still looked at Matthew with her clear eyes.
Matthew's hands stopped in the air. His handcuffed hands were heavy, which reminded him that he could not touch her in handcuffs.
It would dirty her. He couldn't stain her anymore.
Matthew withheld his hand. He knelt straight down and said to Paisley and the police around him, "What she said is the truth. I confess. I raped my girlfriend!"
For a moment, Paisley suddenly opened her eyes wide and stood up.
Matthew looked at her and said slowly, "You don't need to investigate. I plead guilty. I plead guilty!"
The whole police station was in turmoil. Anderson shouted, "Are you crazy, Matthew?"
Anderson hurriedly explained to the police, "This is not true. My son is not conscious now. Don't listen to his nonsense. The lawyer is coming!"
Matthew turned to Anderson and said, "Dad, don't say anything more. I'm sorry. I hurt Paise."
He took another deep look at Paisley and stood up, "Dad, don't waste your breath. You taught me before that I should take responsibility for everything I did wrong. This is my fault, and I should have taken it."
Anderson was furious. "You aren't conscious now. I won't talk to you!"
"I'm very sober," Matthew said. Then he took another look at Paisley and continued, "Dad, if you're really good to me, don't give Paise trouble after I'm sent to prison. If you hurt her, I will never forgive you."
"Absolutely!" He added before he was taken away by the police.
Anderson was furious. He wondered what Paisley did and why his son was so obsessed with her. She sued him, but he still defended her. His son said that his life was just beginning after going to jail. It was nonsense. Most of his life would be destroyed if he was sent to prison. From beginning to end, his son knelt down and finally was taken away by the police, and the woman didn't show any expression and didn't care about him at all. How crazy! The world was really crazy. He pointed at Paisley and was so angry that he couldn't utter a complete sentence, "You, you..."
It was supposed to be an engagement party today. He invited all the influential people in Oakwood to come here, but he watched his son being arrested as a suspect in such a shameful crime. He felt embarrassed. What would people in Oakwood think of him in the future? He was a joke! Besides, his son would have to go to jail.
Paisley was still expressionless as if what had happened had nothing to do with her.
Madison also came here. Seeing this situation, she was also furious. It was over. Why did this happen? Paisley was really stupid. She had told her to bear with it and let it go. In this way, she would suffer losses. She rushed over and said angrily, "Paise, why do you do so? I told you not..."
"Because it's I who got hurt, not you." Paisley interrupted her mother coldly.
Madison's voice stopped suddenly and she looked at Paisley in disbelief.
Paisley didn't look at her anymore. She asked the police who were still watching, "Can I go now?"
"Huh?" The police didn't respond and then immediately waved, "Yes, we will call you if necessary."
"Okay, thank you."
Paisley stood up and didn't look at the people around her, including her mother.
She walked forward without looking back. Even if she heard Madison yelling "Paisley", she still didn't look back.
She heard Anderson saying through gritted teeth behind her, "Ms. George, I only knew you were tough before, but I didn't expect your daughter to be more tough. I really admire you!"
Tough? She walked out. The sunshine outside was a little dazzling. She felt dizzy and could hardly stand, but she walked forward firmly because she knew that no one would support her with his strong arms anymore. She had to go on, on her own.
There were so many people and cars. The world was full of noises. Those roars seemed to continue to sound in her ears. Paisley got in a car at random and the driver asked in front, "Miss, where are you going?"
Where was she going? Where could she go? Paisley also asked herself. She was very uncomfortable and should go home, but she didn't want to go home. Just now, Madison shouted at her behind. Paisley knew that she had once again turned her home into an ice cave. She closed her eyes and gave him an address.
Paisley came to the skating rink where she met Matthew for the first time.
At that time, she was in her teens, and she came to ask her father for living expenses. She found that her annual living expenses were less than the price of one of her younger brother's toys. Her younger brother laughed at her and said she came from the countryside. She was full of dark thoughts and even wanted to hold her younger brother to die together. Later, she ran down in fear and saw Matthew at the skating rink.
