NovelBookChapter 478
In an instant, the scene shifted. The four of them vanished, and Alessia felt an invisible force tug her backward,
pulling her into another memory. She found herself in a nearly empty classroom bathed in the warm glow of a
sunset. Only one girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen, lay asleep with her head cradled in her arms on a desk. Her
cheeks and forearms were marked red from the pressure, and her hair-messy and
half-untied-covered most of her face. Dark circles smudged beneath her eyes; exhaustion clung to her like a
second skin.
A teenage boy entered, still breathless from running, clutching a bottle of iced tea. Sweat clung to his brow, but
as soon as he spotted the sleeping girl, his movements softened and slowed, as if afraid to wake her.
He quietly drew the curtain halfway shut, blocking the sunlight that spilled across her face.
“Did you finish your game?” the girl mumbled, her voice drowsy and unguarded, eyes still closed.
“Yeah. You can sleep a bit longer. I'll go shower and be right back,” he replied, his voice rough with the cracks of
adolescence.
“You really do smell,” she murmured, lips quirking before her brain could catch up with her teasing.
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The boy, unbothered, leaned in and waved his sweaty shirt near her face. “That's just for you. Special delivery.”
His childish retort made her laugh. She swatted at him with half-lidded eyes, but he didn’t dodge, just grinned
and took the gentle smack.
“Get smore rest. I'll be back soon,” he said, ruffling her hair and patting her head softly.
Alessia nodded sleepily. The boy pulled a clean school sweater from her desk and tucked it beneath her head as
a pillow, then set the drink within her reach before quietly slipping out.
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Chapter 478
The real Alessia, an outsider in this memory, watched it all unfold. As the boy left, the image began to blur and
shift again.
By now, Alessia had grown used to being yanked through these
fragments of time. She no longer resisted.
The scene stabilized. It was still the two of them, but now they stood in a stark hospital corridor. They looked
older-sixteen, maybe-but all the youthful energy was gone, replaced by a hollow grief.
They stood hand in hand outside the morgue, watching as a man’s body was covered with a white sheet.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Alessia’s own heart spasmed with pain. She tried to step forward, but the
hospital faded around her, reality sliding
away.
Now she found herself facing the woman from the very beginning-only this time, the woman was pale and frail,
her life ebbing with each breath. Alessia instinctively reached out, desperate to hold on.
Suddenly, the swoman-identical to the one dying-appeared beside her and caught her hand.
Alessia flinched, but Jade only shook her head gently, urging Alessia to stay quiet and watch.
“You're strong and resilient. Maybe you don’t say much, but you're a gentle soul,” Jade said softly. “Knowing
you're with Cole sets my mind at
ease.”
As Alessia listened, the woman faded away, replaced by the teenage boy. “Lessie’s a good kid. Promiseyou'll
take care of her...”
Tears welled in Alessia’s eyes and slipped silently down her cheeks. She turned to the woman beside her, who
said nothing-just pulled Alessia
into her arms.
It felt like sunlight-warmed blankets: familiar, safe, and impossibly comforting.
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Chapter 478
“Ms. June...” Alessia whispered, memory slowly returning.
“Didn’t we agree you'd callsomething else?” the woman prompted gently.
.."...Mom,"” Alessia choked out.
“I'm right here, sweetheart.” Jade held her close, just as she always had.
“I miss you so much,” Alessia’s voice broke with tears.
“You've done so well, Lessie. You're still brave, still shining. I'm so proud of you, honey.”
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