One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 15

Doris clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms, her teeth grinding as she endured the

punishment meted out by Jimmy.

“Do you admit you were wrong? Are you going to pay the debt or not?” Jimmy bellowed, his voice shaking the

walls.

Gritting her teeth, Doris said, “I did nothing wrong, and | won't pay Rupert's debt.”

Jimmy's fury burned hotter, his temper flaring like a firestorm “Fine. Let's just say | raised an ungrateful wretch.

Today, I'll beat the conscience back into you, or I'll beat you to death.”

Seeing that Doris refused to hack down even under his blows, he swung the cane with renewed force, each strike

harder than the last

Peyton, unable to bear the sight, threw herself between them, shielding Doris with her body. Jimmy, stop. You'll

kill her if you keep this up, she pleaded desperately.

“If she dies, I'll go to prison. And if we can’t pay the money back, I'll also go to jail. What's the difference? Either

way, I'm doomed. Now back off. Jimmy snarled, his voice laced with venom.

He shoved Peyton aside with a rough push, his rage unrelenting. Peyton clung to his leg in a final, desperate

attempt to stop him. “Doris, run. Get out of here. Stop going against your father, she urged, her voice cracking

with fear.

Tears welled in Doris’s eyes, glinting like broken glass. “Mom...

“Go. Now!” Peyton yelled, her tone both commanding and protective.

Doris hesitated for only a moment before scrambling to her feet and bolting out of the house.

Once she was gone, Jimmy, exhausted and drenched in sweat, threw the cane onto the floor and collapsed onto

the sofa.

Peyton picked up the cane, placing it carefully back into place. “You went too far, Jimmy. What if you really hurt

her badly?”

“We have to go all in and take the risk, Jimmy shot back, grabbing a glass of water and downing it in large gulps.

“You stood up for her just now. Let's see if that soft heart of hers comes around.

“Keep reminding her how much we've sacrificed. She has to repay that money. If she doesn’t, it'll ruin us—and

Rupert. So stop being so softhearted.”

“I... l understand,” Peyton murmured, though unease churned in her stomach like a stormy sea.

Doris hailed a cab to Greenlake Hill, her back stinging with the fire of fresh welts, the pain seeping into her very

bones.

‘He really went all out today. If it weren't for Mom stepping in, | might've been seriously injured. Did he really

want to kill me? she wondered.

The thought coiled around her heart like thorny vines, squeezing until she could barely breathe. By the tshe

reached Lewis's apartment building, she felt as if she were suffocating.

She collapsed onto a bench near the entrance, the streetlamp above casting a dim golden glow over her tear-

streaked face.

The tears she had held back for so long finally spilled over, coursing down her cheeks in silent streams. She bit

down on her hand, stifling her sobs, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

“What happened? A smooth, melodic voice broke through the stillness, startling her.

She looked up to see Lewis standing nearby, his face shadowed but unmistakably concerned, Ivan had given him

a ride

1/4

Chapter 15

home. Lewis had just gotten out of Ivan’s cat at the gate of the complex, walking through the neighborhood

when he spotted her crying here

Doris lowered her head and quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand, her movements hurried and

clumsy. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion

Under the faint glow of the streetlight, her tear-streaked face, framed by loose strands of hair, was

heartbreakingly delicate like a flower in a storm, fragile yet hauntingly beautiful.

Lewis's gare lingered on her for a moment, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't place. “Answer my

question first,” he replied, his tone steady yet probing

Doris sniffles, forcing herself to sound steady. “I, | got something in my eye,” she lied, her voice hoarse and

unconvincing.

“Is that so?” Lewis's sharp gaze lingered on her pasty face and pale lips. Something felt off, though he couldn't

quite put his

finger on it.

“Why would | lie to you?” Doris mustered what little strength she had, straightening her back to feign

composure. “Just go on upstairs. I'll sit here for a while longer

Lewis hesitated for a beat before shrugging. “Suit yourself,” he said, pushing open the apartment building's door

and disappearing inside.

