Uncle Funded My Education Journey

Aylin Scott returned home, collapsed onto her bed, and cried her heart out. She realized she had irretrievably lost Francis Lawson, the kind, handsome, and cheerful young man who had brightened her life. She regretted her behavior, her cowardice, her duplicity, and her foolishness, all for the sake of superficial prestige and recognition, which had cost her the vibrant love she had with him. A part of her wished she could turn back time.

The next day, as she stepped onto campus, Aylin wore a mask of composure, maintaining the appearance and demeanor expected of her. To her shock, whispers about her and Francis had spread throughout the school, creating unprecedented pressure. She had thought that choosing to let go would bring peace, but it did not. So why had she chosen to give up?

"You seem troubled," her friend Milena Gibson observed beside her.

Aylin nodded, "I'm losing my mind, Milena!"

"I wish you were losing your mind from joy, but seeing you like this, I'm not sure whether to scold you or sympathize!" Milena’s playful grin managed to coax a reluctant smile from Aylin, despite her deep melancholy.

"Hey, show a little sympathy, won’t you? You know how everyone is talking about me now!"

"Does it really matter what others think and say?" Milena asked, frowning. She never thought of teenage love as a scandal. After all, Francis Lawson was an exceptional young man. Aylin's answer, however, compelled Milena to reassess the situation.

"What others think I can ignore, but I can't dismiss what my cousins, my aunt, and my grandmother think! You know how controversial it was just for me to go to high school and college, let alone be caught in a relationship they might deem inappropriate under their watchful eyes!"

Milena was at a loss for words. She had to admit that the lives she and Aylin led were worlds apart. She couldn't feel Aylin’s struggles, couldn’t comprehend her bitterness, nor could she interfere in her life. As a friend, all she could do was lend an ear to Aylin's troubles. Yet, she felt that no life should be so deprived of joy. At the very least, when happiness and opportunity presented themselves, one should not instinctively turn away. It was simply unfair.

"But… are you really willing to let him go?" Milena hesitated, unsure if falling for Francis might bring Aylin more heartache than happiness.

"It's too late now!" Aylin chuckled sadly. "I met the right person at the wrong time, Milena. I know I’m timid, not as brave as you, but I don’t have another choice. Imagine Francis as a blazing fire. I’m cold, and though I long to be warmed by him, I can’t contain him, so I’d rather remain cold than risk getting burned."

Milena nodded, "Then stay cold for now. Just remember, there’s no antidote for regret, so think carefully about your decisions!"

During the extracurricular period, Francis's voice was absent from the speakers. Aylin felt uneasy, worried about him — was he angry? Was he letting go? Would her rejection affect his exams? If so, she shouldn't have turned him down!

She found herself wandering toward Francis's classroom, and as she turned the corner, a hand reached out from the shadows, gripping her wrist. It was him!

Looking into his eyes, she realized there was no escaping now; she had to face him and his feelings.

"I knew you’d come!" Francis declared, somewhat assertively.

"You skipped the broadcast deliberately..."

"Yes! If you avoided me, I might even skip exams to get your attention. I’m willing to do anything for you!" His earnestness was undeniable, making her head spin and cheeks flush.

"Are you insane? Doing all this for me, is it really worth it?" she asked.

"It’s not just for you, but for my own heart!" His eyes were deep and unwavering, as if they wanted to draw her in. "For my own heart," Aylin remembered that phrase from a novel, but hearing it from him felt profoundly genuine.

Aylin was overwhelmed with emotion. She wanted to smile, to let him know that his persistence had left her with nothing but happiness, but she couldn’t. Tears welled up, spilling down her face. "Francis, I want to be with you, even if it’s just for a day. I want to enjoy it fully and happily."

Behind them, Salem Gibson stood in silence. None of this was unexpected for him. When Francis had been asking him about Aylin, he had already suspected that Francis had feelings for his cousin. He warned him sternly, "If you hurt her, you and I are no longer friends!" It was the harshest thing he had ever said, but for someone like Francis, friendship was sacred. At their age, bonds were cherished more than anything, as their world had not yet been tainted by the desires and ambitions of adulthood.

