[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322A01459-511":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},511,18,"Chapter 18: The Secret Behind the Scarf","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dr. Elias Duncan had just been appointed the new head of the Southside branch.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I was traveling with him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only Desmond showed up to see me off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"My parents were afraid to come,\" he said, his voice low. \"They’re scared of the tears, and they were worried you wouldn’t want to see them anyway.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I tried to force a smile, but even feigning indifference felt like a heavy lift.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elias reached over, taking my carry-on with a practiced ease, and offered a curt, professional nod toward Desmond.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"We should get going.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Desmond leaned in, his fingers lingering as he carefully tightened my scarf to ward off the chill.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He reached out as if he wanted to pull me into a final embrace, but his hand faltered in the air. Instead, he simply tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering for a heartbeat too long.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Text me when you land,\" he said, his voice thick. \"Let me know you’re safe.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I gave him a stiff nod. \"Don't worry, Desmond.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I saw the way his eyes grew rimmed with red, a flicker of something raw beneath that cold, calculated exterior.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As we headed toward the terminal gate, Elias turned to me, his brow furrowed. \"Are you really not planning on letting him know?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Know what?\" I asked, keeping my gaze fixed ahead.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That you remember everything,\" he said, his tone sharp with suspicion. \"You do, don't you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I stopped in my tracks, the hum of the airport terminal fading into the background. I turned to face him, my expression unreadable.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Dr. Duncan,\" I said firmly, \"that’s a secret between us. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272916684]