Upstairs. Lewis went about his routine-showering, changing into comfortable clothes, and settling in the living

room book. Tticked by, and when the clock struck ten, he glanced at the door. Doris still hadn't cup.

with a

A faint crease formed between his brows. He figured she should've been up by now. Unable to shake the unease

gnawing at him, he placed the book down, slipped on his shoes, and headed back downstairs.

What he found made him sigh, half in annoyance and half in disbelief. Doris was sprawled out on the bench, fast

asleep.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You've got snerve. Falling asleep out here like it's a five-

star hotel

He approached her and leaned down, his voice low but firm. “Doris, if you want to sleep, do it at home.”

Her face, however, betrayed no peace. Her brows were knit tightly together, and beads of cold sweat dotted her

forehead.

“No... don’t hit me. It hurts... she whimpered, her voice faint yet trembling with raw fear.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Lewis's expression darkened. ‘She’s having a nightmare? And she’s dreaming of being hit?’ he thought.

“Doris, wake up,” he said softly, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. When she didn’t respond, he shook her

gently but firmly, his voice laced with urgency. “You're dreaming. No one’s hitting you. Wake up.”

A pained gasp escaped her lips as if his touch had caused her physical agony. Her eyelids fluttered, and slowly,

she opened. her eyes, blinking. Her blurry vision focused on Lewis's handsface hovering close to hers.

“What's wrong?” Lewis asked, his tone more serious now,

“L... I'm fine.” Doris whispered weakly, but her eyes shut again before the words even fully left her lips, as if she

were slipping into a darker abyss,

It felt like she was trapped in an endless dream. In that dream, Doris was no longer the Doris of now. She was the

beloved daughter of a wealthy couple, growing up in a hfilled with love and laughter..

Her parents adored her, treating her like the apple of their eye. She even had an older brother, one who doted on

her and shielded her from every storm

2/4

13:05 Wed, 26 Feb

Chapter 15

But dreams were nothing but fleeting illusions. When she woke, all that remained was cold, gray thality. Her their

fate hollow, as if the warmth of the dream had been ripped away, leaving only a bitter chill.

a

The morning sun poured through the window, its rays bright and unyielding. Dorn squinted, raising had to

childber eyes from the blinding light

“You're awake.” Lewis's voice cfrom nearby, calm but unmistakably relieved. He placed a thermon on the

bedude cable standing tall and composed as always

Doris turned her head to him, her voice raspy as she asked, “Why am | in a hospital

“You fainted last night, Lewis explained, realizing that she probably didn’t remember anything “You were burning

up with a fever. Do you have any idea how scary you looked? Like you were knocking on death’s door.”

“Sorry,” Doris murmured, her throat parched and raw.

“I brought you chicken broth. Have some,” Lewis said, his tone firm yet oddly gentle as he opened the thermos

and poured the golden liquid into a bowl. Placing a spoon in the bowl, he handed it to Doris, his movements

smooth and efficient

ab

Doris took the bowl, her fingers brushing the warmth of the ceramic, and sipped tentatively. The savory richness

of the broth spread across her tongue, comforting yet complex.

“This is delicious,” she remarked, her voice tinged with genuine surprise.

“Of course it is,” Lewis smirked, almost smugly. | had a chef... 1 had a chef | know teachhow to make it. |

cooked it myself, so naturally, it's good.”

His words might have sounded impressive if he hadn't nearly let the truth slip-this was the work of his private

gourmet chef, someone whose culinary skills rivaled that of a five-star restaurant..

“Thank you,” Doris said with a faint smile. “Once I'm better, I'll find a way to repay you”

“Just finish it all. Don’t waste a drop,” he instructed, his sharp gaze softening briefly as he nudged the bowl

closer to her.

After finishing the meal, Doris picked up her phone to call her boss and request leave for the day. But as she set

the phone down, she noticed something strange-Lewis still hadn't left.

