Chapter 103 Chapter 103

Chapter 103 Chapter 103
Adele looked at Tony through a veil of tears. She knew her father’s dictatorial streak; if she didn't comply, Tony would be the one to suffer. She turned away in agony. Tony grabbed her hand in a panic. "Wait."

He turned back to the man barring their way. "Sir, it’s true Adele stayed at my place last night, but."

"I have no interest in hearing what you did with my daughter."

"We didn't do anything."

"Move." He gave Tony a hard shove.

"I can't. At least tell me why Adele has to leave school."

The man looked Tony up and down with a frigid gaze. "Young man, do you want to play the hero? Take a good look at yourself. What do you even have to lose? Adele, move." He dragged Adele toward the car, leaving Tony standing frozen at the school gates, helplessly watching the vehicle speed away until it vanished from sight.

Serenity was passing the basketball court when she spotted Tony sitting on the bleachers, his head buried in his hands. She walked over and sat beside him. "Tony, what’s wrong? What happened?"

After hearing about the morning’s confrontation, Serenity sighed and decided it was time for the truth. "Adele told me she’s moving abroad soon. She’s terrified of her father. Even though he’s a businessman now, he used to be a fighter. He’s incredibly strict and controlling. Once he makes a decision, no one can change his mind."

Tony felt a pang of heartache. "So it seems. He’s truly heartless. I saw that much this morning."

"You know Adele doesn't want to leave you, right? She simply has no other choice."

Suddenly, a basketball flew straight at Serenity’s head, making her jump. Vince appeared, wearing his usual mocking smirk. Serenity yelled, "Hey, Vince, what on earth are you doing?"

"You looked like you were daydreaming."

"Dreaming about what?"

Tony cut in, his voice laced with irritation. "You’re so childish. Is laughing at other people's pain all you can do?"

Vince walked closer, frowning. "Tony, what’s with you today? Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?"

"Stop it." Serenity kicked Vince’s leg. "Adele is leaving Tony. Her father is forcing them apart."

Vince looked slightly surprised, then let out a dry chuckle. "Didn't I see you two wearing matching outfits the other day? It nearly blinded me. It takes some guts to pull that off."

"Because Adele... well, you know how girls are," Serenity sighed.

Vince looked at Tony, who was now wearing a faint, bitter smile. "Tony, you’re smiling. I didn't think you could manage that in this situation. It’s impressive, but behind that smile is the cry of a dying crow, isn't it?"

Tony said nothing. He stood up and headed for class, his solitary figure fading into the harsh glare of the schoolyard sun.

That evening at Adele’s house, she and her father sat across from each other at the dinner table, but neither touched their food. Adele suddenly spoke up. "Father, if Mother were here, would you still be like this?"

Silence filled the room. She continued. "Grandfather told me that he once opposed your marriage because you were poor and uneducated. That’s why Mother ran away with you back then."

"Nonsense. That was only at the start. Eventually, we had your grandfather's blessing," he snapped, though his eyes softened.

Adele gave a sorrowful smile. "Father, I’ve seen the photos. I remember a few where you and Mother wore matching purple shirts. It was such a romantic shade. It was because you both loved purple."

Her father drifted off, memories flooding back. "Does a man really like wearing purple? It was only because your mother insisted I wear it."

Adele looked him straight in the eye, her final words coming from the depths of her soul. "Father, I can imagine how much Mother loved you. I only hope I can find a love that beautiful. I’m so jealous of Mother because she was so gentle with you. No matter how great the conflict between us becomes, I still love you very much. Just like Mother, I will always love you."

He was stunned. The hardened heart of the former fighter suddenly softened at his daughter’s pure affection. He set down his chopsticks, his voice losing the violence it had held that morning. "This girl... you certainly have a silver tongue. I can't win an argument with you."

Across the city, in a quiet room, Tony sat motionless as darkness slowly enveloped him. In that void, images of Adele rushed back like a slow-motion film. He remembered those early days when that girl had used all the warmth of her youth to thaw his frozen heart.

Her clear voice echoed in his mind. "Date me."

At the time, he had responded with skepticism and bitterness. "How can a single rain shower wash away all these shadows and memories? Why would you want to date me, someone who still carries the ghost of another?"

Adele hadn't given up, her eyes burning with fierce conviction. "Then, what if I kiss you? Would that work?"

As the reel of memories played on, Tony felt as if he could hear her breath right next to his ear. "I know you can't forget Serenity quickly, but that doesn't matter. Can't we just make our own memories?"

He remembered the time she fell, her feet aching from ill-fitting shoes. He had scolded her, but that was the moment he had truly opened up. "Your shoes don't fit, so why force yourself to wear them? I noticed when you fell. Leaning on someone else isn't shameful, especially when I want you to lean on me."

And then, her fateful words from their last date rang out like a prophecy. "We both think we have countless days ahead. But what if we don't have those future days? If we accidentally waste today, then tomorrow’s memories will become nothing more than meaningless blank pages."

Tony bolted upright, his eyes bloodshot with regret. He realized he had been too cowardly, leaving her to fight alone. He lunged out of the room and ran like a madman through the streets, his breath ragged, but his feet refusing to stop. He was afraid, truly afraid, that if he were even a second late, those blank pages would forever lose her image.

Arriving at Adele’s house, Tony pressed the bell, drenched in sweat and looking frantic.