Chapter 16 

The director paused for a moment before saying, “Well, if that’s the case, then I wish you all the best on your journey ahead.” 

Allison stepped out of the law firm, wandering aimlessly through the streets. As the night settled in and the city lights started twinkling, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Out of nowhere, she felt a wave of loneliness. 

She was about to leave this city she had called home for the past three years. She remembered arriving in Havenbrook with his father having frozen all her bank cards, leaving her with just a few hundred dollars. She spent three nights in a hotel, scraping by. 

During those few days, she managed to land a job and found a cheap apartment near the law firm. The rent required a deposit upfront, which left her nearly broke. She got by thanks to a friend from Oak Lake who helped her out. 

The neighborhood was rough and full of shady characters, and the security was questionable. Not long after moving in, a drunk knocked on her door late at night. She’d hide under her covers, trembling, too scared to open the door. 

When she complained to the landlord, he just shrugged it off, saying there was nothing he could do. Feeling desperate, she moved out, but the dodgy landlord refused to return her deposit. 

At first, she politely asked for her deposit back, but not only did he refuse to give her a refund, he also hurled insults at her. Fueled by anger, she reported him for tax evasion and fire safety violations, causing him a lot of headaches. Before the case even made it to court, he returned her deposit. 

She dropped the breach of contract lawsuit but stuck with the defamation case. In the end, the landlord lost and had to pay her compensation for the insults. 

Thinking back, Allison chuckled; that was probably her rock–bottom moment. Later, she heard from a girl next door that the drunk had been beaten up shortly after she moved out, likely by someone he had crossed. The landlord also seemed to vanish after that. She believed it was 

karma at play. 

The day she first met Shawn, she was just an intern and had tagged along with a lawyer from her firm to discuss a legal consultancy contract with a small company under the Reynolds Group. Shawn happened to be visiting that day, and according to him, it was love at first sight. 

Shawn pursued her with determination. He was always attentive to details and offered emotional support. During that time, he always showed up when she needed someone the most. Once they were together, Shawn treated her well, and they shared many sweet moments. The turning point came on the night of their first anniversary. They’d both had a few drinks, and Shawn wanted to take things further. He moved closer, wrapped her in his arms, and leaned in to kiss her. In a panic, she pushed him away hard. 

00:45 

Chapter 16 

Shawn looked hurt, his voice rough as he asked, “Why?” 

Nervously, she stammered, “I… I’m just not ready yet. Could you give me some time?” 

After that, Shawn wasn’t as attentive as before. In the end, she never felt ready to take that final step with Shawn or even to kiss him. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Maybe it was because it was her first relationship, and she didn’t want to rush things. Or perhaps knowing Shawn had been with many women made her subconsciously find him unclean, and her body just couldn’t accept it. 

Whatever the reason, she felt relieved. 

When Allison returned to the villa, Shawn was nowhere to be seen. She took a shower and drifted into a deep sleep. In just ten days, she would leave this place. How wonderful.