He stood there, composed and unhurried, as though he had all the tin the world. “Aren’t you going to work?”

Doris asked, her brows knitting in confusion.

“It’s not tyet,” Lewis replied, glancing at the clock. It was already 8:20 am, and his nonchalance was almost

unnerving

The air between them shifted. Doris could feel the weight of his gaze, scrutinizing and unrelenting. He clearly

had something to say.

Lewis didn’t beat around the bush. “Where did those injuries cfrom?”

From the fragments of her sleep-talking the night before, he'd gleaned that someone had hit her. But he didn’t

know who il

was.

Doris lowered her head, her lashes casting long shadows over her cheeks. Sadness darkened her eyes, and her

lips pressed together tightly

“You don’t want to talk about it?” Lewis's sharp intuition picked up on her expression, his tone making it clear he

already understood her reluctance.

“I appreciate what you've done for me, Doris finally said, her voice quiet but resolute. “But this is personal. It's

my business.”

She wasn’t ready to peel back the layers of her pain to expose the raw, ugly truth to him. That misery part of her

life was a

a

13:05 Wed, 26 Feb EXEREB

Chapter 15

wound she didn’t want him to see. It was all she had left of her dignity.

Lewis's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowin

Chapter 15

Doris clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms, her teeth grinding as she endured the

punishment meted out by Jimmy.

“Do you admit you were wrong? Are you going to pay the debt or not?” Jimmy bellowed, his voice shaking the

walls.

Gritting her teeth, Doris said, “I did nothing wrong, and | won't pay Rupert's debt.”

Jimmy's fury burned hotter, his temper flaring like a firestorm “Fine. Let's just say | raised an ungrateful wretch.

Today, I'll beat the conscience back into you, or I'll beat you to death.”

Seeing that Doris refused to hack down even under his blows, he swung the cane with renewed force, each strike

harder than the last

Peyton, unable to bear the sight, threw herself between them, shielding Doris with her body. Jimmy, stop. You'll

kill her if you keep this up, she pleaded desperately.

“If she dies, I'll go to prison. And if we can’t pay the money back, I'll also go to jail. What's the difference? Either

way, I'm doomed. Now back off. Jimmy snarled, his voice laced with venom.

He shoved Peyton aside with a rough push, his rage unrelenting. Peyton clung to his leg in a final, desperate

attempt to stop him. “Doris, run. Get out of here. Stop going against your father, she urged, her voice cracking

with fear.

Tears welled in Doris’s eyes, glinting like broken glass. “Mom...

“Go. Now!” Peyton yelled, her tone both commanding and protective.

Doris hesitated for only a moment before scrambling to her feet and bolting out of the house.

Once she was gone, Jimmy, exhausted and drenched in sweat, threw the cane onto the floor and collapsed onto

the sofa.

Peyton picked up the cane, placing it carefully back into place. “You went too far, Jimmy. What if you really hurt

her badly?”

“We have to go all in and take the risk, Jimmy shot back, grabbing a glass of water and downing it in large gulps.

“You stood up for her just now. Let's see if that soft heart of hers comes around.

“Keep reminding her how much we've sacrificed. She has to repay that money. If she doesn’t, it'll ruin us—and

Rupert. So stop being so softhearted.”

“I... l understand,” Peyton murmured, though unease churned in her stomach like a stormy sea.

Doris hailed a cab to Greenlake Hill, her back stinging with the fire of fresh welts, the pain seeping into her very

bones.

‘He really went all out today. If it weren't for Mom stepping in, | might've been seriously injured. Did he really

want to kill me? she wondered.

The thought coiled around her heart like thorny vines, squeezing until she could barely breathe. By the tshe

reached Lewis's apartment building, she felt as if she were suffocating.

She collapsed onto a bench near the entrance, the streetlamp above casting a dim golden glow over her tear-

streaked face.