He seemed to be able to shine at that time, attracting all her attention and making her forget to die.
He saved her life. No one expected that they would meet again, be in love, and hate each other.
Paisley stood in the same place, but the skating rink was gone. There was a big restaurant, Epic Dining, instead of it.
Within just a few years, it had changed so much. The city always made people deeply realize that times had passed and circumstances had changed.
Paisley stood at the door for a long time. She recalled many things about Matthew and her. Finally, she thought of his question: will you forgive me for doing this? He knelt in front of her and confessed to the world. Paisley thought she knew Matthew very well, but she didn't expect that he would simply admit his guilt. She really didn't expect...
Did she do something wrong? Paisley squatted down with her chest covered, but she didn't cry. She was universally condemned and personally sent him to prison. Why did she shed tears? She just felt pain. It was so tiring to love and hate. She and Matthew should not meet each other.
It was only at that moment that she realized that what was right or wrong was not so important, including her forgiveness.
Paisley squatted on the ground for a long time until it was dark.
It was time for dinner, so there were many people coming and going at the gate of the restaurant. Paisley stood up. Her brain whirled. She was about to fall forward and then be held by someone. The man was surprised and said, "Paise?"
After a long time, Paisley came back to her senses and saw clearly who was supporting her. It was Greyson. She recognized him just after hearing his voice.
Greyson was followed by a group of people. He smiled and explained, "This is my daughter."
Then there was a chorus of praise. They praised her for her beauty, who should be the employees of Greyson's Company.
Greyson didn't notice her oddness and suggested, "It's not easy to see you once. Let's have dinner together."
If it was in the past, Paisley would refuse. But today, after thinking about it, for some reason, she nodded and went in with Greyson.
The box was already booked. Paisley sat next to her father. Greyson asked them to order first and then added several dishes. He said with a smile, "These are all my daughter's favorites."
He remembered correctly that they were all the dishes Paisley liked.
At the dinner table, there were praises again. Paisley didn't speak. She sighed in his heart that her father was still good with others.
Greyson, just like before, was eloquent and humorous. He could take care of every one carefully, especially Paisley. He served her food and stopped someone else from toasting her. He said that his daughter was still young and a student as if he was the most competent father in the world, which attracted constant praise from everyone. Mr. Logan was really a good father.
Paisley didn't break it to him. If she asked, "Dad, do you know which school I go to?", and Greyson could not answer, the illusion of harmony would be torn to pieces.
But she was really weak today. She smiled, nodded, and said nothing as if she really had a father who doted on her.
After dinner, they were going to KTV. Paisley said that she was going to go back first. Greyson drove her home.
Along the way, Greyson was very happy and asked a lot about Paisley with care. Paisley replied to him casually. She wanted to interrupt him many times and say, "Dad, I was going to be engaged today." But she didn't speak out when she looked at Greyson who was very energetic.
The car drove to the entrance of the community and Paisley asked him to stop. Before getting out of the car, she looked at Greyson, who had hardly changed, and asked softly, "Dad, you're so successful. No one has ever said you've done anything wrong, right?"
"Huh?" Greyson was a little confused. "What's wrong with me?"
"Well, you are right. But you destroyed two people."
After finishing speaking, Paisley got out of the car and walked forward without looking back.
Greyson was right, but he destroyed two people. One was her mother. He turned her into a poor woman who desperately tried to cover up her failed marriage and attract her ex-husband's attention with career success. One was Paisley. He turned her into a cold and indifferent woman who didn't dare to love.
Matthew was right. She was just a woman who always gave alms to him. How could she love him?
Matthew's case had been made.
Paisley went to the police station several times later and cooperated with their investigation. She did an amniocentesis and took amniotic fluid for identification. The child was Matthew's. Anderson had hired a group of lawyers, who were all famous and had the ability to turn black into white. It was not difficult to overturn the charge. But Matthew was determined and firmly admitted that he raped his girlfriend.
It was in court that Paisley saw Matthew again. He was wearing an orange prison uniform and looked at Paisley from a distance.
