But there I was, lying on the hard, wooden bed with my mind nk, restless. Sleep just wouldn’te. Eventually, I grabbed my phone and opened WhatsApp, seeing messages from Myra and


    Davy.


    Myra: [Zoe, todaypletely wore me out, but I finished all the tasks you gave me. You owe me some a meal tomorrow as a reward. Zoe, wishing you a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness!]


    I couldn’t help but curl my lips into a mocking smile as I read the message. But I didn’t reply.


    Davy: [Ms. Kemp, don’t misunderstand Mr. Dolton. Whatever you do, don’t break up with him. If anything happens, I’ll be in big trouble.]


    I didn’t bother replying to him either. Instead, I opened my Instagram and posted a photo of my shadow from the amusement park, using it as the cover for a simple post. [Happy annual leave!]


    After posting, I went through my Instagram and deleted every trace of Alvin. Erasing everything about him felt almost like a celebrity breakup.


    Since we weren’t going to be a couple anymore and we’d never be lovers, it made sense to clear everything out. No need to keep reminders that would only disgust both him and me.


    By the time I was done, it was already 3 a.m. My eyes felt sore, so I tossed my phone aside and shut my eyes.


    Just then, I heard footsteps outside-someone walked past my door, and then I heard the sound of a door opening and closing. I knew Josh hade back.


    I didn’t sleep much. Despite all the noise, I woke up early. My eyelids felt heavy, though, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t open them. Even though I was awake, I stayed in bed, unwilling to get up.


    “Josh, could youe back earlier tonight? I want to invite the new tenant for a meal.” Holly’s voice made me smile, even while half asleep.


    She really was a warm-hearted person, thinking of inviting me for a meal. It made me feel like I was at home.


    “I can’te back. You two go ahead and eat.” Josh’s voice was as cold and blunt as usual.


    I thought, ‘What a bore. How do women even like men like him? Those women must have a thing for punishment.’


    I mentally rolled my eyes. After two brief encounters, it was clear to me that Josh was pushing all my buttons. I didn’t like him at all.


    Not long after Josh left, I finally got up. I slipped into my pajamas andzily pushed the door open.


    The yard was bathed in sunlight, with golden beams filtering through the gaps in the ginkgo tree leaves, casting a shower of fine, golden dust that seemed to cover the ground like scattered gold.


    “Ah, you’re up. I just made pizza, want some?” Holly held out a te of pizza to me.


    I really loved simpleforts like this, so I smiled and said, “Sure.”


    “Thene sit,” she said, already sitting at the stone table beneath the ginkgo tree.


    For a moment, I felt like I was back in my childhood, sitting with my parents. A wave of emotion hit me, and my eyes suddenly welled up.


    “I was actually born in this yard,” I said between bites of pizza, unexpectedly sharing a part of my past.


    Holly nodded, clearly moved. “You’re the child of the Kemp family, right? That’s such a coincidence! Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?”


    I looked at her, touched. “I was afraid you might have second thoughts and not want me to stay, or maybe even ask me to leave.”


    “Don’t talk nonsense,” she said, looking at my face. “When your parents and I bought this house, everything was settled, and I’m not afraid of anything. You look just like your mother-so pretty.”


    I could barely remember what Margery looked like, but I knew she was beautiful.


    “Zoe, you came here alone, so you must not have a boyfriend, right? How about I y matchmaker and get you and Josh together?” Holly’s suggestion left mepletely stunned.