Jackson felt uneasy. “I think… You should just throw it away. There’s no need to give it back to him. Tiffie… Are you okay?”Tiffany smiled at him. “What do you think? When have I not been okay? What are you so worried about? I’m an unkillable cockroach. I provoked Ethan on my own. Otherwise I wouldn’t have ended up ruined and homeless. I caused it. I can’t keep running away and relying on all of you. I’m not scared. Regardless of how scary Ethan is, we were together for three years. He’s human too, not the devil. Although, everything he’s done is scarier than the devil…”Jackson reached out and soothingly stroked her head. “Okay, let’s go home.”Tiffany thought that she was being strong enough, but she lost in her dreams.She was plagued with nightmares that night and was startled awake a few times. As a result, Jackson couldn’t get a good night’s sleep either.It was daybreak, but she couldn’t go back to sleep at all. She curled up in Jackson’s arms, sobbing. “I dreamt of my dad
Her abnormal behavior made Jackson’s heart thump. “Tiffie… Are you alright? You don’t have to act tough. If you want to cry, just do it. You’ll feel much better after that.”Tiffany rolled her eyes at him. “Why would I cry? Just because Ethan’s back and he’s deliberately trying to get close to me means I’m going to burst into tears? I’m not a three year old. Don’t underestimate me. I’d feel pressured, or at most, a little stressed. Don’t worry, it’s fine. Try my cooking today.”Jackson didn’t believe her. Her abnormal behavior was an example of her current mental state. He couldn’t help repressing his emotions too.He washed his hands and headed to the dinner table. He looked at the considerably sumptuous variety of dishes, but wasn’t in the mood to eat. “Why? Are you ignoring my food?” Tiffany asked, feeling upset. “I rarely ever cook and you’re ignoring me? You won’t ever get another chance.”He scooped a helping of salad into his mouth with a bitter smile on his face. Only the
Don Smith’s eyes filled with yearning as he stared out at the warm afternoon sun outside the window. “Ale… I’d like to go outside and enjoy the sun.”Alejandro didn’t answer. He got up and carried Don Smith onto his wheelchair. Unbeknownst to him, he moved very carefully and gently, afraid that the frail old man would get hurt somehow.They arrived at the courtyard outside. The temperature was just right, with a slight breeze in the air. There was the pleasant fragrance of green grass and earth too. A smile hung on the corners of Don Smith’s lips, a long-forgotten sight. “Ale, is this our first time enjoying the sun in peace?”Alejandro nodded. “Mm, it’s the first time.”The old man’s ruddy eyes lit up with a smile. “That’s right… It’s the first time… Maybe the last time too.”Alejandro frowned. “If you want, I can take you out here whenever you want. What do you mean, ‘last time’? You’re talking as if you’re about to breathe your last at any moment. You’re so good at tormenting,
Alejandro stood calmly in the doorway. “I haven’t done anything to her,” he replied insipidly. “She was still around this morning. This is Ayashe. Even if I wanted something to happen to her, would the Larks agree? I’ve already got my hands full with you. How could I possibly have the time to do anything to her? I won’t be responsible for you getting a stroke.”Don Smith finally calmed down when he realized that Alejandro was telling the truth. He stopped flinging everything in the room. “Find her! I’ve called Lark Mansion. She’s not there!”Alejandro had the staff clean up Don Smith’s bedroom, then headed to the courtyard. Jett tagged along and said, “Don Smith’s abnormal temper is expected in his current condition. Please, don’t mind him, sir.”Alejandro lit a cigarette. “Find Melanie. See where she’s gone off to. As long as she’s not around, the old man would think that I’ve done something to her. Once you’ve found her, tell her to come home and watch over the old man until he cl
Alejandro suddenly moved forwards and held up her chin. He spoke in a very cold tone, “If I hadn’t wanted you to give birth, this child would’ve been long gone instead of being kept till now. You’ve never believed me and have always had your guard up against me, thinking that I would get rid of you and your child the moment the old man died. How absurd!”Melanie was in so much pain, tears filled up her eyes. She was slightly startled as well. Could she have overthought it? She was uncertain of how things would turn out but did not dare put both her and her child’s life on the line. If she lost, the child would be gone for sure.Alejandro impatiently released his grip when he saw Melanie’s tearful look. “Don't you dare cause me any more f*cking trouble! Come home with me at once!”As Melanie lowered her head, her tears fell from her eyes and stained the white quilt. “I won’t go back with you. I have all the more reason to do this since you already think that way. This is grandpa’s on
Alejandro sat in his chair and said expressionlessly, “The old man has ordered me not to leave your side. Besides, it’s better that I stay, as I get to have some peace and quiet. Further, I don’t feel like serving him anyway.”Melanie lowered her head and kept quiet. She knew that he did not actually feel that way. Whatever the reason, the moment Alejandro realized Don Smith did not have much longer to live, he’d been serving by his side constantly. Even if Don Smith threw a fit and lashed out at him, Alejandro neither complained nor retaliated; he was not even able to take care of his leg. Melanie thought that this was a good chance for him to relax.It was also a blessing in disguise for Melanie as well—how else would Alejandro stay by her side in the hospital willingly?The next morning, the doctor brought over the consent papers for Alejandro to sign as Melanie laid on her bed nervously. She had never even gotten a scar in her life, let alone entered an operating theatre. It was
The nurse thought that it was strange that two men were guarding outside the theatre, but she did not ask anything about it. She instead said, “Both mother and daughter are fine. Although the baby was born prematurely, she was still very close to her due date, so she does seem to be fine from the looks of it. Once she’s cleared after her checkup, she won’t need to be placed in an incubator.”After Jett and the nurse walked off with the baby, Alejandro came back to his senses. It’s a girl…? Would the old man insist on them having a second child before he passed on… The nanny brought over some nutritional food just as Melanie was being brought out of the operating theatre. However, she was still under the effects of the anesthetic and her face was very pale. It was the first time that Alejandro did not have an impatient look on his face, despite having stood guard at the hospital for such a long time.When she did not see the baby, the nanny whispered softly, “Has the baby been taken
Once Melanie was at ease, she looked at Alejandro and said, “We won’t be able to hide the truth from grandpa. I believe we should just tell him since the child has already been born. The reason we had this surgery was so that grandpa would be able to see his grandchild earlier. As for my family… I’ll tell them about it after I’m discharged.” Melanie was worried that her family would head over to the hospital and cause a scene the moment they found out. Just thinking about the scene gave her nightmares. All she wanted at that moment was some peace and quiet.Alejandro nodded his head. He took out his cell phone and recorded a video to send it to Don Smith, informing the latter that the child had been born and which hospital they were at. As Alejandro was recording the video, he took a good look at his child’s face. She could not be considered to be pretty; her skin glowed red and was rather thin, unlike other babies, who would have fairer skin. However, Alejandro actually thought that