He only said three words, "I plead guilty."
Before being taken away, he said he wanted to apologize to the victim. The judge agreed.
He was brought to Paisley. He didn't say sorry or beg her pardon again. He had said sorry too many times. It needed time to forgive. He looked at Paisley's pale face. She was wearing flat shoes and a wide skirt. She was thinner, but her abdomen was bulging. Matthew also looked bad. His beautiful eyes were sunken, and some hawthorns appeared on his lips. He said, "Paise, you will be fine, right?"
Paisley subconsciously put her hands on her belly. Now she was not only herself. He should want her to treat the child well.
Her lips moved, and finally, she said nothing. When she turned to leave, she met Anderson, who was resentful.
Anderson took a cold look at her. Then he looked at Madison behind her and sneered, "Ms. George, this is not over!"
Madison lowered her head, supporting Paisley, passed him hurriedly, and almost ran away.
As a result, he was convicted of rape and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Once Matthew was imprisoned, the two families confronted each other completely. Anderson had never been an easy man. Madison lost her business in Oakwood. Her years of hard work were in vain. And no one would even talk to her. It was difficult for her to get a foothold in Oakwood, not to mention the development of her career. Even Paisley was expelled from Edgewater University. The reason was that she corrupted the school spirit.
After Matthew was in prison, Paisley went to visit him. If she was a few months pregnant, she would have a big belly. But she looked like a normal girl. She was very thin.
Matthew was brought over and first asked after seeing her, "Paise, why are you thin?"
She was pregnant. She should be taken care of well. She should be fat and lovely. How could she be so thin? He subconsciously looked at her abdomen, which was flat and did not look like a pregnant person at all.
Matthew's face froze and hesitated, "You..."
Paisley sat down quietly and said, "I aborted it."
"What?" Matthew didn't believe what he heard.
"I aborted it," Paisley repeated.
"You..." Matthew suddenly stood up with his fists clenched, held back his emotions, and asked, "Why?"
He thought he knew her well. Although his Paise looked cold but more kind-hearted than anyone else. She won't do so. How could she kill a life? Not to mention that it was their child. No! He didn't believe it! Matthew shook his head, and his eyes were very bloodshot. "Did someone force you? My father? Your mother?"
"No," Paisley shook her head. Compared with his shock and anger, she seemed to be at ease, just like saying something that had nothing to do with her. "I aborted it myself."
She looked at Matthew and said, "I don't want my child to have a rapist as his father."
I don't want my child to have a rapist as his father. I don't want my child to have a rapist as his father... The word "rapist" kept hovering in his mind. Matthew was in turmoil. He shouted out of control, "Paise, how can you do that? It's our child!"
"Why not? It's my child. I have the right to decide whether he lives or dies." Paisley sneered. She sat still. "I grew up in a single-parent family, and I know the pain better than anyone else. Gossip is a fearful thing. It's better not to let him be born than to let him grow up with cold words."
"How can you think so? Don't you still have me?"
"You?" Paisley looked at him ridiculously. "Matthew, do you think we can still be together after so many things that have happened? Don't be naive!"
"Then you can't abort it. How can you be so cruel?"
"Why can't I?" Paisley also lost her temper. She suddenly stood up and clenched her fist, "At the beginning, I asked you to be kind to me, but how did you treat me? You raped me, and my grandfather died. You made me pregnant before marriage, before my twentieth birthday! You blame me for being cruel. Right, I'm such a cruel person!"
Matthew was already on the edge. He was willing to go to jail and gamble with his freedom to see if he was on her mind. He wanted to dissipate Paisley's hatred, but he failed. She didn't love him. She didn't love him at all. Otherwise, as she wished, he was sent to prison. But why did she still hate him and their child...
He looked at the girl in front of him, who was thin and slender as if the wind could blow her down. But she had aborted their child without mercy. Matthew hadn't seen such a strange Paisley. He never saw through her. He clenched his fist and stared at her. "Paisley, if I'm a rapist, you can't be much nobler than me. You're a murderer!"
