Chapter 10
“Sarah, did you hear that? Did Carlisle really just call her that? Sienna asked with wide eyes. Wasn’t such a term overly intimate?
The current generation of high school kids tended to be on the conservative side. Any sudden terms of endearment would cause people to overthink.
Hence, Carlisle’s words had shocked Wanda and Sienna
“So what? He called me that before!” Sarah said as she pretended hard to be nonchalant. There was still hint of anxiousness in her gaze.
Not only did Carlisle refuse the Coke she had bought for him, but he also rejected her invitation to play badminton together.
Sarah was worried that Carlisle would give up pursuing her as she would be humiliated if that happened. Meanwhile, Wanda moved to sit under the shade as she watched Carlisle play basketball. There was a conflicted expression on her flushed face.
Carlisle was skilled, so his opponent had no chance to score.
Wanda watched him happily.
After some time, Carlisle walked toward her. He sounded slightly breathless as he asked, “What do you think? Did I dazzle you?”
“What?”
Wanda blushed as she looked up at Carlisle and quickly looked back down after meeting his gaze. Her voice was soft as she said, “You were stunning.”
Carlisle was around five feet eight. His short hair and distinct facial features paired well with the sharp look in his eyes. However, the mature look in his eyes did not match his age.
“I think so too!” Carlisle laughed cheekily as he complimented himself.
“You’re such a narcissist!” Wanda said as she turned to head back to the school building.
“Hey, Wanda, do you want to play a game of badminton? Carlisle shouted behind her.
Why did his tone sound so endearing?
Wanda’s face flushed red as she quickened her steps.
Later, Carlisle went to the lockers to change into some clean clothes before returning to their classroom.
He wanted to revise for his SATS with Wanda.
Just as the two of them were focused on their revision, a girl in a ponytail came over and stood before
Wanda’s desk.
“Wanda, could you explain one of the questions in our chemistry homework? The girl’s voice was soft as she looked at Wanda nervously
“Of course,” Wanda said as she looked up and smiled.
Carlisle also looked up.
Immediately, his eyes widened in shock
The girl before him was Christine Goodman. She was one of the students in their class whose families
were financially challenged.
On the day of their SAT exams, a taxi driver assaulted her. She was disfigured by the time the cops had found her. Besides, the cops also found the DNAs of around seven to eight men within her body.
Christine’s family had spent all their fortune to find justice for her.
Unfortunately, their hopes were in vain, as the perpetrators were never caught.
Carlisle’s breath became labored as he tightened his grip around his pen. His grip was so tight that even his fingers had turned white.
“Carlisle, you should move and let Christine sit here.”
Wanda turned to look at Carlisle and noticed that his expression was tense. She assumed he didn’t want to move, so she turned back to Wanda and said, “Let’s go over there and sit by the window!”
Christine nodded gently.
Carlisle quickly got up and said, “It’s alright. You can sit here!”
“Thank you.” Christine smiled as her cheeks turned red.
Carlisle took a deep breath and glanced at Christine before finding an empty seat by the windows.
Now that he was reborn, some things in life would probably change. But there were still many things that
were bound to happen.
It was highly likely that tragedy would befall Christine again.
Carlisle took a deep breath and decided that he would save Christine.
Perhaps that was the true meaning behind his new chance at life.
After listening to Wanda’s patient explanation, Christine finally understood the problem. “Thank you, Wanda, I finally got it.”
Wanda smiled sweetly. “No worries. You can come to me if you ever need help with your studies!”
“Alright!” Christine nodded. Tears began to flood her eyes as she became emotional.
Due to her poor family background and her meek personality, she rarely had the opportunity to interact with her classmates. And only a few of them were willing to talk to her.
She noticed Wanda had been patiently tutoring Carlisle for the past two days. So, she gathered all of her
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courage to ask Wanda for help. She never thought Wanda would agree to her request.
“Christine.” Carlisle held his books in his arms as he returned to his seat.
“Yes?”
Christine looked at Carlisle shyly. “Carlisle, thanks for
otten to have your sa
Carlisle had offered his seat to her, and Wanda had explained her chemistry question to her. She was overjoyed as it was her first time experiencing kindness from her classmates.
