Claire gently pushes Bryce and whispers, “I’m putting you in trouble today. You don’t have to take me
upstairs. I can...”
However, Claire wants to refuse, but Bryce turns a deaf ear and insists on carrying her upstairs without
saying a word.
Claire feels in the arms she has been in many times this evening. She is moved and helpless. She
sighs in her heart and suddenly feels depressed.
Bryce is so nice to her but she hides her identity and doesn’t tell him. She shouldn’t have done it.
What’s more, after so long, what happened between them has passed.
Fortunately, he does not die. He is still alive. She also has this valuable friend. In that case, she doesn’t
have to avoid it!
But she hesitates a little.
After going upstairs, Bryce puts Claire at her door. He whispers, “you’re home. Your foot is hurt so you
must not touch the water and eat spicy food. You... l have to go. Take care...”
With that, Bryce nods at Claire and turns to leave.
Claire watches Bryce walk to the elevator. Something seems to have stuck in her throat. Her mouth
keeps opening and closing. Finally, as Bryce is about to walk into the elevator, Claire can’t help
shouting in a low voice.
“Bryce…”
Her voice is low and small. In the quiet corridor, Bryce hears Claire’s voice clearly not far away.
Bryce pauses and slowly turns to look at Claire, but by this time he has entered the elevator and the
door is closing. Bryce is slowly obscured by the elevator door.
“...”
Claire leans weakly against the door. She is dismayed to see that she is alone in the corridor.
It is quiet and silent.
Claire’s depression lasts only 30 seconds. The door reopens and Bryce appears in the elevator. As
soon as the elevator door opens, he walks quickly toward Claire and holds her tightly in his arms.
He whispers, “Claire...”
Claire is unprepared and suddenly held by Bryce. He still has the familiar smell of mint. This time he
holds her tight and he seems afraid that Claire will disappear the next second.
Bryce holds Claire tight. There are a lot of heartache, nostalgia and deep feelings in this embrace.
After a long time, Claire recovers from shock. She feels Bryce’s embrace in silence. Her hands are
hanging by her side and she doesn’t respond.
Bryce is still so affectionate to her.
“Claire, Claire, you finally admit...” Bryce can’t help saying.
Claire is surprised. It turns out that Bryce won’t be so nice to a woman he has only met twice. He
knows she is Claire.
Bryce holds Claire quietly for a long time and sighs, “in fact, when I saw you beside Leo in the tea room
that day, I recognized you. I’ve been waiting for you to come to me. I didn’t expect you didn’t come to
me and I didn’t hear from you. I didn’t expect to meet you tonight. I miss you so much...”
Then Bryce gives Claire another hug and says affectionately, “Claire, I really miss you for six years!”
“I haven’t married for you. Even though I know you are not in America, I have been waiting for you to
come back, because I know you will come back! You will not abandon your country. You will never
forget the happy memories we once had here. Claire, you are a nostalgic person. How can you give
up? And I also believe that as long as I am willing to wait, you will come back and continue to be with
me.”
“Claire... It’s nice of you to be back!”
“Bryce…” Claire whispers Bryce’s name but doesn’t respond to his feelings.
Over the years, Bryce hasn’t given up on her. What can she do?
Claire’s heart is too tired to bear more injuries. She can’t be with Bryce or make a commitment to
Bryce. She’s too tired to love anyone.
They have been in this position for a long time. Bryce reluctantly lets go of her. With a little reluctance
in his smile, he says, “Claire, it’s nice of you to be back.”
He says so much but Claire doesn’t say she misses him. It is enough to prove her position. He didn’t
expect that after all these years, Claire doesn’t choose him.
But fortunately, it’s not Leo at least, because now Leo has lost his memory. No matter why Claire is with
Leo, he believes in Claire’s choice.
Claire smiles, too. They haven’t seen each other for a long time and she thought he is dead, so they
have a lot to talk about.
Claire thinks and smiles. “It’s not good to stand outside. Let’s get into the house.”
Then she takes out the key and opens the door.
When they comes in, Claire says, “you go to the sofa first. I’ll pour you a glass of water.”
“No!” Bryce stops Claire and says eagerly, “you sit on the sofa. I can pour water. Now you hurt your
foot. Don’t walk around.”
“It’s too much trouble. Claire looks down at her swollen heel. She can’t even wear slippers. At last she
compromises, “OK, please.”
“Don’t say that.” Bryce shakes his head and chuckles. He picks up Claire and puts her on the sofa,
then he turns and walks into the kitchen.
Claire sighs in her heart. Bryce is very kind to her and cares about her.
For a while Claire is upset.
Bryce soon comes out of the kitchen. He pours himself and Claire a glass of water. He comes to her
and sits on the sofa. He hands the glass in his hand to Claire and says, “would you like some water?”
Claire is thirsty, too. She takes the water in Bryce’s hand and thanks him.
Bryce is upset at Claire’s words. He whispers unhappily, “don’t be so polite to me. I’m your brother.
Shouldn’t elder brother take care of younger sister?”
“...”
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