LOGIN"Y-you knew..." Clarence's voice trembled.Guessing what he was about to ask, I nodded calmly. "I'd already woken up when you were talking to your assistant back then."Before he could respond, I checked the time. "I should go."As I turned, Clarence wrapped his arms tightly around me from behind. "Don't go. Please, won't you stay? I didn't mean to. I was so stupid back then…"His tears soaked through the back of my shirt, and he was trembling hard. "Can you get a divorce and leave him? I'll take care of you. From now on, I'll take good care of you. You can even bring your children with you. I'll treat them like they're my own. Please, just don't leave me."I forcefully pried his hands off me. "No thanks. I don't need that."His hands hovered in the air for a moment before curling into fists. Finally, they dropped weakly. "It was my fault. I absolutely hate myself for doing that. That was… That was my child."He let out a bitter laugh. "If he were here, he'd be seven now. And we
I didn't bother replying to Clarence because I knew very well that refusing him would be pointless.Early the next morning, he bundled me into the passenger seat. His fingertips tapped lightly on the steering wheel, but he didn't drive off. "This car was the one you liked best back then."I glanced around. "It's been quite a few years. You could trade it in for a new one."Clarence's breath caught. "I don't want to."I said nothing and turned to look out the window.He sighed and shifted into gear.When the car pulled into the familiar courtyard, I felt a momentary daze.He took my hand and led me back inside the room that used to be mine. "Nothing has changed here."I pulled my hand back. "You could turn it into a nursery."A faint smile tugged on Clarence's lips as he rubbed his knuckles. "I don't think I ever told you this. I've missed you terribly in the years that you left."Even on my wedding day, I kept wondering why you didn't show up. I met Lynette when I was young a
Mason looked at me for a long time, but in the end, he held his tongue. "Honey, I'm going to put the kids to bed," he said. Then, he led the children away.The air felt heavy with silence. After a pause, I followed behind him.He turned on the air conditioner and helped the children change into their pajamas, every movement unexpectedly gentle.Watching his back, I felt a lump forming in my throat. "Mason.""Yes, honey?" he replied softly.I looked at him with my brows slightly drawn.I met Mason the year after I left Clarence. He often dropped by to buy fruits from me, and he would occasionally bring me meals he had cooked.I turned him down initially, but he never seemed to mind.He was a teacher and was actually quite busy. In his spare time, he'd grade papers at my store and talk to me about his past.On my first birthday after we met, he bought me a gold ring. His eyes were bright, and his palms were clammy with sweat when he gave it to me. He told me that it was just a
My thoughts drifted back to when I was 20. Back then, I was still wild and carefree, and I often ignored the curfew Clarence had set. One night, I snuck out to have fun, and when I climbed back over the wall, I fell and broke my leg.When the warm white light clicked on, Clarence was standing right in front of me. He looked exhausted as he stubbed out his cigarette. He had said the exact same words back then, "You sure know how to push my buttons, Bethany."At the time, I had thought that he'd said that out of affection, that he cared about me. But really, he just hated anything slipping out of his control.Silence lingered for a long time. Then, Clarence stepped closer to me and let out a mocking laugh. "Bethany, you left me to live such a miserable life, and ended up with such an ordinary man. Was it really worth it? He looks like he couldn't give you the life you used to have even if he tried."At those words, I saw Mason's face pale. He instinctively reached for my hand.I ste
"These are…" Clarence asked, his voice hoarse as he stared fixedly at me."My children," I answered calmly, bending down to wipe the dirt off their faces.Clarence's breathing quickened, and he shook his head frantically. "No, that can't be. You must be lying. You're just trying to make me give up, aren't you? Go on, tell me. Tell me that they aren't yours. I mean, surely they can't be, right?"I ruffled the children's hair and looked up. "Clarence, haven't you noticed how much they look like me?""I... You..." His gaze darted back and forth between us, and he opened his mouth to say something, but found he couldn't form a rebuttal.A faint smile tugged on the corners of my lips. "I'm not lying. These are my children. He's two years old, and she's four years old. Also, I've been married for a long time."He jolted. Pinning his dark gaze on me, he asked in a raspy voice, "M-married? You're married? When did that happen?""Five years ago," I said with a slight smile.The air hung
More and more people gathered around my grandfather and me. Some of them carried cameras, while others held microphones. They reached so far out that their hands almost brushed against my chest. A few even started livestreaming on the spot."Look! There she is! It's that revolting journalist! They say she's slept with over 20 influential figures, and that she'd exploited interns into writing all her articles for her. Now she's trying to flee abroad.""No! I've never!" I shouted until my voice went hoarse as I desperately tried to push my way through.But the crowd suddenly surged forward in a frenzy, pressing in from all sides. They hurled whatever they had in their hands at us."How disgusting! And she's actually thinking of escaping!""And she even tried to bully Lynette! That's classic workplace harassment!""Exactly. She's nothing but a stain on the journalism world. She should just get lost already!"The barrage of insults pressed down on me until I could barely breathe.G