At this moment, Salem sincerely wished his cousin happiness with Francis. He was also ready to protect their secret.

Love could transform a girl's mood, but it didn't change the aura she exuded. Aylin finally dared to walk openly with Francis on campus. Her smiles were more frequent, yet when not smiling, there remained an air of melancholy about her.

The skies were gray, The sun was a dull-eyed fish, The moon was stone-gray, The clouds were blood-red, The stars were colorless,

Emotions were gray, Thoughts were dull-eyed fish, The heart was stone-gray, The face was blood-red, Tears were colorless,

The world was blank, Everything was void, People were ever-changing, I was colorless, But in my heart, You were vibrant.

In her poetry, Aylin expressed gratitude for Francis, for his kindness, and for coloring her once monochrome life with vivid hues. It was as if having found this love, she had gained an entire world filled with beauty.

Francis was not only intelligent but also witty and talented. A colorful young man who had burst into her life, making her feel lucky and cherished. People often say that opportunities are fleeting, and Francis was more than just a chance or a dream for her. He was a new beacon of hope in her life.

The trip to Brighton was a there-and-back affair, with Aylin spending much of her time in Raiden Palmer’s car. Although she was always polite to him, their recent familiarity made the journey more comfortable. They didn't talk much, merely sharing the silence and the music from the car's radio and appreciating the passing scenery.

Aside from the awkward moment when Raiden had to carry her back to the hotel after she misplaced her shoe on a bridge, the trip was uneventful. Nonetheless, if there were another similar work trip, Aylin would likely avoid it, not wanting to give anyone the wrong impression of being alone with a man.

Raiden frequently glanced at her through the rearview mirror. It was unusual for a woman to choose the back seat over the front, but he understood it was her way of keeping a safe distance. She was a refreshing, proud, and self-respecting young woman. Reflecting on the previous day’s encounter, he felt swapping partners for the trip had been the right decision.

"If it’s okay with you, just drop me near the subway station," Aylin suggested.

Raiden smiled at her in the mirror, "It’s late; I can’t just leave a young lady on the street. What if something happens?"

Aylin pouted but said nothing.

"Where do you live?" he asked as they neared the University of London.

"The Northgate Residential Complex."

Raiden turned onto Northgate Road and honked at the gate. The security guard opened it for them.

"This is fine, really. I can find my way from here."

"Worried your boyfriend might see?" he teased, continuing to drive. "What’s there to hide? We’ve got nothing to hide!"

"Turn left," Aylin directed, realizing that she was overthinking it. "At the end, turn right."

Raiden chuckled softly, finding the situation amusing in hindsight.

When he parked, Aylin opened the door and awkwardly held her shoes in one hand. "Thank you, Mr. Palmer. I'll reimburse you for the shoes."

Watching her from the car window, Raiden found her endearing but dared not laugh, knowing how strong-willed she was. "Alright, just get the meeting notes ready and email them to me by noon tomorrow."

"Understood," she replied, waving goodbye before heading inside.

Instead of driving off immediately, Raiden waited until the third-floor lights switched on before he left. It seemed she lived alone. Was she not living with her boyfriend? He chuckled at his own curiosity — since when had he become so nosy?

The next morning, Aylin promptly sent the meeting notes to Raiden's email, along with a brief message via MSN, "Email sent, please check." It was concise, with no words wasted.

Everything was normal, except for Rebecca’s unfriendly glances. Work was busy, and Aylin was as in demand as ever, with editors vying for her talents. Even Raiden, passing her desk, didn't spare her an extra glance or call her to his office, clearing up any misunderstandings about Rebecca’s false accusations. Everyone knew Rebecca had a crush on Raiden, but his attitude towards her had always been clear.

A simple disrupter like Rebecca was not enough to cause any real trouble, Aylin thought. Yet, she was underestimating things.

