Broken Bonds

Stepping out of the house, Sherett cast a final glance around her home. Today, in her own house, she had no identity left. In just one night, her life had turned upside down. One by one, everything slipped out of her hands. The family she had always considered her own was no longer hers. The person she had loved the most had left her. Her house, the business built with her parents' hard work—everything had been snatched away from her in an instant. Now, all she had left to call her own was this single suitcase.

Sherett had challenged them all, vowed to reclaim her property from them. But how? The thought made her laugh at her own helplessness. Her blind trust in everyone had cost her everything she held dear.

Samuel was sitting in his car, waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Restless, he glanced around and noticed something near the seat. He bent down slowly and picked it up. It was a library card. Examining it closely, he read the name aloud, 'Sherett Marley.' His eyes lingered on the picture of the girl attached to the card, and it seemed as if she was smiling back at him. Perhaps it had fallen out when she had taken out her purse to give him the money.

Samuel hesitated. Should he return Sherett's library card? He pondered over it for a few moments before finally turning his car around. In no time, his car was parked in front of the grand gates of Marley's House. He still couldn't understand why he had come all the way here. His conscience seemed to mock him: "The really successful businessman Samuel Peter came all this way just to return a library card?" Samuel couldn't make up his mind whether he should go inside or not.

Frustrated, he pulled out a cigarette. Just as he was about to light it, his gaze landed on a girl stepping out of the house. At first, he ignored her, but something about her clothes seemed familiar. He turned back for a second look—yes, it was her. Sherett.

Samuel immediately threw the cigarette away, opened his car door, and quickly walked toward her. He noticed tears streaming down her face. His eyes fell on the suitcase in her hand. Sherett walked right past him, too lost in her thoughts to notice his presence, her head bowed as she walked away silently.

"Ah...Miss!" Samuel called out. "Sherett Marley!"

Hearing her name, Sherett stopped abruptly and turned around. Her face went pale upon seeing Samuel standing there. As if things weren't bad enough already, now he was here too.

By then, Samuel had reached her. His eyes instantly went to her forehead, where blood was still trickling down. A red handprint was imprinted on her right cheek, a clear mark of a slap. Her right cheek was swollen as well. Seeing her in this condition, the words slipped out of Samuel's mouth, "Are you alright?"

He immediately realized how foolish the question sounded. It was obvious she was not alright. Sherett stared at him for a few moments, her eyes hollow yet filled with pain. Then suddenly, she moved forward and hugged Samuel tightly. She didn't want to think or know who was standing in front of her right now. She just wanted to feel, if only for a moment, that there was someone in this world who cared for her. Even if it was a lie, even if it was just for a moment, she needed to believe she wasn't alone.

Samuel was completely unprepared for her reaction. He wasn't fond of people coming close to him, especially not like this. He tried to pull away, but Sherett only clutched him tighter. Moving closer to his ear, she whispered, "I'm sorry. Right now, I just need someone. Someone whose shoulder I can cry on."

Her words shook Samuel to his core. He could feel how broken she was, how shattered she had become. So much so that she was seeking comfort in the arms of a stranger.

Without thinking, Samuel's arms reached out and wrapped around her. Sherett couldn't hold back any longer and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably in Samuel's arms. Seeing her like this, Samuel felt a pang of regret and sorrow.

She cried for what felt like forever. When Samuel finally sensed that she had calmed down, he gently tried to move her away. But Sherett wouldn't let go. "Just a little longer," she whispered, almost pleadingly.

For a moment, Samuel's hands paused. But then he gently separated her from him and said, "You're bleeding badly from your forehead. It needs to be treated right away. I'll take you to a doctor."