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Home / Rebirth Short Story / The Flower Bloomed Sixty Times / Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

All Chapters of The Flower Bloomed Sixty Times: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

22 Chapters

Chapter 11

Julian’s heart raced. His throat tightened.Anger surged within him. His Adam’s apple moved, and his voice carried a sharp edge.“Xena told you to make this call, didn’t she? Tell her not to take it too far. I’m going to pick her up today and bring her home.”He hung up without waiting for a response.Before he could even catch his breath, the phone rang again, sharp and urgent.He stared at it and did not answer.It rang once, twice, three times. Then, it stopped.He finally let out a sigh, but the restlessness inside him would not fade.He got up, left the institute, and drove straight to the Xander family villa.Xena’s parents were retired. The family had moved out of the community. They lived with their son and helped look after their grandchild.Julian bought some health supplements on the way and knocked on the door of the Xander family villa. Xena’s mother, Lizzy Grant, opened the door. The smile on her face disappeared the moment she saw him.“Mrs. Xander, I’m here

Chapter 12

Zayden and Yannick ran in and stood next to Julian. Their eyes shone with excitement as they looked at Lucas and Lizzy. “Grandma, Grandpa, did Mom really get divorced from Dad? Isn’t she going to come home with us?”Lucas and Lizzy felt a chill as they saw the children’s joyful faces.They remembered everything Xena had endured during her pregnancy and childbirth. They knew how exhausted she had been after staying up all night to care for the kids when they were sick. They recalled how she had knelt before them and cried her heart out before leaving, and how disappointed she had been with the children.Zayden and Yannick were their grandchildren and had been raised with even more care than Julian’s parents had ever shown them.They finally understood their daughter’s pain and despair.For the first time, they said sharply to the children, “Yes, your mother’s divorced from your father. From now on, she has nothing to do with you, and neither do we.“If you like Moon, then she can

Chapter 13

When Julian got home, Zayden and Yannick were playing ball in the yard, and Moon was busy in the kitchen.Seeing him, she reached out with a pout. “Julian, I cut my hand! It really hurts. Can you blow on it for me?”Julian looked down. The wound was almost healed.For some reason, it made him think of Xena. He remembered how Xena often got hurt in the kitchen. She sometimes cut herself with a knife in an accident, and sometimes got burned with hot oil.When they first got married, she had even asked him to blow on her injuries. He had just coldly pushed her hand away and said, “If you can’t cook, then don’t.”After that, she never asked him for anything again. She always treated her injuries quietly and never let them stop her from cooking.Julian felt a sudden pang in his chest. Guilt hit him hard. He realized how much he owed her.He pushed Moon’s hand away. Looking into her eyes, he coldly said, “You tricked me into signing the divorce agreement, didn’t you?”Moon’s hear

Chapter 14

“I accidentally spilled all the food. Go to the cellar and get a few potatoes for me.”Zayden and Yannick were hungry. They nodded and did as they were told. Holding a single flashlight, the two of them walked into the cellar together.The moment they went inside, the door above them slammed shut. Right after that, they heard the sound of the lock clicking.Their hearts sank. They saw fear and panic in each other’s eyes.They turned back and banged on the cellar door. “Let us out! Ms. Jensen, please let us out!”They finally understood what was happening. They begged her. “Ms. Jensen, we’ll be good! We’ll listen to you. Please let us out!”There was no response.No matter how much they cried or called for help, no one came. Their voices grew hoarse, but the door never opened.The flashlight, which was already low on battery, flickered once and went out. The cellar was swallowed by darkness.Zayden and Yannick were hungry and terrified. They could not hold back anymore. They hu

Chapter 15

Julian rushed forward and pulled the two boys away. He grabbed them in each hand, but the boys went wild and punched and kicked him, too. “I’ll kill you! I don’t want you two as my parents! I want my mom!”Moon scrambled up and cried. “Julian, Zayden and Yannick skipped school and refused to do their homework. The teacher called to complain about it. I was only trying to teach them, and they attacked me!”“You evil woman!” the boys yelled.They struggled, but they were weak from being hungry for days. Soon, they passed out.Julian’s face darkened. He noticed how much weight the boys had lost and how weak they looked.He looked at Moon. “Take them to the hospital.”…“The children are fine. They just need more nutrition.”Moon blamed herself. “It’s my fault, Julian! The food I made doesn’t suit them. They haven’t eaten enough. I’ve never taken care of children before. I’ll learn how to do better from now on.”Julian nodded but did not speak.He went to pay the bills and buy so