One day, a woman stormed into the office. She was in her mid-thirties, elegantly dressed, with the unmistakable air of a wealthy socialite. Her urgency was palpable, and though her expression was hard to decipher — anger or sorrow — her intent to cause a scene was clear. Her formidable presence kept people from intercepting her.

Rebecca approached her with a smile, "Oh, Mrs. Palmer, I remember you from last year’s annual company party. I’m Rebecca, Mr. Palmer’s secretary. Are you looking for him? It seems he hasn't arrived yet."

"I’m not here for him," Mrs. Palmer said, pacing the office, examining every woman’s face with a perturbingly intense gaze.

Finally, her eyes landed on Aylin, and she strode over, delivering a slap to Aylin's face with no warning. It happened so quickly, with such unexpected force, that Aylin couldn't process it. The left side of her face stung, the unexpectedness of it all leaving her stunned. How had she become labeled a "homewrecker," accused of seducing someone’s husband?

As she processed the shock, she glanced at Rebecca’s smirk, understanding immediately that this was her doing. It was all a setup!

Suddenly, Raiden pushed through the crowd, gripping his wife's wrist. "Are you out of your mind?" he demanded.

Upon seeing her husband’s stern face and harsh voice, tears streamed down Mrs. Palmer's cheeks. She lashed out at him in a frenzy, hitting and biting.

Raiden struggled to maintain his composure, as his sense of pride was deeply wounded. He valued appearances, often reminding his wife of how she represented him publicly. To see her behave this way was appalling. He restrained her, pulling her into his office.

"Alright, enough! Back to work!" Finn, another colleague, dispersed the onlookers and led Aylin aside. "Are you alright? Ignore that madwoman. We all know you’re not like that."

Aylin managed a brave smile. It was, after all, a misunderstanding. "I’m fine, thanks, Finn."

Behind closed doors, Raiden finally unleashed his anger. "You’ve embarrassed us both! What were you thinking?"

Mrs. Palmer sobbed into the couch, throwing a photo at him, "You have the nerve to blame me? I found this in the mail! I dropped everything to support your career and our son, and this is how you repay me?"

Raiden picked up the photo — a shot of him carrying Aylin at the lake. It was a setup.

"Listen, this isn’t what it looks like…"

"The evidence is clear, and still you deny it? I may not be young or pretty anymore, but I gave you my best years."

Raiden realized he had been set up. Watching his wife, his heart ached for her pain. "Leaf, you have to believe me. I would never do this to you. This is all a setup!"

Leaf hesitated, torn between wanting to believe him and fearing for her and their son’s future.

"Leaf, the original plan was for Rebecca to accompany me on the trip, but she came onto me the day before, trying to seduce me in my office. I fled, and the next day I changed plans and took Aylin. She’s just a kid! What you saw was me helping her after she lost a shoe by the lake. I even bought her new shoes, which she insisted on paying me back for! Aylin is just a kid!"

"Rebecca?" Leaf recalled the woman who had greeted her.

"Yes, I suspect it might be Rebecca behind this. I’ll get to the bottom of it."

Raiden called HR on speakerphone, "Hello, could you tell me if anyone’s been on leave recently?"

"Yes, Mr. Palmer… Rebecca is on sick leave since the 18th without approval."

Raiden nodded; it confirmed his suspicions.

Leaf understood the context now. "I’m sorry I overreacted, Honey. I was just so upset, but Rebecca…"

Raiden reassured her, "Go home. I’ll handle things."

Reassured, Leaf left his office. Her trust in him, which had been built over years, was reaffirmed. She had been foolish to doubt him for a moment.

As she approached Aylin, everyone held their breath. But surprisingly, she smiled warmly and bowed deeply, sincerely apologizing, "I’m so sorry, Miss Scott. I was mistaken. Please forgive me."

Startled, Aylin nodded, recognizing the sincerity in Mrs. Palmer's apology.