Briny Kisses at Dawn

Chapter 1

[1]

1

[2]

On the day of the Chinese Valentine's Day, my boyfriend leapt from the twenty-seventh floor, leaving a gruesome scene behind.

[3]

The piercing screams triggered the sensor lights in the nearby buildings.

[4]

Jerred, being a police officer, crouched in front of me, questioning the events with a sharp gaze and a tone that was almost chillingly rational. "Where were you when it happened?" he asked.

[5]

"Where were you when it happened?" he asked.

[6]

I was so terrified that sat on the floor,shirtless,shaking unceasingly, like a fish out of water,desperately gasping for air/

[7]

After a moment, he calmly repeated,

[8]

Miss Gilbert, where were you when it happened?"

[9]

I squeezed the sticky feeling between my throat and let out a dry hoarse voice

[10]

:"I was sleeping."

[11]

"The balcony is connected to the bedroom.

[12]

Do not you know he jumped from the balcony?"

[13]

"I was sleeping,

[14]

I didn't know anything."

[15]

"The neighbors said they had heard a heated argument about two hours before the incident.

[16]

Is that true?"

[17]

"Yes."

[18]

es."

[19]

"Wh

[20]

y?"

[21]

That word "why" ignited the remnants of my sanity. I lifted my head, glaring fiercely at the man in uniform with deep-set eyes

[22]

A surge of hatred, filled with a resolve to go down together, swirled within me as I shouted at him, "Because he was a fool, a coward, a scoundrel! He knocked up a colleague, embezzled funds, and disgraced himself completely, so he jumped. Do you understand?

[23]

If you still suspect me,

[24]

I can die too"

[25]

He looked at me quietly, like searching for flaws in my words.

[26]

"You

[27]

..."

[28]

Before he could finish, I scrambled to my feet, hunching over as I rushed toward the wall with a death-defying determination.

[29]

A figure moved faster than me, blocking me in front of the wall.

[30]

My head punched his stomach heavily .

[31]

It so hurt but he might be more hurt. I think.

[32]

"Eileen, calm down," Jerred said, gripping my shoulders firmly, his voice laced with restrained pain.

[33]

gripping my shoulders firmly, his voice laced with restrained pain.

[34]

I stared blankly at him, and in that moment when our eyes met, a wave of sorrow, stronger and deeper than hatred, washed over me.

[35]

"Thank you,"

[36]

I sat paralyzed, struggling to make a sound.

[37]

He said nothing.

[38]

I clutched my arm and burst into tears, like a raving lunatic.

[39]

After examining the scene, policemen include Jerred took me back to the police station for further questioning.

[40]

They didn't allow me to leave until 3 hours later.

[41]

The questioning was essentially listening to me curse my ex for three hours.

[42]

I could never get over the fact a man uses his death to escape his mistakes, leaving the pain to his living relatives.

[43]

It angered me more than his infidelity.

[44]

As I reached the police station's entrance, Jerred caught up with me. He must not have rest for a long time, there was a large dark circle around his eyes, but it did not affect his righteous demeanor in the least. His back was still held upright with a strong spirit, standing tall like a pine tree.

[45]

"I'll take you to a nearby hotel to rest for the night,"

[46]

he offered, his tone no longer as stern as during the interrogation. His calm voice inexplicably reassured me.

[47]

Thinking of the mangled body, I accepted his kindness without hesitation.

[48]

"Thank you."

[49]

you."

[50]

As we parted at the hotel gate, he suddenly bent down, staring intently into my eyes.

[51]

"Don't entertain thoughts of ending your life again."

[52]

"I haven't met a good man yet. I'm not willing to die," I replied, flipping my hair and walking boldly to the hotel, feigning nonchalance and tragedy.

[53]

I replied.

[54]

I tossed my hair back and strode towards the hotel, trying to appear both nonchalant yet with a touch of melancholy.

[55]

2

[56]

A week later, Brad's case was officially ruled a suicide after going through legal procedures.

[57]

However, Brad's mother refused to accept the truth that her son had taken his own life and still suspected me as the murderer, dragging me to the police station to argue.

[58]

She pulled my hair, accusing me of having a heart of stone and driving her son to die in the police station lobby.

