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Saved a Hundred Goodbyes
Saved a Hundred Goodbyes
Author: Tomatoes Together

Chapter 1

Author: Tomatoes Together
"Mommy, I've already gathered 100 candy wrappers. Why isn't Daddy coming home?"

In a hospital room, I, Natalia Granger, stared at my son, Carl Lane, as he fumbled to use his newly learned sign language to communicate with me. My tears, which had been pooling in my eyes, finally spilled down my cheeks.

I didn't even know how to tell him that his father, Andrew Lane, wasn't coming home because he was spending time with another child. Andrew had long since forgotten about the promise that he had made.

Taking in the lost yet hopeful look in Carl's eyes, I forced myself to smile and hug him. "Once you've recovered, we'll find him together, okay?"

Carl nodded obediently, having understood my meaning. He voluntarily took his medicine. Then, he lay down to sleep while hugging his teddy bear.

I stayed with him until he was asleep, after which I stepped out of the room. Then, I helplessly sighed.

…

Eight days ago, Carl finally managed to collect 100 candy wrappers and instantly got ready to seek out Andrew. He wanted to ask Andrew whether the latter could come home and celebrate his seventh birthday with him.

Andrew had initially agreed, so Carl happily clambered into the car before they made their way back.

Midway through the journey, Jennifer Zink's son, Jordan Sallow, had called. He insisted that Andrew celebrate his birthday with him.

Just like that, Andrew abandoned Carl, who was only seven years old, at the highway.

By the time I found poor Carl, the trauma and low temperature had caused him to become mute.

Even so, Andrew, despite being Carl's father, never once came to visit him.

Unable to contain my raging emotions anymore, I dialed Andrew's number once again. Much like my previous attempts, he didn't pick up. However, I heard his ringtone sounding out from the other end of the corridor.

Jogging in the direction of the sound, I spotted Andrew, Jennifer, and Jordan together, looking like a harmonious family of three.

Upon seeing me, Andrew instantly became alert and shifted to stand protectively in front of Jennifer and Jordan. He looked like he was defending the most precious treasure in the world.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you I didn't have time to meet you?"

The cold and distant tone of his voice shattered my heart. Pursing my lips, I turned to look at Jennifer and Jordan.

"You don't have the time for me and Carl, yet you are spending time with them."

At my accusatory and demanding words, Jordan burst into loud wails.

Jennifer quickly hugged him, her eyes reddening as she said, "Nat, please don't misunderstand us. Jordan accidentally cut his finger while doing arts and crafts today. Drew got worried, which is why he brought us to the hospital."

After saying that, she noticed the medical record I was holding. "Why are you here? Is Carl sick?"

Before I could reply, Andrew hurriedly comforted her. "What could possibly be wrong with Carl? If you ask me, she's just kicking up a fuss over nothing! She must have taught Carl to fake his illness, which is setting a bad example for him!"

Hearing that, I subconsciously squeezed the medical record tighter as a bitter feeling welled in me.

Yeah, what could possibly be wrong? It was just that Carl, a kid who had been taking singing lessons since young, contracted mutism and could no longer speak and sing ever again.

How could this possibly compare in severity and importance to the tiniest cut on Jordan's finger?
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  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 10

    "Deceived you? That's a harsh word. I merely suggested that you invest in that company. It's not my fault they lost all your money. Don't tell me that you still don't know that investments come with risks at your age?"Jennifer's lips curled into a wide smile, her mockery obvious. The way she raised her chin slightly was akin to someone looking down at a defeated opponent in triumph.It had been so easy to get a lovestruck fool like Andrew to take the bait. One sentence from her had been enough for him to scorn his wife. What was even more hilarious was how a lie that couldn't be any more obvious had managed to make him abandon his biological son by the side of a highway.Even a woman with hardly any morals like her couldn't bring herself to respect a man like him. He was merely reaping what he had sown."Andrew, I bet you're being consumed by regret, aren't you? You gave up on such a great woman as Natalia and even abandoned your own son. "Instead, you prioritized someone else's

