Chapter 2
“Valerie, I know you’re grieving, but it’s fate!”
“Our children were born with heart defects. Not even a miracle could have saved them. It was their fate to not live long. Neither I nor Sophie caused their deaths!”
“I’ve told you this a thousand times, and yet you keep harassing Sophie. I didn’t want you to check the surveillance
footage to protect your sanity. I never imagined you’d start spreading sexual misconduct rumors, and exile her to the
Caribbean!”
His usually cold voice was now trembling with rage, his breaths shallow.
I cut in and asked him, “Was that emergency surgery real? Or was Sophie’s post really just a drunk game?”
“Or did you rush off to take your precious protégée to see fireworks”
On the other end, his breathing suddenly stopped.
There was a moment of silence.
“What are you talking about? There’s nothing going on. You really… You’re delusional…”
Then, Sophie’s voice cut in.
“Dr. Blackwood-Ethan! The fireworks are about to start. I know you finally have a moment to relax, and I don’t want my
issues affecting your mood. I’ll kneel and beg Mrs. Greene’s forgiveness when we’re back.”
The call was immediately disconnected.
Probably because he didn’t want to miss the fireworks, huh?
I held my children’s urn, tears flowing uncontrollably.
“Mommy won’t let them win.”
I don’t remember when I fell asleep, only that I cried until I couldn’t catch my breath.
The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes, unable to open them properly.
I put on sunglasses and went downstairs, only to see a busy figure.
Ethan appeared, holding a bowl of congee. He froze when he saw me, but quickly gave a casual smile.
“Morning. I made you breakfast. Eat something.”
“I flew back overnight-knew you’d overthink yesterday.”
I opened my mouth to refuse, but before I could speak, a lively figure burst out of the bathroom, wearing my pajamas.
She dashed straight into Ethan’s arms, saying coyly,
“Dr. Blackwood, you really have that husband vibe. My favorite kind.”
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Ethan quickly pulled her off, his voice flustered.
“Come on, act your age.”
He turned to explain.
“It was raining when we landed, and we got soaked. I told Sophie to go home and change, but she insisted on coming
here to apologize. I had her borrow your clothes to change into.”
Sophie stuck her tongue out and said to me, “Valerie, I’m really sorry! It was just a joke yesterday! If it bothers you, I’ll go
on a blind date this weekend and get married right away, so it won’t affect your relationship with Ethan.”
“Sophie, stop!” Ethan shouted, but then, noticing my mocking smile, quickly added,
“I mean, Valerie is always kind and understanding. She’ll definitely forgive you, no need to go looking for other men.”
“Right, Valerie? Let’s move on, okay?”
My children’s ashes were still warm, but there he was, under the fireworks, holding his new companion.
And now, he expected me to just move on?
I let out a sarcastic smile. “It’s fine, I don’t mind.”
After all, you’re both going to the Caribbean soon.
What your relationship really is, where you went, what you did last night, I really don’t care.
Seeing my response, Ethan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose.
“I’m glad you’re being reasonable. I’ve postponed my surgeries. I’ll stay with you for now. Once you’re feeling better and
after the memorial for the kids, I’ll go back to work.”
I quietly agreed.
He was their father, and he should’ve been mourning his children-not entertaining her..
Sophie, though, seemed less than pleased. Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she suddenly grabbed the bowl of congee
from Ethan’s hands and walked over to me.
“Try Dr. Blackwood’s lobster bisque, Mrs. Greene! He recreated it just for me after our beach trip. Perfect match!” Ethan
nervously glanced at me.
He always claimed that his hands were for saving lives, not cooking or doing housework.
Yet, for the past month, after work, he had been attempting to cook, making a mess each time.
During that time, the kids were seriously ill, and I was completely exhausted.
I thought he was trying to ease my burden, to take some of the weight off me.
I picked up the pieces of his kitchen disasters, bitterly sweet, hoping he would cook for me and the kids again.
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But it was all just for Sophie’s lobster bisque.
I could already smell the fishy odor, the one I absolutely hated, and my skin began to break out in hives.
I covered my mouth and stepped back a few steps, coldly saying, “I’m allergic to seafood. Take it away.”
Sophie, however, suddenly lost her grip on the bowl, and the scalding congee spilled all over her chest. She screamed as
she stumbled down the stairs.
“Sorry, Mrs. Greene! I didn’t know… Ethan, it hurts…”
“VALERIE! Are you insane?” Ethan roared. “She didn’t know that! Was shoving her down necessary!?”
“I didn’t!” I protested, choking back a gag.
“Liar! Why would she scald herself?”
His eyes were filled with disgust as he looked at me. “You’re unhinged.”
He lifted Sophie up and started carrying her out.
“Remove us from that list NOW. Or I swear-this isn’t over.”
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