Semua Bab Expired Expectation: Bab 1 - Bab 10

“Mom, can we not go?” Coco asked as she wrapped her arms around Astrid Payne's neck. There were tears in her eyes.“Daddy gave me a music box decorated with rainbow patterns today, and he wasn’t angry when I called him Daddy. I think he’s starting to like me.“I love daddy. I don’t want to leave him.”Astrid looked at the longing in her daughter Coco's eyes and could not bear to tell her the truth.Isaiah Lear did not love either Coco or Astrid. He had no love to speak for his family.At the time, Isaiah was engaged to his first love and girlfriend, Juno Calzier.Then, she ended up cheating on him. Juno dumped him at their wedding venue and left with another man.No matter how much Isaiah pleaded, she refused to go back to him.Isaiah was so upset that he chose a new bride for himself straight from the crowd. That bride just so happened to be Astrid.Even though they have been married for five years, they have been sleeping in separate rooms the entire time.One time wh

Isaiah didn’t come back home that night.Just like their last few wedding anniversaries, Astrid was left all by herself watching over the table full of dishes she had prepared. She waited until night turned into day again.In the past, she would have called him relentlessly and almost begged him to come home to celebrate with her.But now, she was no longer willing to humiliate herself.Besides, Isaiah never cared about their marriage anyway.Nor did he ever care about her and Coco.She picked up the fork and went for a particularly large piece of marinated pork rib.The rib was very difficult to swallow and somehow tasted bitter in her mouth.It was a perfect analogy for their marriage for the last five years. There was never even a hint of sweetness, only sadness and bitterness.She poured all of the leftover dishes into the bin and proceeded to pack up her luggage. Then she deleted all photos of Isaiah from her phone.She even tore their wedding pictures.She went ano

After hurriedly getting Coco discharged from the hospital, Astrid took her to the supermarket to buy the snacks and ribbons the teacher instructed them to bring tomorrow.While Astrid was busy picking out snacks, Coco pranced up to her and asked in a voice filled with wonder, “Mommy, I saw Daddy picking out a doll in the gift section! Do you think it’s a Children’s Day present for me?”Astrid turned around to look.She spotted Isaiah, who seemed busy choosing a suitable doll. He was wearing a gentle and affectionate smile while doing so.Suddenly, from behind the rack, Emmie ran and wrapped herself around Isaiah’s leg and called out “Daddy!” in a cheery voice.Then came Juno with a cup of yogurt.Astrid quickly removed her earphones and put them on Coco while shielding her eyes in one smooth gesture, “I’m sure you’ll get a present. Come on, let’s go, it’s getting late.”That night, Isaiah did not come home again.Coco slept with Astrid and was so excited that she woke up befo

Astrid turned toward the door and locked eyes with Isaiah. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.Isaiah did not say anything but motioned to his assistant, Mike Lancaster, to approach. “Coco, I got you a new music box. I hope you like it.”Coco rubbed her eyes and took a moment to register what was happening, “Mommy, am I dreaming?“Uncle Isaiah got me a new music box!”“It's not a dream.” Astrid took the music box and handed it to Coco. “Go on, play it.”Coco danced to the rhythm of the melodic tune churning out of the music box, then her eyes began to tear up. “Thank you, Uncle Isaiah. I will cherish it.”Isaiah noted Coco’s excitement and the tears in her eyes. He hesitated for a few seconds before remarking in a somber voice, “Coco, Emmie wants to be the lead dancer during the performance today. “Your face is cut anyway, so it wouldn’t be wise for you to dance. Why don’t you let Emmie take your spot instead?”Astrid’s smile stiffened in an instant. Coco’s eyes b

“Astrid, I want to apologize to Coco on behalf of Emmie for what happened.”Isaiah continued solemnly, “She is young and doesn’t know better. She didn’t mean any harm by it.”“She locked Coco inside a closet! You call that not meaning any harm?” Astrid snapped back.Isaiah was about to say something when his phone rang.He answered it and became more solemn as the dialogue went on. At one point, he replied anxiously, “Juno, I promise I can explain. Don’t leave just yet, I’m coming to you right now!”“Coco, I'll come back for you later!” So he ordered the driver to stop the car.“Uncle Isaiah, won’t you stay?”Isaiah fell silent for a moment but ended up opening the door anyway. “Something came up, I have to go.”“Uncle Isaiah!” Coco called out after him, then she bid him farewell quietly.Isaiah turned and stared into Coco’s reddened eyes. After a brief pause, he assured her again, “I’ll visit you at the hospital!”After he closed the ambulance doors, silence descended agai