  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 9

    Andrew's heart was torn into pieces. He suddenly wondered whether this was what Carl and I felt when we saw him spending time with Jennifer and Jordan.His emotions were in turmoil—from fury to disappointment and, finally, to acceptance.As it turned out, Carl and I no longer needed him. Carl had already regained his voice, yet he refused to speak to Andrew.Andrew picked up the presents scattered across the ground and stacked them neatly by the door of my apartment.Knowing that he had lost both his wife and son, he left. Feeling exhausted and helpless, he returned to the empty home that now no longer held any traces of us.As he forlornly pushed open the door, he thought he saw a small figure darting toward him, an excited smile on the young boy's face."Daddy!"Andrew instantly crouched and opened his arms wide, ready to hug the small figure to him. But in the next second, the figure vanished, immediately causing his smile to freeze.It dawned on him that Carl would no longe

  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 8

    Andrew's clothes were wrinkled, and a dense layer of stubble dotted his chin. In his hands, he held several bags of different sizes.It appeared that he had bought quite a few gifts for Carl."Carl, did you miss me? Could you come hug your daddy?"With that said, he crouched and opened up his arms. However, when Carl remained unmoving, an awkward expression crossed Andrew's face before he laughed it off. Then, he started to pull out the gifts from the bags. "Carl, look. I've bought you lots of presents."One by one, he took the items out and placed them before Carl, worried that there would be none that Carl liked.Regardless, Carl merely watched him expressionlessly. He did not look delighted whatsoever."This is the smart watch you've always wanted," Andrew said. "I bought it for you."He eagerly ripped open the packaging and grabbed Carl's hand in an attempt to put the watch on his wrist for him.However, Carl calmly pulled his hand free before walking silently into the

  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 7

    I crouched down to stroke Carl's hair. "Be good now, Carl. We can't disturb Dr. Payton too often. He still has to help a lot of other kids who can't speak."Disappointment crossed his face. Just as he was about to comfort me, Shane spoke up with a smile. "Your mother is right. I can't teach you magic while I'm at work, but that doesn't mean I can't do it after that."At first, I thought that he was kind-hearted and didn't want Carl to be disappointed, which was why he said those words.Hence, imagine my surprise when I received a call from him after working hours. He asked me when we were free, as he wanted to teach Carl magic tricks.For him, we were just one of his patients at work. Yet, he still tried his best to fulfill such a small promise.…From that day forward, Shane and I became best friends, kindred spirits in a country far from our homeland. Carl also changed the way he addressed Shane, going from "Dr. Payton" to "Mr. Shane".It took us some time to get used to lif

  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 6

    Once Carl nodded, Shane dug through the pockets of his white coat before pointing at a colorful bowl on the table. After waving his hands in an exaggerated manner, he lifted the bowl, only to reveal a piece of candy.It was none other than the same brand of candy that brought Carl countless painful memories.The eager anticipation on Carl's face swiftly faded when he spotted the candy.Shane's original intention for preparing these candies was to delight children. However, upon seeing Carl's expression, he immediately realized something. Quickly taking the candy, he explained, "Did you think I was giving you this candy? Well, you're wrong! What I want to give you is actually this."With that said, he plucked a lighter from his pocket and lit the candy wrapper on fire. Then, he quickly closed his hand around the burning candy. When he uncurled his fingers, a small dinosaur keychain lay on his palm.This time, Carl's eyes visibly lit up with excitement. He carefully took the keych

  • Saved a Hundred Goodbyes   Chapter 5

    This was the first time Andrew hadn't bothered with Jennifer and her son. Ignoring their cries behind him, he dashed off without pausing even once, all the while dialing my number repeatedly. Yet, all he heard was the mechanical voice recording telling him that my phone had been switched off.He sped back home like a madman, arriving in record time. Slamming open the door, he kept calling out Carl's name.However, he was already too late.The villa had long since been cleared of my and Carl's belongings. All that was left was the bottle of candy wrappers, along with the scribbled note that read, "Daddy, I don't want you to come back anymore, but could you return my voice to me?"Andrew staggered backward, eventually sinking to the floor. Reading the note once more, he grabbed the bottle of candy wrappers and hugged it tightly.His guilt toward Carl gnawed away at his insides, causing his heart to ache terribly. Without him realizing it, tears had already spilled down his cheeks.

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