Darling, Don’t Run Away! - Chapter 277

Caitlin waits patiently inside the coffee shop where it was near the subway station. She keeps looking outside the window, watching people from various places and races enter and out from the subway.

It almost reaches the peak hour when the station will soon be crowded with people who just ended their working hours for the day. Soon, she is probably gonna miss this busy city’s view once she moves to another place, which she thinks the countryside is much better to start her life again.

The bells sound on the cafe door makes her avert her eyes to the shop’s entrance. She looks at the man looking around the coffee shop before she raises her hands to that man so that he can see her.

Once he saw her, he strode there and took a seat in front of her. “Sorry, I’m running a little late. Did you wait long?” Brian said while took off his coat and hung it on the next seat from him.

“No, I just arrive too,” Caitlin reply it short before she took another sip of her hazelnut coffee.

Before he looks at the girl in front of him, Brian pressed his lips together and took a deep breath before he started. “Do you have something to say? Any explanation? About what happened yesterday?” he was hoping that Caitlin will tell him all of that happened because of her family action, and she was not part of it.

“No. I had nothing to explain to you.” Caitlin said calmly and look at him straight to his eyes. Ready to talk some serious shit with him.

“Why?”

Caitlin raises her eyebrow a little after hearing the question from him. ‘Why? Why did you ask…seriously..’

“Don’t you ever think that I’ve long move on? I did tell you before, I don’t love you anymore. Why can’t you understand that simple word?”

Brian lost his word. Indeed, she did not show any affection just like she did years ago. But, he was sure that Caitlin might still love him. He wants to have another chance with her.

“I-I thought you were still like how you used to. Love me, unconditionally.”

“That was before. I did love you. I really love you that I endure all the pain and betrayal that you caused me. It took me some time for me to realize that I still can live even without you, Ben. I learn the hard way to let you go long ago.”

“Can’t I have a second chance? I know I’m wrong to treat you that way..”

“Your second chance has been long gone, Ben. I’m sorry. But I love someone else now.” Caitlin cut his word before he could finish it. Seeing Brian look a bit shocked, she said again, “He’s a good man. If you do care for me, please let me go and let me be happy with the man I want to be with.”

Brian squeezes his eyes slowly before he stares on the table. It’s quite a pang on his face, but maybe this is it. Nothing can he do anymore when Caitlin is eager to have her own happiness. Isn’t he also does the same to her long time ago?

He insists on pursuing his own happiness and didn’t care at all how she felt at that time. In the end, the woman he thought could make him happy leave him and this world while she is not pleased with her own life. Rub his face with his palm, Brain took another deep breath before he finally extended his hand to her.

“Fine..I’ve lost. I wish you will be blessed with endless happiness for the rest of your life, Caitlin. I meant it..” when Brian utter those words, he feels a little sad, and there’s a twinge feeling that hard to let her go. But, he needs to respect her decision.

“Thank you.” Caitlin took his hand and shook it slowly.

When she tried to pull her hands, Brain grip her hand a little and said, “If he ever…hurt you, do tell me. I will make his life miserable and regret.”

Chuckles, Caitlin nodded her head. “Sure, but I don’t think he will ever hurt me.” only then Brian let her hand go.

Took her handbag and scarf, she smiles at him and leaves him behind at the coffee shop.

Caitlin then took a little walk in the near park. Seeing how crowded the subway is with people, she decided to take a breather for a while. She feels like some burden has been lifted from her chest. It’s quite a peaceful day for her. One by one, good things keep happening to her.

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green to cross the road, someone suddenly holds her hand, which makes her flinch a bit. She looks at her side and saw a little girl with a red hoodie coat suddenly holding on her hand.

“Umm..excuse me..”

“We have to talk.” the little girl said while looking at her for a moment.

Caitlin gasped and looked around her before she whispers to the little girl. “How did you come here? Your dad-”

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! The red light turns green, and people start to cross the road, including them both.”Hurry.” Lily said anxiously. She still keeps looking around her, since yesterday, she needs to make sure no one following her and always put on a guard.

Caitlin lost her word when the little girl pulls her hand to cross the road. ‘That’s okay…I can send her home later.’ Caitlin said inwardly.

Lily brings her to the riverside. It is now fewer people and a bit far from the bustling city. After making sure there’s no one following them, she turns her body around and looks at the woman in front of her.

“I need your help.” Lily started, and Caitlin seems a bit lost with what she just heard.

“Help? What kind of help do you want me to do?” She asked and squatted down in front of the little girl.

“Alex…and, a boy named Sky is in danger. But, I need you to keep this a secret.”

Caitlin smile at her. ‘Ah~ a love between children?’ she chuckled and said again, “Okay…so, where are these boys?”

Lily knew that Caitlin did not take her seriously, but she didn’t take her word to heart. Of course, no one will believe her, but all she needs to do is show them the proof, right?

“Both of them have been kidnapped during the bombarding incident yesterday. I lost contact with both of them since that. I have a little information on where they both might be, but I have no source to check on the place.”

Caitlin turned silent. If she remembers correctly, Flynn did say he save a little girl yesterday, and there’s no trace of other a.d.u.l.t people at the scene. Is it…

“Yes, I am the owner of A.I that you’ve been looking for. Kiera. I am the one you’ve been looking for, agent Caitlin.” Lily said once she was confirmed that Caitlin took her bait. She knew Caitlin is not that dumb to not notice it yet. That is also why Lily decides to ask for Caitlin’s help. She and that man from yesterday is the only hope she has right now to find Alex and Sky’s whereabouts.

Caitlin was totally dumbstruck and tried to stomach all of the information one by one starting from the first time she met this girl. “But..”

“Is it because I am still a kid in your eyes? No, not really, agent Caitlin..my body is, but not my brain.” Lily tried to make it short. She had a little time to explain everything to Caitlin before she returns to the hotel where she’s been staying.

“How?”

“Hm, let’s say that I am a result of my mom’s invention. I don’t want to talk about it right now, as I really had a little time before someone noticed I was not in my room. But, please…help me. If you decide it, then please meet me here tomorrow.” Lily took out a little piece of paper and passed it to Caitlin’s hands.

“Please..it’s a matter of someone’s lives.” She said again before she runs back to the main road and vanishes among the crowd.

It’s already dusk, and she could no longer see the little girl again. Looking at the crumpled paper on her hand, she opens and reads it.

‘Room 8012, please come at noon. Bring along with the man who’s with you on the night of the incident. -L-‘

Sighing, Caitlin took her phone from her coat pocket and dialing on Flynn’s number.

“Yes, Hello?” the man answered. It’s a bit noisy on his phone line.

“Um, do you have time tomorrow?” she asked.

“Mm..maybe not, why?”

“Sir, behind you!” someone’s shouting, which makes Caitlin distancing her phone from her ear.

“Are you in your mission right now?”

“Uh..yeah..but, I almost finish it. Is tomorrow important to you?” Flynn’s voice still a bit shaking and panting. Maybe he’s in the middle of the fight.

“It is important, but if you-”

“Got it, I’ll see you tomorrow then. I am a bit…uh, busy…I call you later, okay? Love ya.” He ended the call before Caitlin could say anything.

“See Ben? He always prioritizes me. How could I not fall for him?” Caitlin mumbles and put her phone back inside her pocket and return home.