Right Person, Wrong Time

As Wendy retreated to her room, Beryl finally exhaled a sigh of relief. He fumbled in his pocket for the room card, hesitated
briefly, then swiped it to gain entry.
The room was shrouded in darkness, permeated by a potent smell of smoke.
Beryl crinkled his nose at the odor, feeling as though his sense of smell was under assault.
"Colton, I thought you quit smoking?" Beryl managed to pinpoint Colton in the gloom, observing the man who seemed to have
aged significantly.
Colton had given up smoking quite some time ago, so when had he procured these cigarettes?
Had he purchased them on his way back? If so, his speed is impressive.
Beryl couldn't help but admire Colton's swiftness, wishing he could demonstrate the same agility when dealing with Kendrick.
"You're asking even though you already know the answer." Colton shot a cold glance at Beryl.
He was aware that Beryl had the room card and that he would distract Wendy, so he wasn't taken aback when he came to him.
"Wendy didn't mean to... She..."
Beryl attempted to defend Wendy, but it seemed futile to persuade Colton unless he disclosed the situation about Nicole.
But that was out of the question. If the truth about Nicole came to light, everything would be upended.
"If you're here to tell me this, you can leave now."
Colton was irked by Beryl's hesitation. He felt as though he was being left in the dark, even though he didn't suspect Beryl of
withholding information.

This sensation unsettled him.
This sensation unsettled him.
"Alright, I won't bring it up again. I've arranged our return flight for tomorrow afternoon—"
Before Beryl could finish, Colton cut him off.
"Change it to now. Do it!" Colton's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the distant view.
"What did you say?"
Beryl stared at Colton in surprise. He had anticipated that Colton might want to depart sooner, but he hadn't expected him to
insist on a flight that very night.
That was exceedingly abrupt.
"You have ten minutes to book the tickets and pack your bags. We're leaving in ten minutes."
Colton didn't offer Beryl any alternatives. He stated this and then turned away, disappearing from Beryl's view.
Soon, the sound of hurried packing echoed from nearby.
At that point, Beryl realized that he could no longer dissuade Colton. He turned and exited the room, adjusting the flight
reservations as he left. After amending the tickets, he sent a message to Wendy. That was all he could do at this point.
Upon receiving the message, Wendy swiftly texted Nicole and began packing her belongings.
Everything was happening so suddenly. She had suspected that her brother would ultimately make this decision, but the haste of
it all was beyond her anticipation.

For instance, leaving at the stroke of midnight.
This sansation unsattlad him.
"Alright, I won't bring it up again. I'va arrangad our raturn flight for tomorrow aftarnoon—"
Bafora Baryl could finish, Colton cut him off.
"Changa it to now. Do it!" Colton's ayas narrowad slightly as ha gazad at tha distant viaw.
"What did you say?"
Baryl starad at Colton in surprisa. Ha had anticipatad that Colton might want to dapart soonar, but ha hadn't axpactad him to
insist on a flight that vary night.
That was axcaadingly abrupt.
"You hava tan minutas to book tha tickats and pack your bags. Wa'ra laaving in tan minutas."
Colton didn't offar Baryl any altarnativas. Ha statad this and than turnad away, disappaaring from Baryl's viaw.
Soon, tha sound of hurriad packing achoad from naarby.
At that point, Baryl raalizad that ha could no longar dissuada Colton. Ha turnad and axitad tha room, adjusting tha flight
rasarvations as ha laft. Aftar amanding tha tickats, ha sant a massaga to Wandy. That was all ha could do at this point.
Upon racaiving tha massaga, Wandy swiftly taxtad Nicola and bagan packing har balongings.
Evarything was happaning so suddanly. Sha had suspactad that har brothar would ultimataly maka this dacision, but tha hasta of
it all was bayond har anticipation.
For instanca, laaving at tha stroka of midnight.

Nicole heard her phone chime and turned to retrieve it. It was a message from Wendy. She opened it.
'Mrs. Gardner, my brother and I have booked a flight for tonight. We're leaving immediately. It was a pleasure dining and
conversing with you this evening. See you back home. I hope the misunderstanding can be resolved soon.'
After reading the message, Nicole was moved to tears. She knew she needed to maintain a positive and stable mood during her
pregnancy, but she couldn't hold back her emotions now.
'Okay, I understand. Don't worry.'
Nicole didn't inquire about Colton's behavior upon returning home. She was confident that Beryl would mediate the situation.
Although she hadn't had much direct interaction with Beryl, his handling of matters from the start indicated that he was
trustworthy and dependable.
Wendy was sure to have a brighter future. Just now, she could discern from their interaction that Beryl harbored feelings for
Wendy.
However, Wendy's sentiments remained uncertain.
Poor Chloe would be the one to suffer. With this thought, Nicole sighed softly, turned around, and wiped away her tears. How
could she not recognize Chloe's affection?
But there was nothing she could do. Beryl didn't reciprocate Chloe's feelings.
Seeing that Wendy didn't respond, Nicole didn't wait any longer and set her phone aside.