Matthew said the last few words through gritted teeth as if he wanted to ruin Paisley.
Paisley was shocked. Her face was pale. She was silent for a moment and then looked up with her mocking face, "Life? It's life for you, but a shame for me! Matthew, don't be hypocritical. If I give birth to it, let him have a rapist as his father, and let him grow up in a single-parent family, that will be cruel! Even if I were a murderer, it would be a gift if I killed him!"
"You..." Matthew was so angry that he couldn't say a word. He pointed at Paisley, his whole body trembling. He never expected Paisley to say such words.
Paisley didn't look at him anymore. She sat down and slowly took off the ring on her ring finger. "I'm not here to argue with you about this."
She took the ring off. "I came to return this to you."
When they kissed for the first time, he knelt down and put it on her finger, saying it was his promise.
That day, she impulsively tried to cut him with a knife, but she didn't want to take it off. When her grandfather passed away, she saw him in the cemetery, but she didn't want to take it off. She realized that she was pregnant and wanted to abort it, but she was taken away by him. But she didn't want to take it off either... She had many reasons to take off the ring and throw it in his face, but she didn't do so. Now it was time for her to give it back to him.
The moment Matthew saw the ring, his blue veins protruded on his forehead. "What do you mean?"
"You're not stupid." Paisley stood up and was still calm. It was time to say goodbye to him, and they probably would not meet again. She took a last look at the man who was already on the edge as if she wanted to put him into her eyes and heart. She took a deep breath and said, "Matthew, we... will never meet again."
Don't say see you later. We'll never meet again.
After finishing her words, Paisley turned to leave. Matthew's shout came from behind her. He forcefully knocked on the isolation window.
"Paisley! Paisley!
"You hate me so much. Did you ever like me?"
Paisley stopped. She looked at the faint traces on her ring finger, and clearly said, "No, not at all!"
"Okay, Paisley, you are cruel enough. I'm stupid for falling in love with you. I was in prison and still wondered if my Paise would be lonely and live a hard life outside." Matthew laughed and was broken. He laughed as he cried. "You are right. I should have stayed away from you at the beginning. You don't love anyone, and you have no heart. No wonder you were so poor the first time I saw you. No one could ever love a wicked woman like you!"
"It's none of your business." Paisley looked back, holding her head high, so proudly. "Someone else will love me!"
Then she left, and this time she did not look back. Matthew cursed and yelled behind her, "No one will love you, Paisley. No one will love you like me..."
Paisley walked on until she left the prison gate. She still felt like Matthew was roaring in her ear and cursing her.
Walking out of prison, she had almost used up all her strength. She held onto the door, and her clothes were wet against her body with cold sweat. Her palms were bloody and scratched by her nails.
The guard saw her bloodless face and kindly asked, "Miss, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, thanks." Paisley waved her hand and smiled weakly at him. Her smile was uglier than her cry.
She was a fool, and there was nothing to be sad about.
As they should be, they separated and no longer saw each other. The only bond was gone. There were no worries for her.
It was over. It was all over. Those good times eventually still could not escape fate and turned gray.
After a short rest, Paisley continued to walk forward. She walked slowly as she thought. She would no longer meet Matthew, forever.
After a short walk, she saw Dawson looking sadly at her in front of her.
Paisley passed by him and heard Dawson ask by her side, "Why did you do so? Paise, how can you be so foolish? You have chosen the most difficult of all the paths in the world."
Paisley didn't stop. She walked on, muttering and nervously repeating, "Because I don't love him. I don't love him at all. I don't even like him. I never liked him..."
Dawson followed her silently until she was so sad that she crouched down and shouted, "Because I hate him. I hate him!"
She crouched on the ground with her knees in her arms, burying her face in her knees and not showing any expression. But her voice was choked with pain, "I said I didn't want love and a lover. He still came without warning. He said that he came to tell me that he liked me..."
