Chapter 69 Will she choose him?

Chapter 69 Will she choose him?
Alan's POV

I was so hurt. I was vulnerable, and in that weak moment, I took the most impulsive decision I'd made in years. 

I didn't know what had brought me to a place I had avoided for all these years. 

When I had walked through the front door, memories had hit me one after another. 

Every room carried a piece of my childhood. Every corner reminded me of my Dad.

"Oh… Alan… my son… You have no idea how much I have missed you."

"I was waiting for this day. I knew my grandson would come one day." Grandma had broken up. She had kissed me as if her life depended on it. 

At that moment, the pain I felt in my heart was beyond my words. 

It was a good distraction from what happened with Milie, but it lasted only for a while. 

I missed Milie a lot more, though I was trying my best not to. 

For the past two days, I had been trying to convince myself that letting her go was the right thing to do. 

I couldn't keep pulling her toward me when every step she took came with guilt.

If she chose me... Good. If she didn't… I'd survive, and that's what I kept telling myself.

I still didn't know how long I would stay here—a few days or maybe longer.

After all these years, I wanted to make up for every birthday, every Christmas, every phone call I'd ignored from Grandma.

It was dinnertime, and we were having a little fun before dinner when the doorbell suddenly rang. 

Grandma looked toward the entrance. "Oh, who could that be?"

"I'll get it," Grandpa muttered, clearly grateful for the interruption. 

He could dodge the awkward situation Grandma put us in. 
"Yes?" He asked, opening the door. 

And a familiar voice answered. "Uhm... Alan?"

Every muscle in my body froze. "No. It couldn't be. I knew that voice."

Slowly, I walked toward the door. My heartbeat skipped a beat and then restarted at double speed. 

It was her, standing on the porch, hair slightly messy, backpack hanging from one shoulder, eyes swollen, looking exhausted, yet unbelievably beautiful.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. Our eyes met, and neither of us moved.

"Alan," Grandpa said, unaware that I was already standing behind him. "Someone's here for you."

I stepped beside him, unable to take my eyes off her. "W… What are you doing here?"

"I… I…" Before she could answer, my gaze automatically searched the driveway.

No car, no one standing nearby. I looked back at her. "You came alone?"

She nodded. My heartbeat immediately shifted from shock to panic.

"Did Sammy know?"

She shook her head.

"Daxton?"

Another shake.

"Your parents?"

"Mom knows."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Milie..." 

I ran a hand through my hair. "Are you out of your mind?"

She blinked through her wet eyes. "What?"

"You traveled all the way here by yourself?"

"What if something had happened?"

"What if the cab broke down?"

"What if—"

"But nothing happened." She took one small step closer. "I'm standing right here."

"That's not the point."

"Did you leave me any option?"

"You disappeared, switched your phone off. I looked for you everywhere."
"So when I knew you were here… I couldn't—her voice cracked.

"I thought..." She swallowed. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."

For one dangerous second, I wished to close the distance between us and hug her tight, but I didn't. I forced myself to look away.

"Happy?" A bitter laugh escaped me. "Why would I be happy?"

Her face fell instantly.

"You were the one who asked me to forget."

"You were the one to pretend there was nothing."

"So why..." I looked back at her. "...should I be happy?"

Pain flashed across her face. "I know." She whispered. "And I'm sorry."

"No, Milie—" 

"Oh, for heaven's sake." She interrupted me and appeared between us, looking from me to Milie, then back to me.

"I don't know what happened between you two..."

"...and frankly, I don't want to know right now."

She then wrapped an arm around Milie's shoulders. "She has traveled all this way. She must be exhausted."

Grandma smiled warmly. "Come inside, darling."
Milie wiped her eyes and looked at Granny and then at me. 

"It's okay. You can come in. The conversation can wait." Grandma gently guided her into the house anyway.

"Exactly. Let the girl breathe, Son." Grandpa closed the front door behind them. 

Then she looked at Milie again. "When did you eat last? 