[59]

I was furious and pushed and shoved with her.

[60]

Jerred arrived to separate us.

[61]

At that moment, I was disheveled, barefoot, and standing on the ground,

[62]

while Jerred, in his crisp uniform, stood tall and dignified beside me, making my plight even more apparent.

[63]

"What happened?"

[64]

he asked.

[65]

"She killed my son," Brad's mother screamed, pointing at me.

[66]

Brad's mother screamed, pointing at me.

[67]

I clasped my arms and sneered, "That was retribution on his part, so you dared to bully me,

[68]

why don't you dare to go to the woman who got knocked up by your son and make a scene?

[69]

I handed over all my savings to Brad's parents, and lost my job by them.

[70]

What more did they want? Did they want me to pay with my life for their son?

[71]

Brad's mother trembled with rage, her swollen eyes glaring at me. "Look at your sharp tongue. If it weren't for your provocation, would my son have been driven to jump?"

[72]

"Look at your mean face. If you hadn't provoked him, would my son have thought twice about jumping off a building?

[73]

I just wanted say something,Jerred stopped me.

[74]

He leaned in and whispered,

[75]

"Don't provoke her. Leave it to me."

[76]

I grabbed my hair irritable

[77]

Brad, the scum of the earth, is irresponsible himself, and a death is a complete relief.

[78]

Instead, I'm going to live in his shadow for the rest of my life, talked about, second-guessed, and tormented by my own guilt and fear.

[79]

"I'm just as aggrieved as his mother is,"

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I choked out, looking up at Jerred.

[81]

The day Brad died, I did revile him.

[82]

When I found out he betray on me and still expected me to help him out, I lashed out, venting my anger on his entire family.

[83]

But was I wrong?

[84]

Faced with such a man, was I supposed to comfort him kindly?

[85]

Telling him he just made a mistake that all men will make?

[86]

I couldn't do it!

[87]

It's a mercy I didn't hit him.

[88]

He said if I abandoned him, he'd die.

[89]

But such a horrible man, shouldn't I break up ?

[90]

I didn't think he'd jump just as I was falling asleep.

[91]

How much better was I when that scene of blood and flesh haunted me every moment?

[92]

Jerred's eyes softened, and he patted my shoulder. "Wait for me next door."

[93]

and he patted my shoulder. "Wait for me next door."

[94]

I wiped my tears fiercely and walked away, trying to leave a bold and decisive impression.

[95]

But after a few steps, my shoulders slumped, and I had no energy left to put on a brave front.

[96]

About an hour later, Jerred came to find me.

[97]

I looked behind him and breathed a sigh of relief

[98]

Facing the mother who lost her son, I felt guilty, but I couldn't say anything to apologize.

[99]

"It's over. Don't dwell on it.

[100]

Legally, you're not guilty of any crime against Brad,"

[101]

sitting across from me, his elbows resting on the armrests,

[102]

leaning slightly forward. His tone was much softer than before.

[103]

"Thank you,"

[104]

I murmured, my head bowed.

[105]

Leaving the police station, I felt conflicted, unsure of where to go, and sat dazed at the nearby bus stop.

[106]

The sky began to drizzle, the rain gradually intensifying.

[107]

After some time, a black SUV stopped in front of me, the window rolling down to reveal a chiseled face.

[108]

It was Jerred.

[109]

He had changed out of his uniform, wearing a black shirt that accentuated his tall frame and sharp shoulders.

[110]

Through the rain, I couldn't see his expression clearly, but his deep, magnetic voice cut through the noise of the rain. "Where are you going?

[111]

I'll

[112]

take you."

[113]

I stared at him blankly, tears streaming down my face before I could speak.

[114]

"I don't know "

[115]

where to go."

[116]

3

[117]

Perhaps seeing how pitiful I was, Jerred offered to take me out for a meal.

[118]

I, without much resistance, agreed.

[119]

After Brad's death, I didn't dare go home, meet friends, talk about it, or even be alone in a quiet place. I broke down countless times.

[120]

Jerred's identity and presence gave me immense security, something I couldn't refuse.

[121]

I even hoped he could be by my side all the time.

[122]

For dinner, we had hot pot, a boiling pot with a constant steamy white mist, a red broth that tumbled and smelled delicious.