“Why don’t you stay in the school’s dorms?” Carlisle asked.
Christine lived quite a distance away from school. Thus, she had to take a taxi to school for their SAT.
She could have avoided the upcoming tragedy if she had moved into the school dorms.
“My parents are working in another city, and my grandma is paralyzed after suffering from a stroke. I need to take care of my grandma,” Christine explained softly.
“Then who takes care of your grandma when you’re in school?” Wanda asked with a frown.
“My neighbors are kind enough to help care for my grandma when I’m at school. However, I’m the only
one who can care for my grandma at night!”
Suddenly, the bell rang. School was over for the day.
“Wanda, Carlisle, thank you both. I need to go home and cook for my grandmother now,” Christine said as she left in a hurry.
Wanda exclaimed, “No wonder Christine is so frugal. She doesn’t even use public transport on most days!”
Carlisle played with the pen in his hands as he began to think.
Christine had a paralyzed grandmother who needed her care. So, she couldn’t stay in the school’s dorms.
It would also be expensive for her to stay in the dorms of an established high school.
“Carlisle, could you send me home?” Wanda asked suddenly after collecting her things.
“Sure. However, you have to buy me another Coke!” Carlisle said with a smile as he twirled the pen in his
hands.
“I thought you’re not a fan of drinking Coke?”
“It depends on who’s giving it to me!”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“How can it be the same? Alright, that’s enough. Let’s get going.”
Carlisle slung his beg around his shoulders and slipped a hand into his pockets.
Wanda pushed her glasses up and smiled.
A red–colored 1996 Santana was parked at the entrance of the Franklin Complex.
Gordon stood straight in his white collared shirt with its hem tucked into the waist. He matched his outfit with a pair of shiny leather shoes.
Hilda had just returned from the market with a basket full of goods. She paused in her tracks after spotting Gordon,
“Hey, look, Hilda. Did your husband just get a promotion and a raise?”
Hilda’s neighbor, Havl
Woods, asked as she tried to hide her smile.
Hilda’s lips twitched as she said, “As if. It’s good enough that he’s been able to keep his job. How could he possibly get a promotion?”
“Is today the day of your marriage anniversary?” Hayley guessed again.
“Stop overthinking things. Gordon’s brother is coming over to visit!” Hilda explained with a smile.
“No wonder you bought so many groceries! Oh, my daughter is about to finish school. I need to go and
fetch her.
“Could you help me bring these back?” Hayley asked as she stuffed her groceries into Hilda’s hands.
Hilda then headed toward Gordon with all kinds of different–sized grocery bags with a disdainful
expression. “You’re making a fool of yourself by doing so much for your pride.”
Gordon smiled bitterly and said, “It’s not like you don’t understand Gerard’s personality. He’ll definitely humiliate us if we don’t do anything. We can handle it, but we need to think about our son too.”
“Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Carlisle said as he parked his bicycle next to the Santana.
His expression immediately changed when he noticed the car. The fact that his dad had borrowed the Santana meant that he was about to head to the airport to pick up Gerard and his family.
The 1996 Santana cost around 200 thousand dollars. Its cost was equivalent to a Land Rover in the future.
“Go back with your mom to prepare the food. I’ll go to the airport to pick up your uncle!”
Gordon patted Carlisle’s back before getting in the driver’s seat and starting the engine.
Travis sighed in his heart as he watched the Santana disappear into the distance.
In his past life, he had failed to provide his parents with a better life as he had given up on his studies to
pursue Sarah.
In this life, he would definitely work hard to repay his parents.
After they reached home, Hidla headed straight to the kitchen. “Carlisle, help me clean the house up!”
“Cleaning the house won’t change a thing,” Carlisle murmured under his breath.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing!”
Carlisle picked up the broom and began to sweep the house,
His uncle had also visited them in his past life. He had cleaned the house spotless, yet his aunt still regarded the house as filthy.
Gerard and his family weren’t here to check in on them. In truth, their family had just made a small fortune
and wanted to come here to gloat.