Milie thought for a second. "...This morning. I have had nothing since breakfast."

Grandma gasped dramatically. "Alan!"

"What?"

"Why are you standing there?"

"Help me feed this poor girl."

Despite everything, the corner of my mouth almost lifted. 

It reminded me of my birthday prank. She was acting exactly like that the night before. 

"Drama queen, huh?"

Grandma disappeared into the kitchen. "I'll set the table."

"I can help," Milie offered immediately.

"You absolutely can."

She started following Grandma toward the kitchen before suddenly stopping.

"Oh." She pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"My mom." She stared at the screen with wide eyes. "I forgot."

I folded my arms. "You forgot to tell her you reached safely?"

She looked at me like a child who had just been caught doing something wrong.

"Uhuh.. I was distracted."

"Oh… Say something new." She twitched her lips in resentment, while I joined Grandma in the kitchen. 

"You care too much." Grandma said the moment I stepped in. 

"I don't."

She raised an eyebrow. "No?"

"She is reckless, careless. I was just making sure she was okay."

"That's care, honey." She laughed and started taking food out. I rolled my eyes and followed her. Grandpa set the plates. 

"Mom asked me to stay back," Milie said, slipping her phone back into the pocket. 

"You had doubts?" Words slipped instinctively. "Of course, you are not going back this late."

She glared at me, but I ignored it. 

The dining table quickly filled with food. Roasted chicken. Mashed potatoes. Fresh bread. Salad.

The smell alone made the house feel warmer.

Milie's eyes widened with every dish Grandma set on the table.

She looked like she'd just discovered treasure.

Grandma noticed immediately. "Hungry?"

Milie nodded so enthusiastically that it made Grandma laugh. "Very."

"Good."

Grandma pulled out a chair. "Sit."

Milie didn't hesitate. She dropped onto the chair before any of us.

The second she realized what she'd done, her eyes widened. "Oh." She immediately stood again.

"I'm so sorry… I just..." She glanced at the food. "It all looks so good."

"And I haven't eaten anything since breakfast."

Grandma and Grandpa burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but shake my head, smiling. 

"Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay. Sit back down."

"There she is. The real her. The version that forgets the entire world exists whenever food shows up."

Milie smiled shyly before setting down and focusing on the food.

For the next several minutes, the table filled with conversation, and it was mostly Milie talking about her weird stories.  

Grandma kept laughing until tears formed in her eyes, and even Grandpa did, which was rare. 

This was the hardest I'd seen him laugh.

I've been here for two days; I couldn't. Somehow, Milie managed it within half an hour.  

She really did have that effect on people. She walked into a room and somehow made everyone feel like family.

She caught me looking. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You were staring."

"Yeah, just wondering if you have come here just for food.” She scowled and stomped my feet under the table. 

"Ouch." 

"Enough, you two." She pointed at Milie and me. "Go."

We both frowned. "Go where?"

She exchanged a look with Grandpa. "You clearly have things to talk about."

Grandpa nodded in agreement. "Yes."
Grandma waved us toward the hallway. "I'll show Milie the guest room."

"I already know where it is," I said.

"Perfect." She smiled. "Then you show her."

Before I could protest, Grandma slipped a folded stack of clothes into my hands. "My pajamas."

"They'll fit her."

Milie accepted them with an embarrassed smile. "Oh, thank you, Granny." 

"Can I call you Granny?" 

"Of course, darling." Grandma kissed the top of her head, and then she looked at me. 

And I knew that look. "BEHAVE."

I led her upstairs. Neither of us spoke. 

The silence felt heavy, filled with everything we had left unsaid over the last two days.

As we reached the guest room, I stopped outside and pushed the door open. "This one."

She stepped inside slowly, looking around.

The room overlooked the backyard. The moonlight spilled through the large windows. 

I placed Grandma's clothes on the bed. "You can change into these."

She nodded. "...Thanks."

When I turned toward the door.

"Alan." She called.

My hand stopped on the doorknob. I didn't turn around. "What?"

"Can we talk?"