"He helped me go through the enrollment procedures, carried my luggage, and bought breakfast for me. It was hot in the summer. He was afraid that I would get sunstroke, so he bought herbal tea for me. He was afraid that I wouldn't accept it. So he bought herbal tea for the whole class. He even invited the instructors to have dinner several times in a few days of military training. Later, he was crazier. He went to my home as mum as a mouse. He said that he wanted to see how I grew up with a cold heart. He went to a lot of places, took a lot of photos, and gave me a place for each one, saying he would take me to these places..."
She remembered everything that Matthew did for her, which was deeply engraved in her mind and could never be forgotten.
"I was tired of him, very much. Even my grandfather thought I had a boyfriend and said he didn't worry about me. I really hated him. But since I grew up, no one had ever treated me like that. No one was so kind to me as he was. He never got angry with me. No matter how angry I was with him, he didn't talk. The next day he came to me again. He remembered all the things I liked and hated. He hated going to the library. But he  helped me find a seat early every day. I would not leave on purpose until the door was closed. He would not let me go alone."
"He kept sending me white roses during the two years in university. He picked many of them in person and said that Paise should have the freshest flowers. He also gave gifts to the girls in my dormitory more frequently than their boyfriends and said that he wanted to please his girlfriend's family... I did a lot of bad things to him, but he still treated me well. I'm used to him being good to me. I'm used to him arranging everything for me. I'm used to believing that he can do whatever he says, but why did he do that? Why? He said we would have a long way to go, but where is he now?"
Paisley cried hysterically and almost shed all her tears. She cried recklessly until her voice became hoarse until the tears were almost dry and her sleeves were wet. She dreamily said, "I hate him. I hate that I love him."
She finally fell in love with him.
He said, "Can you keep the cloud still? If you can't, you can't stop me from loving you." She was the same.
Hearing this, Dawson was shocked. He felt that he had to say something and that it was unnecessary to say anything. He accompanied her silently until Paisley stood up. Her eyes were swollen and her hair was disordered, but she looked a little more lively than just now.
She stood up with numb legs and could hardly stand for a moment. Dawson held her. After a long time, she recovered, "Thank you, I'm going home."
They never needed to say thank you to each other. Dawson looked at Paisley and sincerely said, "Paise, whenever you need help, you can come to me."
He didn't just say so.
Paisley nodded and walked forward slowly. She was grateful to him, but no one could save her now. This was her choice.
Dawson was right. Among so many paths, she only chose the most difficult one. She brought it on herself completely, but she would go on, no matter how hard it was.
When Paisley got home, her mother was packing up. It was almost done.
Anderson was pressing hard. Madison's business fell apart completely. The funds were tied up. Even the house had to be sold.
Madison had no choice but to leave Oakwood. She still had some money. It was enough for her to develop her business in another place. Paisley was expelled from school, so she could take her to go together. Anyway, she stayed with her daughter together. She believed that Anderson wouldn't crack down on her like this even if he was more powerful.
The unlucky things had followed one after another, which made Madison look very tired. Her eyes were full of tiredness.
Seeing her daughter come in, she asked tonelessly, "Are you back? Where have you been?"
She didn't answer. She cried for so long that her mouth was dry. She wanted to drink some water but the room was cleaned up. There was no water left.
Madison had already been used to the coldness of Paisley. These two days, they were just like this. Paisley didn't say a word to her.
Madison continued, "Paise, check if there is anything left. I have bought the tickets. We'll leave in the afternoon."
Finally, they were about to leave. Paisley looked around the room. Her grandfather's photo was still on the wall.
She took it down, standing in the chair. She stroked the old man's face and said, "You leave alone, and I won't leave with you."
"What do you mean, Paisley?" Madison was angry and her voice was very sharp. "Have you really had a grudge against your mother? If you don't leave, where are you going as a student without a diploma, academic background, and social experience?"
"Now as long as I'm not lazy, I won't starve to death," Paisley said tonelessly.
"Paisley!" Madison roared. She was really tired and upset. The current situation annoyed her. Her daughter also annoyed her. Why was she so miserable? Her husband was robbed by a mistress, and her career was ruined. Paisley was born against her. She said coldly, "Paisley, do you hate me?"