The tears she had held back for so long finally spilled over, coursing down her cheeks in silent streams. She bit

down on her hand, stifling her sobs, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

“What happened? A smooth, melodic voice broke through the stillness, startling her.

She looked up to see Lewis standing nearby, his face shadowed but unmistakably concerned, Ivan had given him

a ride

1/4

Chapter 15

home. Lewis had just gotten out of Ivan’s cat at the gate of the complex, walking through the neighborhood

when he spotted her crying here

Doris lowered her head and quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand, her movements hurried and

clumsy. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion

Under the faint glow of the streetlight, her tear-streaked face, framed by loose strands of hair, was

heartbreakingly delicate like a flower in a storm, fragile yet hauntingly beautiful.

Lewis's gare lingered on her for a moment, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't place. “Answer my

question first,” he replied, his tone steady yet probing

Doris sniffles, forcing herself to sound steady. “I, | got something in my eye,” she lied, her voice hoarse and

unconvincing.

“Is that so?” Lewis's sharp gaze lingered on her pasty face and pale lips. Something felt off, though he couldn't

quite put his

finger on it.

“Why would | lie to you?” Doris mustered what little strength she had, straightening her back to feign

composure. “Just go on upstairs. I'll sit here for a while longer

Lewis hesitated for a beat before shrugging. “Suit yourself,” he said, pushing open the apartment building's door

and disappearing inside.

Upstairs. Lewis went about his routine-showering, changing into comfortable clothes, and settling in the living

room book. Tticked by, and when the clock struck ten, he glanced at the door. Doris still hadn't cup.

with a

A faint crease formed between his brows. He figured she should've been up by now. Unable to shake the unease

gnawing at him, he placed the book down, slipped on his shoes, and headed back downstairs.

What he found made him sigh, half in annoyance and half in disbelief. Doris was sprawled out on the bench, fast

asleep.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You've got snerve. Falling asleep out here like it's a five-

star hotel

He approached her and leaned down, his voice low but firm. “Doris, if you want to sleep, do it at home.”

Her face, however, betrayed no peace. Her brows were knit tightly together, and beads of cold sweat dotted her

forehead.

“No... don’t hit me. It hurts... she whimpered, her voice faint yet trembling with raw fear.

Lewis's expression darkened. ‘She’s having a nightmare? And she’s dreaming of being hit?’ he thought.

“Doris, wake up,” he said softly, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. When she didn’t respond, he shook her

gently but firmly, his voice laced with urgency. “You're dreaming. No one’s hitting you. Wake up.”

A pained gasp escaped her lips as if his touch had caused her physical agony. Her eyelids fluttered, and slowly,

she opened. her eyes, blinking. Her blurry vision focused on Lewis's handsface hovering close to hers.

“What's wrong?” Lewis asked, his tone more serious now,

“L... I'm fine.” Doris whispered weakly, but her eyes shut again before the words even fully left her lips, as if she

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

were slipping into a darker abyss,

It felt like she was trapped in an endless dream. In that dream, Doris was no longer the Doris of now. She was the

beloved daughter of a wealthy couple, growing up in a hfilled with love and laughter..

Her parents adored her, treating her like the apple of their eye. She even had an older brother, one who doted on

her and shielded her from every storm

2/4

13:05 Wed, 26 Feb

Chapter 15

But dreams were nothing but fleeting illusions. When she woke, all that remained was cold, gray thality. Her their

fate hollow, as if the warmth of the dream had been ripped away, leaving only a bitter chill.

a

The morning sun poured through the window, its rays bright and unyielding. Dorn squinted, raising had to

childber eyes from the blinding light

“You're awake.” Lewis's voice cfrom nearby, calm but unmistakably relieved. He placed a thermon on the

bedude cable standing tall and composed as always

Doris turned her head to him, her voice raspy as she asked, “Why am | in a hospital

“You fainted last night, Lewis explained, realizing that she probably didn’t remember anything “You were burning

up with a fever. Do you have any idea how scary you looked? Like you were knocking on death’s door.”

