Erick knew his words reeked of selfishness.
He hadnât come to terms with the eveningâs events yet, let alone expected Elin to understand.
He cared deeply for her, having seen her grow up.
The thought of her emotional pain troubled him.
With genuine concern, he offered, âElin, if thereâs any way I can make amends, anything you wish for, Iâll do everything in my power to fulfill it.
â
Erick knew he couldnât commit to a serious relationship or marriage until he resolved his own family issues.
This promise to fulfill Elinâs wishes was the best he could do.
Erickâs eyes lingered on Elinâs youthful, innocent features.
A wave of shame washed over him, realizing he could only offer her the stark truth.
âIf youâre still upset, I can talk to Annis, try to make things right with herâ¦â
âNo!â Elin interrupted sharply, her voice filled with distress.
âDonât tell my mom!â
Seeing that Elin had finally broken her silence, Erickâs expression softened.
âThink about it.
Let me know what you decide, and I will honor it,â he said gently.
Elin had never expected an apology or an explanation, let alone compensation.
Accepting any form of reparation would only reinforce the idea that she was manipulative and reduce their intimate moment to a mere transaction.
To Erick, she might have been just a passing chapter in his life, but to her, it was the surrender of her first love.
She harbored no regrets.
Her voice was a faint whisper as she spoke.
âI donât need any compensation.
Letâs just pretend this never happened.
You got nothing to worry about.
â
Erickâs irritation flared at Elinâs poised acceptance and her seeming indifference to giving up such a significant first experience.
Grasping her shoulder firmly, he emphasized each word.
âKnow this, even for me, mistreating you is forbidden.
â
Retreating to her room, Elin sank into the comforting warmth of her bath.
Erickâs parting words echoed in her mind, a persistent reminder:
âKnow this, even for me, mistreating you is forbidden.
â
Elin understood Erickâs harsh outburst might have stemmed from genuine concern for her.
Yet, once spoken, words could carve deep impressions, indelibly marking the heart.
Memories of the hurt would resurface uninvited, carrying a residual sting of sadness.
It was impossible for her to remain untouched by them.
In the following days, Elin deliberately avoided Erick, and it seemed he reciprocated, as their paths hadnât crossed.
One afternoon after school, Landen called Elin to his study.
Entering respectfully, Elin asked softly, âMay I ask what you need of me?â
Landen looked up with a kind expression and inquired, âYouâre turning 18 this year, correct?â
Elin nodded.
Landen then asked, âIâve heard youâre interested in pursuing design in college?â
âYes, sir,â Elin responded.
âHave you considered Uchaesau? Sterling University College of Creative Design has an excellent reputation.
â
Elin was surprised by his suggestion.
Uchaesau was far from Swynborough, and she had planned to apply to a renowned local design academy, which would allow her to stay close to her mother.
âIâve been planning on applying to the design academy here in town,â