Chapter 912

Chapter 912:

Wendy remained standing there, statuesque, for a long time. Bobby, usually talkative, stood by her in silence.

Diana’s words painfully reminded both of them of old wounds—scars that time had healed but were now reopening and bleeding anew.

After a while, Bobby noticed Wendy’s lips move slightly. He leaned in close, just catching her soft whisper. “I’m sorry.”

During his first year of high school, Bobby encountered Wendy. The Harpers believed in raising their son with discipline and their daughter with indulgence, so they enrolled Bobby in a public school rather than the elite institutions his sister Evie attended, due to his average performance. About a week into the school year, on his way to an internet café with friends, Bobby noticed Wendy being cornered in an alley.

He thought of himself as a champion of justice, yet the sight of those unruly teenagers with their dyed hair intimidated him. He knew that getting involved would be like stepping into quicksand, difficult to escape. Seeing Wendy being attacked yet not intervening, Bobby simply observed her resilience, noting how she endured without uttering a sound.

Later, while purchasing water at the internet café, he noticed Wendy’s bruised face and discovered she worked there part-time.

“Does it hurt?” he asked casually.

Wendy hissed, “None of your business.”

“I could tell from your uniform that we attend the same high school. I only asked because we’re schoolmates. There’s no need for rudeness,” he replied.

Wendy retorted sharply, “You were there earlier but didn’t help. Keep your concern to yourself.”

Bobby then realized Wendy had seen him during the incident. He felt a pang of guilt. He touched his nose, remained silent, and returned to his computer, leaving the soda he bought for her on the counter. As expected, Wendy did not drink the soda.

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With time, Bobby frequently saw Wendy at the café, always noticing new bruises. Eventually, he felt compelled to ask, “Why are you always involved in these altercations?”

“It’s not me initiating them,” Wendy explained, pausing her work to face him. “They are targeting me.”

It was the first time Bobby truly saw into her eyes.

Her eyes lacked the usual teenage sparkle, appearing empty and distant. His friends joked, “The girl is pretty, but her gaze is intimidating. It’s like she could lash out at any moment.”

Bobby began to pay more attention to her after that.

Wendy was a loner, which made her stand out uncomfortably among the other teenagers. She was frequently bullied and isolated because of this.

Bobby learned that the aggressors were from a nearby school, some of whom were Wendy’s former classmates. Whether out of jealousy or boredom, they took pleasure in tormenting her. Since she had no parents to defend her, the bullies became more aggressive.

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