Chap 2

Part 2

After Clara's departure, Joe took a moment to shower. Cold water always managed to reinvigorate him. He put on his best clothes and prepared to return home to his little daughter, Kimmy.

From his marriage to Vivian four years ago, they had been blessed with a daughter. Kimmy, the little girl who was now three and a half years old.

Joe walked toward the elevator, pressed the ground floor button, and waited for the elevator to reach the lobby. When the elevator doors opened, he walked into the underground parking area and got into his black Lamborghini. He drove to South Residence, a luxurious housing complex owned by the upper-middle class, where his parents' wealthy family resided.

Joe drove his car at full speed, his parents would be furious about the divorce lawsuit that had been spreading in various media. However, the truth was, and as the man, Joe was ready to take responsibility for it all.

Navigating a marriage was like sailing a ship. If the ship sank, the captain was to blame. Joe didn't want to blame Vivian; it was all his fault.

After 20 minutes of driving, Joe arrived at the main entrance of his parents' residence. He parked his car in the garage, alongside other luxurious vehicles.

He stepped out of the car and walked to the front porch, hesitating to ring the doorbell. In reality, when Joe's car reached the main gate, the security guard had already informed his parents, Mr. Bond and Mrs. Linn, that their son had returned.

Joe let out a slow breath and pressed the doorbell. A female servant opened the door for him.

His hunch was right, his mom and dad were sitting in the living room, their faces showing curiosity and concern. Joe could sense their sadness regarding the news of his divorce with Vivian, which had already spread.

Joe approached his parents and sat next to his mother. The room fell silent. Mr. Bond looked at his son, while Joe couldn't bring himself to return their gazes.

"Rest! Meet your daughter, and we can discuss this issue another time," Mr. Bond said.

The middle-aged man was angry, sad, frustrated, and disappointed to hear about his son's divorce. But there was something more important; Joe still looked okay. He would do whatever it took to support and uplift his son's spirits.

"She's been waiting for you; Kimmy has asked several times where her daddy is since last night," Mrs. Linn added. She gently patted her son's shoulder, seeing that his eyes were moist and teary.

"Alright, Mom, Dad, I'm going to sleep now," Joe said. He got up from his chair, walked up the stairs to the second floor, and opened the door to the room nearest to the stairs. It was Kimmy's room, and she was a three-and-a-half-year-old girl.

"Papa!" Kimmy shouted when she saw her daddy standing at the doorway. She opened her arms wide for a hug.

Joe quickly approached his daughter and embraced her tightly. The hug was emotional and long, prompting Kimmy's caretaker to leave the room.

Joe finally let go of the hug and cupped Kimmy's face with his hands. Unmistakably, Kimmy bore a striking resemblance to Vivian, her mother.

"Where's Papa been?" Kimmy asked in her soft voice.

"Papa's been working, my love," he replied. Joe led his daughter to her bed, where he tucked her in. Tonight, he just wanted to be by Kimmy's side to comfort her.

Joe adjusted the blanket to keep Kimmy warm. He kissed her forehead several times, feeling guilty for not being able to keep his family together with Vivian.

After making sure Kimmy had fallen asleep, Joe left her room. He walked to the room next to Kimmy's.

Joe inserted the key, turned the doorknob, and entered the room. It was his and Vivian's bedroom. It was spacious and warm, with several photos of them together on the wall, prominently featuring their large wedding photo above the bed.

In four months, it would have been their 5th wedding anniversary. All the photos and beautiful memories inside only represented the past. So did the romance that had once blossomed in this room. The first night, the warmth of their touches, their smiles, their tears, and all the events in this room would now just make Joe sad, knowing they were all memories.

Joe sat at the edge of the bed. His hands ran over the bedsheet. It was cold and lonely. There were several photos of him and Vivian on the wall, with the most prominent being their large wedding photo above the bed.

His marriage to Vivian began to unravel after their fourth wedding anniversary. Vivian became obsessed with resuming her modeling career. Since then, she was no longer content at home and kept accepting job offers.

Joe had tried various ways to keep her from leaving him. He increased the money he gave her, surprised her frequently, but all in vain. Vivian wanted to break free from her marriage to Joe.

All of it had been his fault from the beginning. Joe had put Vivian on a pedestal when she was a rising model. However, Vivian had accepted Joe's proposal not out of love but because Joe was the son of one of the wealthiest people in the city.

Joe looked up at the wedding photo. Tears began to flow down his cheeks. On this quiet and cold night, he was crying alone. He had missed Vivian for three months, hoping his beloved wife would come home and give up her dreams and career. But he was wrong; what he received was a divorce lawsuit.

In this moment, he realized one thing. For Vivian, her dreams and career were more important than her marriage and her daughter. Tears continued to flow, moistening Joe's cheeks. When a man cried, his tears revealed the honesty behind the sadness that ran deep.

Joe wiped away his tears. He concluded his sorrow for the night. He would return to his daughter's room, curl up under the covers. It wasn't that he was weak; he just had never imagined he would divorce the woman he loved so much.

To be continued.