Chapter 42  Grandma couldn’t sleep and was tossing and turning in her bed. She held the book close as if it could give her some comfort. It reminded me of when she used to hold me as a child. Her embrace was so warm and reassuring  Warm enough that, at that moment, I longed to be human again, to chase after those unfulfilled dreams  By midnight, Grandma hadn’t seen me return, and with a reluctant heart, she finally drifted off to sleep. I, too, departed from her side, finding my way back to Chase  Chase wasn’t at home, though Instead, he was at a nightclub, amidst the flashing lights and clinking glasses, surrounded by women eager for his attention. His long fingers played with the bracelet, a small distraction to calm the storm inside him.  One of his friends, Liam, handed him a glass of whiskey “Chase, this has to be a misunderstanding. We know Amanda, don’t we? Remember in college, there was that guy who was crazy about her, but she still chose you? It’s just a video of someone’s side profile. Probably just someone who looks like her”  Case didn’t reply. He just kept knocking back drink after drink. A woman tried to get close to him. “Mr. Reyes, even if Amanda isn’t here, you’ve still got us Let me help you forget…”  Chase slammed his glass down. “Get out At his word, the girls left, leaving only silence in its wake.  Liam tried to talk to him again, but Chase wasn’t having it. “You too, out!”  By the time I got to the large room, it was empty except for Chase. He’d already had more than his fill of alcohol. His stomach must have been hurting again; clutching it, he called out my name, “Amanda, why would you betray me? Why!”  With no answer from me, he grabbed his phone, leaving voice messages. “Amanda, how dare you betray me. I won’t let it slide  “Amanda, just wait. I’m coming to Cloudville tomorrow! You won’t get away!”  His assistant came in, startled by the sight of Chase slumped on the sofa, eyes bloodshot and face full of despair and anger.  “Mr. Reyes, you’re drunk. Let me take you home.”  “Home? Amanda’s not there. What’s the point?”  “Mrs. Reyes is in Cloudville. You had me book a flight for tomorrow. Have you forgotten? You’ll see her tomorrow. You should get some rest tonight!  Chase struggled to his feet, swaying slightly. “Yeah, Amanda doesn’t like it when i stay out. I should go home.”  He staggered back home, but it wasn’t me who opened the door. It was Nicole. The assistant was shocked. “Miss, what are you doing here?”  “I was worried about Chase, so I came to check on him. How could you let him drink so much?”  Together, they helped Chase into the living room, where he collapsed on the couch, out cold.  “Alright, I’ve got this. It’s late. You should head out.”  The assistant hesitated, feeling uneasy about leaving them alone. “Mr. Reyes has had too much, Miss. You being here alone.”  “Didn’t I say leave? Don’t you understand? Nicole’s sudden harsh tone startled the assistant into leaving.  Before he left, he saw Nicole gently wiping Chase’s face, her eyes full of something more than sibling concern. As he closed the door, he caught a glimpse of Nicole kissing Chase and hurriedly left, not daring to look back.  Chase mistook Nicole for me in his drunken fog and exclaimed with joy. “Amanda, you’re back.” Things escalated quickly, and they started to make out.  I stood silently aside, watching through the floor–to–ceiling window with a cold detachment. Across the way, hidden among the branches of a large tree, a camera lens recorded every shameless moment of their embrace  Chapter 43