The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 232

Milford looked at her, and that familiar wave of guilt washed over him again. He had known Tamara for years; they had grown up together. She used to rely on him so much, yet because of Leilani, he had let her suffer so many grievances. Now that the Sloans were in trouble, how could he stand by and watch?

“Rest assured, I’ll arrange it as soon as possible,” Milford said, his tone firm, as if making a promise to himself. “You don’t need to worry about these things. Just focus on preparing to be the most beautiful bride on our wedding day.”

Tamara broke into a smile through her tears and gently held his hand. “Milford, I knew you were the best.”

Milford subtly withdrew his hand. “Yeah. You should head back first. I have a meeting coming up.”

Tamara nodded and stood up. Then, as if a thought had just occurred to her, she spoke softly. “Oh, right. I heard Yvonne is recovering well. Should I go with you to visit her?”

Milford paused, then shook his head. “No need. Her emotions have been unstable lately. Seeing too many people might affect her recovery.”

Tamara’s smile remained unchanged, her tone still gentle. “Alright then. Remember to say hi to her for me.”

“I will.”

Tamara turned and left, her high heels making no sound on the plush carpet. Only when the office door clicked shut did Milford let out a long breath and rub his temples. Since Tamara had mentioned Yvonne, he realized it had been a long time since he had visited the sanatorium.

On the drive over, Milford’s thoughts grew increasingly chaotic. In the rearview mirror, he saw his own furrowed brows. Although he had acted gentle and considerate in front of Tamara, a hidden impulse was gnawing at him inside.

Milford parked on the side of the road and made his way into the familiar facility. As soon as he entered, he saw Yvonne sketching nearby.

ne noticed his gaze and put down her brush in surprise. “What are you doing here

ord walked over and sat down beside her, feigning a relaxed air. “Just came to see how you’re doing.”

Yvonne tilted her head and studied him. Years of being siblings gave her a keen insight. She sensed something was off. “You look like you have something on your mind.”

Milford was silent for a moment before tentatively speaking up.

“Yvonne, if… I’m saying ‘if’… Leilani and I…” He looked at her as he spoke, his eyes holding a trace of hope, as if he wanted to hear a different answer from her.

“Milford, stop thinking about it.”

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off, her eyes clear and resolute.

Milford froze. “What do you mean? I wasn’t finished.”

Yvonne looked him in the eye. “I know what you want to say. But it’s impossible between you and Leilani.”

Milford frowned. “Why?”

“Because she deserves better,” Yvonne said calmly, yet with unquestionable certainty. “And you… you don’t even see your own heart clearly. You don’t deserve to be with Leilani.”

Yvonne’s words were blunt and sharp. Milford was struck speechless. After a long while, he let out a helpless, bitter laugh. “Since when did you learn to talk like that?”

Yvonne shrugged, picked up her brush again, and spoke softly. “Milford, since you’ve decided to marry Tamara, stop thinking about things that can never happen.”

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