“Sorry,” Doris murmured, her throat parched and raw.

“I brought you chicken broth. Have some,” Lewis said, his tone firm yet oddly gentle as he opened the thermos

and poured the golden liquid into a bowl. Placing a spoon in the bowl, he handed it to Doris, his movements

smooth and efficient

ab

Doris took the bowl, her fingers brushing the warmth of the ceramic, and sipped tentatively. The savory richness

of the broth spread across her tongue, comforting yet complex.

“This is delicious,” she remarked, her voice tinged with genuine surprise.

“Of course it is,” Lewis smirked, almost smugly. | had a chef... 1 had a chef | know teachhow to make it. |

cooked it myself, so naturally, it's good.”

His words might have sounded impressive if he hadn't nearly let the truth slip-this was the work of his private

gourmet chef, someone whose culinary skills rivaled that of a five-star restaurant..

“Thank you,” Doris said with a faint smile. “Once I'm better, I'll find a way to repay you”

“Just finish it all. Don’t waste a drop,” he instructed, his sharp gaze softening briefly as he nudged the bowl

closer to her.

After finishing the meal, Doris picked up her phone to call her boss and request leave for the day. But as she set

the phone down, she noticed something strange-Lewis still hadn't left.

He stood there, composed and unhurried, as though he had all the tin the world. “Aren’t you going to work?”

Doris asked, her brows knitting in confusion.

“It’s not tyet,” Lewis replied, glancing at the clock. It was already 8:20 am, and his nonchalance was almost

unnerving

The air between them shifted. Doris could feel the weight of his gaze, scrutinizing and unrelenting. He clearly

had something to say.

Lewis didn’t beat around the bush. “Where did those injuries cfrom?”

From the fragments of her sleep-talking the night before, he'd gleaned that someone had hit her. But he didn’t

know who il

was.

Doris lowered her head, her lashes casting long shadows over her cheeks. Sadness darkened her eyes, and her

lips pressed together tightly

“You don’t want to talk about it?” Lewis's sharp intuition picked up on her expression, his tone making it clear he

already understood her reluctance.

“I appreciate what you've done for me, Doris finally said, her voice quiet but resolute. “But this is personal. It's

my business.”

She wasn’t ready to peel back the layers of her pain to expose the raw, ugly truth to him. That misery part of her

life was a

a

13:05 Wed, 26 Feb EXEREB

Chapter 15

wound she didn’t want him to see. It was all she had left of her dignity.

Lewis's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Doris, we're married. Helping you isn’t some

grand gesture; it’s what I'm supposed to do. If you die, I'll be the first one people would suspect.”

“And if | ever find out you're doing something you shouldn't be behind my back...” He leaned in slightly, his voice

dropp to an icy whisper. “You'll pay for it. Mark my words,”

“I wouldn't.” Doris hurriedly said, shaking her head in a frantic attempt to dispel his suspicion.

“Better not,” he interrupted, his tone calm but menacing. “Because trust me, Doris, the cost is more than you

can afford He grabbed his suit jacket and draped it over his arm, his posture as composed as ever, though his

words still hung heavy in the air. “Get srest. I'm going to work.”

g dangerously. “Doris, we're married. Helping you isn’t sgrand gesture; it's what I’m supposed to do. If you

die, I'll be the first one people would suspect.”

“And if | ever find out you're doing something you shouldn't be behind my back...” He leaned in slightly, his voice

dropp to an icy whisper. “You'll pay for it. Mark my words,”

“I wouldn't.” Doris hurriedly said, shaking her head in a frantic attempt to dispel his suspicion.

“Better not,” he interrupted, his tone calm but menacing. “Because trust me, Doris, the cost is more than you

can afford He grabbed his suit jacket and draped it over his arm, his posture as composed as ever, though his

words still hung heavy in the air. “Get srest. I'm going to work.”