[123]

After several failed attempts to find a topic of conversation, we both fell silent

[124]

The atmosphere starkly contrasted with the lively excitement at the next table.

[125]

I couldn't think of any other way to put off spending a little more time together other than shoveling food into my mouth one way or another.

[126]

I didn't put down my chopsticks until I finally couldn't eat any more and opened my mouth again to spit it out.

[127]

After dinner, Jerred drove me home. When we reached my building, he looked up at my balcony.

[128]

"Have · you · thought · about · moving?"

[129]

"Why should I move?"

[130]

I retorted angrily. "Moving would just show them I'm weak-minded?."

[131]

He looked down at me, his gaze deep. After a moment, he concluded, "You're fighting with yourself."

[132]

After a moment, he concluded, "You're fighting with yourself."

[133]

I paused for a couple of seconds,

[134]

then snapped,

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"that's none of your business'!"

[136]

Feeling guilty after snapping, I was about to run when Jerred slightly shifted to block my path.

[137]

"Let's exchange contacts."

[138]

He took out his phone, opened the social Whatsapp QR code, and held it out to me, his gaze calm and steady.

[139]

Perhaps he was too open and natural for me to blaspheme in the slightest

[140]

I quickly took out my phone, scanned the code in one go,

[141]

added him as a friend, and carefully noted him as "Mr. Williams ."

[142]

He nodded with satisfaction,

[143]

"If you're ever in trouble, just let me know."

[144]

I pressed my lips together, not speaking, but thought to myself, can't I reach out if there's no trouble?

[145]

"I suggest you date a psychologist,"

[146]

he added.

[147]

I nodded quickly, then shook my head.

[148]

There's no point in seeing a psychologist; isn't everything something you have to endure on your own?

[149]

I replied in my mind.

[150]

It wasn't that I was introverted; I just had no interest in speaking at that moment.

[151]

But I didn't expect that in Jerred's eyes, my condition was so severe that early the next morning, he came to drag me to a psychological clinic.

[152]

"I'm not sick."

[153]

After a sleepless night, my voice was weak and soft, and just walking out of the bedroom to open the door left me feeling exhausted.

[154]

He stood at the door, dressed in black, one hand in his pocket, scrutinizing me with a furrowed brow.

[155]

After a moment, he commanded, "Go wash up and get ready to go out.

[156]

A sudden surge of anger welled up inside me, and as if I had lost my mind, I grabbed a cup from beside me and hurled it at him. "I'm not sick, you're the one who needs help!

[157]

I grabbed a cup from beside me and hurled it at him. "I'm not sick, you're the one who needs help! you're all sick!

[158]

He sidestepped, and the cup crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

[159]

I glared at him, my expression fierce.

[160]

He didn't speak, nor did he show any sign of blame, just quietly met my gaze,

[161]

like calming a stubborn child, with immense patience.

[162]

After a long while, he extended his hand to me,

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"Be good."

[164]

I conceded, my hostility fading in his calm gaze.

[165]

Failure, irritability, anger, sensitivity... I had nothing to argue about.

[166]

I had nothing to argue about.

[167]

So, I resignedly followed Jerred to the psychological clinic. After talking with the psychologist, the doctor suggested I talk more with friends and maintain contact with the outside world.

[168]

I was greatly disappointed with this outcome and complained to Jerred as we left, "Spending money here for some platitudes, I might as well read some self-help books.

[169]

Not to mention I have no desire to confide in anyone, and even if I did, I don't have anyone to confide in.

[170]

Everyone I know just wants to dig up gossip or hear my sob stories;

[171]

and those I don't know, why should I bother?

[172]

You can talk to me," Jerred said after a moment of silence.

[173]

Jerred said after a moment of silence.

[174]

" But I'm not very good at chatting, and I'm usually busy, so my replies might be late."

[175]

An unaccountable ecstasy came up like a tidal wave, and I suddenly wanted to laugh and cry, with mixed and intense emotions.

[176]

Someone was willing to lend me a hand, so I couldn't give up.

[177]

Since then, I've been pestering Jerred every day, sharing all sorts of trivial daily things, good songs, and good movies with him.

[178]

Even though his replies were late and dull, I found it all very enjoyable.

[179]