SWNOVELS Chapter 59
Chapter 59
I’ve left something back at school, I’ll go grab it. You head up; Rowan said, perched on his bicycle, waiting until Karla reached the doorstep before speaking up. Karla responded almost reflexively with an “Okay without fully registering his words,
It was only after Rowan had doubled back that Karla realized what was happening. By the time she thought to stop him, it was too late. Rowan had vanished in the blink of an eye.
Karla rubbed her forehead in frustration, muttering to herself, “Why does that kid have to be so darn clever for no reason?”
She didn’t need to guess to know that Rowan had headed back to the diner to find Wayne and Teddy. How on earth did that boy’s mind work? She had played it so cool, yet he saw right through her act.
What’s even more outrageous is that, in order to get rid of her, he actually went so far as to escort her back as if nothing had happened?
Karla seriously doubted her professional skills. Clearly, too much comfort could dull the intellect and judgment.
With her fighting spirit reignited, Karla charged up the stairs, her heart racing. The moment she saw the apartment door ajar, her body froze as if shocked by electricity, her pupils dilating in sudden alarm.
Comeone was inside!
The room was dark, but the stairwell was brightly lit, and tonight’s full moon cast a clear light through the windows, revealing the scene inside.
A man sat on the couch, his head lowered in a relaxed pose, his suit jacket casually flung over the armrest. His hands rested on his legs, one idly twirling a cigarette, its glowing ember stark against the night.
The glass on the table, doubling as a makeshift ashtray, was filled with butts – a clear sign this person had been there for a while.
As the man raised his head, his gaze met Karla’s at the doorway. In the dim light, the man’s cold gaze was shrouded in a deep and unfathomable gloom, and the scar on his face seemed to signal something
ominous to her.
Karla’s expression darkened. Despite having imagined this moment countless times, she hadn’t expected to meet him like this.
He was Rowan’s father–Landon.
Back at the diner, Wayne and Teddy exited, laughing and chatting. They hadn’t noticed at first, but after a few steps, they both stopped dead in their tracks. Turning slowly, they saw Rowan, arms crossed, leaning against the wall by the entrance, watching them intently.
No wonder they had felt a chill down their spines. It was him.
“Shall we talk?” Rowan’s lips parted in a casual tone, but the underlying pressure from the slender sixteen-year–old was palpable.
Though Karla had instructed them not to tell Rowan, under his intense questioning, they eventually
confessed.
1/2
20:56
Chapter 59
“Joseph rocked up with his crew, looking to start trouble with you at the diner, Teddy had told Karla the same thing. The only difference was that Teddy had replaced “you” with “Rowan.”
Teddy had hurried to the diner that day, hoping to get Rowan to lay low for a while. When he found out that Karla was covering Rowan’s shift and Rowan was absent, he saw no reason to worry, But he hadn’t expected Karla to dig for answers relentlessly, and eventually, he had to come clean.
Initially, Teddy had hesitated to tell Karla, fearing she’d be scared. However, Karla’s actions, upon learning the truth, nearly made his jaw drop in astonishment.
Before explaining what Karla had done, Teddy had one question for Rowan, “Rowan, do you remember me telling you recently about Joseph planning to ambush you on your way home but couldn’t because someone, god knows who, beat them up?”
Rowan nodded, “I remember.” He was starting to put the pieces together.
Teddy’s expression was exaggerated as he exclaimed, “Can you believe it? It was her who did the beating!” “Mhm, I believe it.” The latter was unfazed.
Teddy patted Rowan’s shoulder and, with a thumbs–up, uttered, “I’m impressed!”
Strictly speaking, Karla hadn’t done much. Once Joseph and his gang arrived, the waitstaff went over to attend to them. They caused all sorts of trouble deliberately until Karla slammed a menu onto their table, and the group finally quieted down.
Karla dragged a chair over, sat down, crossed her legs, and swept her fierce gaze over the lot. She said just one line: “Either order something or get out!”