"Yes, I hate you!" Paisley lost her temper.
"Hate? How can you say you hate me?" Madison countered with a snort, "If you hadn't called the police, how would it have gotten to this place? You got your fiancé into prison and made me go bankrupt. I didn't abandon you and was going to take you away. I've been nice enough to you. What do you want? If I knew you were like this, I shouldn't have given birth to you. Well, Greyson is bad. How can his daughter be good? I'd rather not have a daughter like you!"
"You don't want me as your daughter, and I don't want you as my mother!"
"Paisley!" Madison roared and slapped her on the face fiercely.
Paisley didn't dodge. She stared at her mother and said, "Isn't it? No mother, like you, first forced me to marry him, and then..."
Paisley could say no more. She held the photo, "If Grandpa was here, would he allow you to do this?"
"You still dare to mention your grandfather. It's you that killed him!" Madison couldn't bear to shout.
All of a sudden, Paisley's throat seemed to be blocked by something. What her mother said was right. Grandpa was really killed by her.
Madison also suddenly realized that this sentence was too outrageous. She came over and tried to explain, "No, Paise, that's not what I meant..."
Paisley took a step back, and there were tears in her eyes. "Right, you are right. I killed Grandpa. But Mom, are you really doing this for me? Or do you want me to pave the way for your career?"
Her tears fell down, and Paisley said the most hurtful words after all.
There was an unbelievable look on Madison's face. Her daughter even thought that she was such a mother. She sat down dejectedly. "Paise, if you think so, there is nothing I can say. But no mother would want to harm their children."
"But you ruined me," Paisley interrupted. She looked at her mother in despair. "Mom, go away. I won't go with you. You're right. I hate you. As long as I see you, I think of..."
Paisley didn't want to mention it again and turned her head painfully. "How can we live in the same house? Go away. Don't worry. I'm twenty years old and can take good care of myself."
Paisley didn't go with Madison in the end.
They were like feuds, taking their own luggage, getting in different taxis, and going in opposite directions.
Paisley had little luggage, just a suitcase and a picture of her grandfather.
She told the driver to go to the railway station. When she got out of the taxi, she went to the ticket office to buy a ticket. She looked at the big screen. Trains to all parts of the country would take people here to different parts of the country. Some could go to see their relatives, some could find their lovers, and others just went on business. What about her? Where would she go?
The world was so big, and there were so many place names on the screen, but Paisley didn't know which place to choose.
There were no relatives or a lover anywhere. She was alone wherever she went.
"Where the hell are you going?" The conductor impatiently urged her.
"I, I..." Paisley opened her mouth but walked away.
She sat at the railway station for a long time and thought a lot. In fact, she didn't think about anything else. It was just a few people who came and went in her life. Matthew said that no one would love her, but Paisley didn't believe it. She didn't believe that she would be unloved all her life.
It was not dark. Paisley made a decision. She left the railway station and took a bus to Houis District, the oldest old district in Oakwood.
When she got off the bus, it was dark. Paisley walked on the street for a while and saw a real estate agency. She came in and said to the yawning staff, "I want to rent a house."
The staff served her enthusiastically and asked Paisley if there were any requirements.
Paisley held the photo in her arms hard, and said in a husky voice, "Nothing, just cheap."
A few days later, she hung her grandfather's photo on the wall of the very small rental house.
She looked up at the old man who was always smiling amiably and said with a smile, "Grandpa, don't worry, and I will be fine. I won't be like my mother who used to make you worry. I'll love someone and someone will love me."
She was smiling, but her heart was empty. She felt bitter, endlessly.
She stayed in Oakwood after all where he lived.
But so what? They were finished. She didn't leave anything that Matthew gave her, except for the small wood block. On one side, it was engraved with "See you later", and on the other side, it was "a long way to go". Paisley hung up the wood block and the one side "See you later" was against her. Later, she was upset and put it away in the drawer. When she threw it in, she pretended to be casual to let the other side up.
But they didn't have a long way to go.