Renata left behind a probing remark before finishing the meal and leaving.Noah and Gwynn were left alone.They felt somber. He stood by the window, taking out a cigarette but not lighting it. He was wracked with guilt.Ayanna was pitiful and had a tragic fate. He remembered how she had knelt before him years ago, begging him to accept her.In this world, there were too many who had wronged her.However, Anderson had hurt her the most.…As the night grew darker, Gwynn leaned against her husband and said softly, "Although we have no problem having one more mouth to feed, I want to find a good place for Daphne. Somewhere she can be cared for wholeheartedly, where she'll have someone who will give everything for her when she needs it."Noah lowered his head, his voice slightly hoarse when he spoke. "Are you talking about Renata?"She murmured softly, "Indeed. She’s reliable and loves children. She will definitely give Daphne her all. I can let her take care of Daphne without h
A week later, Charles came to Brookesville on a business trip. Originally, he planned to leave as soon as his business was concluded. Last time, he was deeply hurt by Renata. He might’ve missed her occasionally, but he’d never set aside his pride easily unless she took the initiative to reconcile.He thought about it over and over again and was truly surprised when she asked Jake to mediate the fight between them.On the night before he left Brookesville, Charles stood by the window and read the newspaper. His dark blue shirt was impeccably crisp and well-fitted. He had yet to be forty years old. So, he was young and promising. He also exuded a charming and affectionate aura. He received no fewer than ten calls from women in a week.However, he no longer entertained these women.Jake poured a cup of tea and placed it on the small side table next to the sofa. Speaking gently, he said, "You've been busy for a whole week. Why don't you take some time to relax? It’s not like you do
Hearing the baby's cries, Charles was puzzled. Where did the baby come from? He looked at Mrs. Chu, clearly asking for an explanation. But Mrs. Chu was busy serving him dishes, her face beaming with warmth. "I prepared some hometown dishes just for you, Charles. Why don't you try them?"Setting down his cutlery, he asked, "Where did the baby upstairs come from?"She stroked her hair gently and gave him a faint smile. "Why, I gave birth to her."“That’s ridiculous.” He exclaimed, but he refrained from mentioning her inability to conceive. After a moment of silence, he said, "You didn't invite me here today because you love me. You did it because you want to register a father for this baby!""You just want me to father this baby, Renata." He concluded.…Charles spoke, feeling sorry for himself, "How heartless, Renata!" He was so angry that he hurled his cutlery on the dining table, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. Instead, he made his way upstairs with a heavy heart
Charles was already in a bad mood, to begin with. Seeing Anderson made it even worse, especially since the latter was drinking with prostitutes.A young and beautiful girl sat on Anderson’s lap, gently coaxing him to drink, and he looked quite charming and affectionate, too! Charles felt uncomfortable witnessing this scene.Heh! Daphne’s biological father was here drinking with a prostitute while his ex-wife was at home changing diapers for her. She was even willing to sacrifice herself to marry a balding man in his fifties for the baby’s sake.In a fit of anger, he took action. Though he was a cultured man, he had a slender and strong physique, which meant he was more than capable of subduing Anderson. He grabbed Anderson’s collar and pinned him against the wall with ease, his voice carrying a hint of chilliness, "You’re enjoying yourself quite an awful lot, Anderson! Your mistress died and left behind an orphan and yet you're here drinking with a prostitute."Mistress… Orph
Indeed, who would have thought that the distinguished Anderson would’ve acted like a drunken fool in the dead of night? Just as the security guard was about to call the police, a slender figure emerged from the darkness.It was Noah.He must have been asleep. Clad in a black two-piece pajama set, topped with a long black down coat, he braved the cold night with a cigarette dangling between his fingers. It had already burnt halfway down.Under the bright porch light, he looked stunning and imposing, which accentuated Anderson’s disheveled appearance even more.As Anderson gazed at Noah, his lips trembled uncontrollably."Where is Ayanna?" he asked.Noah chuckled coldly. "Buried."Buried...Anderson’s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't accept this outcome, yet he also found it absurdly ironic. He was the one who had driven her to her death and yet he was consumed with regret now.Noah took a drag from his cigarette, the faint green smoke hanging in the air under the porc
Anderson drove through the night to Crocksten. Snowflakes swirled in the dark. His entire world echoed with Ayanna's words, "I love you, Mr. Anderson."Outside the car, snow settled like frost. Inside, he didn’t turn on the heat. In the depths of winter, he wore only a shirt in the middle of the night. His body was nearly frozen, but inside, it felt as if a fire was burning.He didn't know what his feelings for Ayanna were. He hadn't given it much thought in the past. After all, all his love and hatred were directed at someone else. Now, however, that single phrase, "I love you, Mr. Anderson," echoed deafeningly in his ears, refusing to fade away.Five hours later, his car stopped in front of the small villa. A thin layer of snow covered the ground before it. It turned out that it also snowed in Crocksten. The entire world was covered in snow, including his heart. He took the key, unlocked the gate, and slowly stepped into Ayanna's place.The garden was filled with camell
The picture was blurry, barely discernible. Noah told him, "Ayanna was pregnant when she jumped. This is the forensic report."This news completely shattered Anderson.His phone slipped from his hand, his expression vacant, his mind unable to process the information. Suddenly, he began to hit his head and chest forcefully, but the physical pain did nothing to alleviate the guilt gnawing at his soul. He gasped for breath, finally letting out a cry that sounded like an animal in agony.Then, he collapsed heavily to the floor. Lying there, his eyes half-open, he could see the transparent fishbowl with the two red carp swimming back and forth...“Anderson cares not about Ayanna.”…Anderson found himself in a hospital room when he woke up. The room was pristine, with a faint smell of medicine. Talia sat by his bedside, gazing at him thoughtfully.Seeing her husband awake, she maintained a neutral expression and calmly stated, "Two months ago, you happened to meet her. You coul
Talia walked out of the hallway and saw light ahead.Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at the morning sun through the window. She smiled bitterly.No one won in this tragedy!…Two days later, Anderson had recovered.At nightfall, he drove alone to a secluded graveyard. It didn't take him long to find Ayanna's grave. On the white tombstone, black letters were engraved, "Grave of Ayanna Francis, mother of Daphne."Daphne. So, that was the name of their baby.Where was Ada?He was driven to madness. He lifted the stone slab and retrieved the black urn. The blooming rose in the night was turned into a cold little urn now. It lay silently in his arms.However, she would never speak again."I love you, Mr. Anderson."He didn't know the extent of his obsession. All he knew was that he wanted to make amends, to compensate. He couldn't bear to leave her alone in the cold cemetery. He wanted to bring her back to the home she shared with him.He turned on the heat in the ca