John Coleman had stood by the window watching until Millie had disappeared from his sight.
He retreated back a step listlessly and sat down on the floor.
He rested his head back, touching the cold wall.
Helplessness and bitterness were spreading in his heart.
He simply couldn't tell Millie that the reason he had tried to take her away by force was out of concern for her safety – and now, letting her go was for that very same reason.
If he couldn't extricate himself from the awkwardness that came with his identity, he would never be able to be open with her.
His phone rang again.
John glanced at the number and hung up.
He had no desire to deal with the person on the other end.
But the ringtone seemed insistent, as if reluctant to give up, and after a moment, it started up again.
John placed the phone aside, letting it ring incessantly.
After a while, the phone finally fell into prolonged silence.
Yet suddenly, the phone beeped with a text message.