Chapter 16

Moon was sent to prison for locking up and abusing the children.As soon as Zayden and Yannick left the hospital, the three of them went to the Xander family villa. They did not go inside.Zayden and Yannick clung to Lucas and Lizzy’s legs and cried. Pity flickered in the couple’s eyes, but remembering Xena’s instructions, they kept her whereabouts to themselves.They tried visiting a few more times, but each time they came back empty-handed.With no mother in the Zane family house, the two ten-year-old boys remained alone. Julian asked a relative to help take care of the household. After a few days of rest, Zayden and Yannick went back to school.They had missed a lot of classes, so they were behind on their schoolwork. They often lost focus in class and barely did any assignments. The school kept calling Julian at the institute.Julian began making mistakes at work, too.When the school called again, he rubbed his forehead. He was tired and frustrated.He thought of Xena.He

Chapter 17

Zayden and Yannick, who were ahead of him in line, turned around. They saw Julian rushing toward the clothing store next door.Neither of them hesitated. They took off after him.The bell on the glass door rang as it opened. Xena looked up with a smile.“Welcome—”“Xena!”“Mom!”Julian stood in front of her with Zayden and Yannick at his side. All three stared at her without blinking.Xena’s smile froze and slowly faded.All three of them looked at her tearfully. Julian reached out and pulled her outside. His voice was hoarse.“Xena, how could you be so cruel?”“Mom, we miss you so much…”Xena’s gaze passed over Julian and lingered on Zayden and Yannick for a moment before moving away.Her expression did not change. Her voice was polite and distant.“This is a women’s clothing store. Please leave.”Zayden and Yannick shuddered. They looked at Xena in disbelief.Julian pressed his lips together. His eyes were full of mixed emotions. “Xena, you…”Before he could finish, t

Chapter 18

A boy around ten years old rushed in. He shoved Zayden aside and threw his arms out to shield Xena behind him.He stared at the three men in front of him. He swallowed hard and said in warning to his mother, “Mom, don’t worry. If they start fighting, you run and call the police. I’m good at fighting!”Xena looked at Calvin Xander standing in front of her, and her heart softened.She took Calvin’s hand and smiled as she tried to calm him. “It’s okay, Calvin. They’re… someone I used to know.”Zayden and Yannick glared at Calvin. Their eyes burned with anger as they shouted through gritted teeth, “Who are you? We’re her real sons!”Julian stared at Calvin as well. His jaw tightened as he pulled the furious Zayden and Yannick behind him. His voice was low and tense. “Xena, Zayden and Yannick are your real sons. Who’s he?“You got married?”Calvin instinctively glanced at Xena. He knew these were the ex-husband and children she had mentioned before.He stepped in front of Xena again

Chapter 19

Xena’s clothing store was part of a well-known chain. In the past, the business had mostly expanded in the southern regions. The Kingford Street store was her first in Junvale.She planned to stay in Junvale for the summer. While keeping an eye on the Kingford Street store, she was also looking for new locations and taking care of lease negotiations and renovations.Xena was very busy. She was not in the store every day.But whenever she was there, she saw Zayden and Yannick standing outside the entrance.The store manager frowned as she reported, “Boss, those two students wait outside every day. We can’t get them to leave. They say they’re here to see you.”Xena nodded and kept working.At lunchtime, she noticed they still had not left. They did not go to eat. They just stood outside the window and looked at her with pitiful expressions. Finally, she sighed and walked over to them.“Mom!”Zayden and Yannick’s eyes lit up.“Go eat.”She led them to the McDonald’s next door. I

Chapter 20

The three of them stayed away for a few days. Xena’s second store in Junvale opened.They sent a flower basket and watched Xena rush around without stopping. Even Calvin was busy helping customers.The three of them went into the store and offered to help, but Xena sent them away.Frustrated, they saw a tall, lean man with a cold, commanding presence walk past them into the store.Julian frowned and looked back.“Xena…”The man spoke. His voice was calm and low. He sounded kind and gentle.Xena looked up automatically, a smile spreading across her face. “You’re here!”Brian Gaber walked over to her. He took over the work she had been doing, and the two of them shared a smile. Xena turned to attend to the customers.Seeing Brian, Calvin ran over happily and hugged his leg. “Mr. Gaber, I missed you so much!”The three of them together looked warm and loving, like a close-knit family.Julian felt a pang in his chest. His eyes widened, and his fists clenched without him realizin

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