Shannon Quinn took a deep breath, observing the intense downpour. The mountain path in the distance through the rain mist was blurred.
Usually, it was difficult for her to traverse it, let alone on a rainy day.
Ronan Rhodes’ words had so effect, calming her down a bit. She put away her umbrella and returned to the room.
Her heartbeat was erratic, as if she sensed sothing was about to happen.
The rain poured all day, accompanied by strong winds that seed like they could sweep the wooden house away.
The branches in front of the house danced chaotically, just like Shannon Quinn’s unsettled heart at the mont.
...
"Brother, have you packed everything?" Joel Bellamy asked at the door of Landon Sutton’s room.
Landon Sutton looked up at her and said, "Just a few pieces of clothing."
Joel Bellamy glanced around outside with a mysterious air, stepped into his room, closed the door behind her, and approached Landon Sutton. She took out a bundle of miscellaneous cash from her pocket and said, "This is the little money I’ve saved. You’ll need money for everything once you’re outside. Take it."
Landon Sutton glanced down, pushing her hand along with the money back, "I have my own ways. Keep it for yourself. There will be many instances when you need money in the future."
Joel Bellamy shook her head, "I can save up more."
Landon Sutton chuckled, pulled out a twenty from the stack, and said, "This is enough. Keep the rest."
Joel Bellamy insisted, "Take it all. You have to spend money on als and accommodations outside. It’s not like here."
Landon Sutton: "I know."
Joel Bellamy realized sothing and nervously took back the money in her hand, asking him, "...Did Shannon Quinn give you money?"
Seeing Joel Bellamy’s disgruntled expression, Landon Sutton smiled helplessly and said, "I don’t want money from either of you. I have my own ways. Don’t worry."
Landon Sutton could tell that while Joel Bellamy might have deceived him in so matters, her care for him was genuine.
However, regardless of the situation, he had no romantic feelings for Joel Bellamy.
Joel Bellamy took a breath before saying, "We’ll wait until the rain stops, and Dad will take you out to sea."
Landon Sutton: "No need. I’ll take the boat at the dock."
Joel Bellamy: "Brother, you will co back, right?"
Landon Sutton smiled: "I will."
He answered this way to soothe Joel Bellamy’s heart.
He didn’t really believe that one person’s reluctance to part could last long.
Perhaps Joel Bellamy was just afraid of the mont of separation. Once he truly left, and she gradually adapted to her life, she might even forget his presence.
As for Shannon Quinn, he still wanted to wait until he rembered sothing before deciding whether to live with her.
Before leaving, Joel Bellamy placed a piece of aromatic wood on Landon Sutton’s bedside cabinet and said, "This is for repelling mosquitoes. The rain should stop tomorrow morning. Brother, sweet dreams."
Landon Sutton was sowhat surprised at how readily Joel Bellamy agreed this ti.
Joel Bellamy turned and left the room, closing the door behind her, with an enigmatic smile on her face at the door.
The next day.
The rain had lessened considerably compared to last night, leaving the roads wet, with small puddles in the uneven paths.
Standing in front of the second-floor corridor, Shannon Quinn looked at the small hill through the rain veil.
She increasingly felt that the barrier between her and him was more than just a mountain.
...
Landon Sutton woke up to a commotion.
Last night, he seed to have slept more deeply than usual, and now being awoken still left a sense of drowsiness.
The noise was coming from Joel Bellamy’s mother. Landon Sutton sat up in bed to see Mrs. Bellamy standing by the bed, pointing at him and scolding.
Sensing sothing was off, Landon Sutton turned his head to look beside him.
Joel Bellamy was sitting at the corner of the bed wrapped in a thin sheet. It was clear from beneath the sheet that she seed to be unclothed...
Seeing this, Landon Sutton frowned.
He didn’t know when Joel Bellamy appeared on his bed, but he knew nothing happened between them.
No matter what the scene looked like to Mrs. Bellamy, it wasn’t sothing that could be easily explained.
Mrs. Bellamy was almost entirely scolding Joel Bellamy, accusing her of shalessly doing inappropriate things.
Joel Bellamy retorted that they’d already slept together, so she might as well marry him.
In anger, Mrs. Bellamy turned and left.
As silence returned to his ears, Landon Sutton’s mind was chaotic.
Not because of the farce before him, but understanding he had once again been used and deceived.
Last night, he appreciated Joel Bellamy’s kindness, and this morning he realized her intentions.
Landon Sutton stood up, donned his shirt, and, heading for the door, said, "Get dressed before calling ."
Standing outside the door, he lit a cigarette.
Two minutes later, Joel Bellamy, fully clothed, opened the door and walked cautiously behind him, softly calling, "Brother..."
Landon Sutton flicked the ash from his cigarette, which fell to the ground, and turned to see Joel Bellamy standing before him with her head down like a child who had done sothing wrong, her hands nervously entwined.
Landon Sutton only glanced at her before shifting his gaze away, "What you did is truly unpleasant."
Joel Bellamy expected him to be angry, but she hadn’t anticipated such hurtful words. She opened her mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say to calm him.
Landon Sutton sidestepped into the room, picked up the aromatic wood she had given him yesterday, and coolly asked, "Did you plan out how to trap last night?"
Joel Bellamy shook her head, though she couldn’t verbalize any defense.
Landon Sutton examined the aromatic wood in his hand, "So this doesn’t really repel mosquitoes, does it?"
Joel Bellamy: "...It’s for aiding sleep. Brother, I really like you. I want to marry you!"
Landon Sutton smirked, his smile slightly mocking, "Do you realize that liking soone this way only causes trouble for them?"
Joel Bellamy lowered her head, muttering softly, "I was just too scared you’d leave ..."
Landon Sutton casually tossed the aromatic wood aside, "We both know nothing inappropriate happened between us. I won’t help clean up this ss. You sort it out yourself."
Joel Bellamy stared at him in disbelief, "Are you still planning to leave?"
Landon Sutton: "Leaving now."
If there was any gratitude towards Joel Bellamy before, now there was nothing left.
Joel Bellamy: "But how am I supposed to explain this to Mom? If you don’t marry , I’ll never find another husband."
Landon Sutton: "Didn’t you plan for a backup while plotting this?"
Joel Bellamy ran to block the door, preventing Landon Sutton from leaving, "Brother, you can’t leave. You have to marry . Otherwise, I can’t stay in this village."
Landon Sutton scoffed, "That’s your own problem."
As Landon Sutton reached out to push Joel Bellamy aside, her parents entered the room.
Mrs. Bellamy furiously said to Landon Sutton, "You think you can leave? As a man, you did this and now want to leave? How will my daughter live with this?"
Seeing her mother finally on her side, Joel Bellamy imdiately ran to her, looking utterly pitiful.
Landon Sutton frowned, disliking the feeling of being manipulated and coerced.
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