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Hearing this , Yvette’s eyes turned red. “Mom, don’t say that. Xavier won’t abandon me. He will definitely save me.” Even if Xavier didn’t, Selena wouldn’t forsake her. She touched her belly, thinking at least she had to try for the sake of her unborn child.
All the peace of the evening was shattered when Selena had just brought over some soup. Yvette had barely taken a couple of sips when the police came to take her away. “What are you doing!” Selena yelled, clutching Yvette’s arm.
Yvette couldn’t believe this was happening; she was taken to the police car. Furious, Selena was at the hospital entrance making calls to Xavier and then to Matthew.
At Aurelith University, Yasmine had just packed up her things to leave work, when unexpectedly she ran into Yonas at the door. She was about to dodge him when she heard Lucy’s voice. Yasmine! Don’t go. Come with us to the Luminara Festival!” <The Luminara Festival?> Yasmine suddenly remembered the heated discussions on the school forum starting that afternoon. The festival was to be held in an old town street in Soucrity. Yet, she glanced at Yonas a few more times.
Without waiting for her response, Lucy pulled her into the car. “Yasmine, come with me! There’ll be so many beautiful flower lanterns.”
Yasmine couldn’t refuse Lucy, so she sat in the back seat with her, while Chuck drove and Yonas sat in the Chuck didn’t seem too pleased with the arrangement, constantly turning his head to look at Lucy.
passenger seat.
Before long, they reached the ancient town’s streets, which were already bustling with people, many dressed in traditional costumes. The entire street was decorated with colorful lights for the Luminara Festival. Lucy and Chuck, perhaps on purpose, held hands and tried to lose Yasmine and Yonas amidst the crowd. Soon, the four of them were swept apart by the throng.
Lucy glanced around anxiously, calling out, “Yasmine…” But her voice was swallowed by the sheer number of people in the street, and no one answered.
Just as she wanted to call Yasmine again, Chuck stopped her, “Don’t call her.”
“Why?” Lucy was puzzled.
Chuck gently ruffled her hair and said with a grin, “Let’s give them some alone time, okay? Why else do you think Yonas was so eager to come to the Luminara Festival today? And don’t forget, you’re here to hang out with me. I’ve got a place to take you.” With that, he grabbed Lucy’s hand and led her away.
In the crowd, Yasmine stood alone, looking around desperately. She didn’t see Lucy or Chuck anywhere. Lowering her eyes, she noticed she was surrounded by couples walking hand in hand, making her feel even more isolated.
As soon as she turned around, a large hand grabbed her wrist. Instinctively, she looked over and saw Yonas. “Wh–what are you doing?” She turned her head with a bit of discomfort, trying to withdraw her hand from his warm grip, but it felt like a solid shackle tightly clasping her wrist.
Yonas held her tightly in his arms, shielding her from the bustling crowd and vendors who could accidentally bump into her at any moment. “Yasmine, this is for you,” Yonas suddenly placed a flower lantern in her palm, its lotus shape glowing with a pink light.
Yasmine’s heart raced; he must have gone to buy the flower lantern earlier. Why did he buy it for her?
her
Her cheeks flushed red, and with so many people around, she couldn’t just walk away. She let him lead her absentmindedly, gaze fixed on the flower lantern in her right hand. She noticed the words written on the petals, wishing Yasmine eternal
peace.
