Hope struggled with all her might, but being so small, she was held firmly by the staff. No matter how much she kicked, her feet didn’t reach the ground. She could only watch as Nina and Nash walked away with Orion, leaving her behind.Though they had finally sent Hope away, Nina and Nash still felt a lingering unease.“It’s over now. Try not to dwell on it. How about some music to help us relax?” Nash suggested, breaking the silence.Nina nodded. “Play anything.”As Nash inserted the car key, the dashboard screen flickered to life. Instead of music, an image of a masked man dressed in black appeared, his face fully covered except for his eyes, which stared at Nash with a defiant gleam.“Who are you?” Nash’s expression turned icy.It was clear this man was somehow tied to Hope.The masked man didn’t respond right away. Instead, he laughed for a moment before speaking. “Nash, I thought you had two kids. So why is there only one in the car? Is it that you didn’t want to bring the
"A trivial person. You don't need to worry about him. Your dad and I will handle it," Nina assured, determined to keep Orion out of it. He was just a child, deserving a happy and carefree childhood, free from adult complications.But Orion didn't see it that way. "Mom, Dad, we’re a family. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to do whatever I can.""Taking care of yourself is the biggest help you can give us," Nina replied, giving his cheek a gentle squeeze. "Your dad and I will make sure you’re safe."She would protect both of her children, and as for the masked man, Nash would figure out his identity. Now, it was time for them to go home.“I know you can do it, Mom and Dad!” Orion said with a big smile. Once he was buckled in, Nash began driving home.……Back at the Fay residence.Since her parents had shown up at the hotel, Lydia had officially moved back in with them. Mrs. Fay was now constantly reminding the housekeeper, “Make extra nutritious dishes and ensure Lydia
But as parents, they all want their daughter to find someone with better prospects. Quincy’s startup may be showing some promise, but that was largely due to Nash’s support. If Nash ever decided to withdraw his help, or if Quincy succeeded and then decided to discard Lydia after using her, Lydia would be left devastated. This fear had been lingering in Mrs. Fay’s mind for a while, but the bond between Lydia and Quincy was so strong that, despite her concerns, she hadn’t intervened. But after seeing them fight, she felt more convinced than ever that Quincy wasn’t the right man for her daughter.“There’s no way I’d go back to him. I saw him with another woman. If I reconciled with him now, I’d be making a fool of myself,” Lydia said, shaking her head.Mrs. Fay had initially thought it was just a simple fight, but now, hearing this, her expression darkened. “Oh, he’s got some nerve, doesn’t he? If he’s already running around with other women, who’s to say he won’t do worse once he’s
As they descended the stairs, they spotted Mrs. Fay seated on the couch, watching TV.“Good morning, Mrs. Fay,” Eugene greeted her politely.She looked up, and the more she observed her prospective son-in-law, the more she approved of him. But when her gaze shifted to Lydia, concern immediately clouded her face. “Lydia, yesterday you didn’t have dark circles, and now they’re so noticeable. Did you not sleep at all last night?”It made sense, she thought. Lydia and Quincy had been deeply in love. Divorce wouldn’t be easy, and while she felt her daughter’s pain, Mrs. Fay knew it was better to get it over with now rather than prolong the hurt. She couldn’t let a moment of sympathy pull Lydia back into that painful situation.“No, Mom, I slept fine. I just forgot to close the window, got a bit cold, and had trouble falling back asleep,” Lydia fibbed, hoping to put her mom at ease.But a mother knows her daughter best. Mrs. Fay saw through the excuse but chose not to call her out. “It’
Lydia didn’t say a word, merely lowering her head in silence. She had always loved children. When she first found out she was pregnant, she had been so excited. But now, the child was gone, her beloved husband was gone, and the happiness she once felt seemed like an illusion. Just one touch and it shattered, leaving nothing but broken pieces.“I’m sorry, Lydia. I shouldn’t have brought that up. Sometimes I just don’t think. I can’t believe I said something so thoughtless…” Eugene’s voice grew increasingly panicked, and before Lydia could react, he raised his hand to slap himself.As he prepared for a second slap, Lydia quickly grabbed his hand, shaking her head. “Don’t do that. I’m not blaming you. It’s not your fault.”After all, it wasn’t Eugene who had caused her to lose the baby. And he hadn’t said anything that terrible. She knew she couldn’t expect everyone to avoid mentioning children around her just because of what she had gone through.“But I worry you’re bottling it all
Quincy felt utterly defeated. He and Lydia had genuinely loved each other and had both invested in their relationship. How did he end up being compared to a total simp?"Lydia never did anything to betray me. If anyone was in the wrong, it was me. But Mom, drugging your own son? That’s something only you could do." Quincy turned and looked at his mother, lying there in the hospital bed.The bitterness and frustration in his heart were almost overwhelming. He still couldn’t come to terms with the fact that his own mother had drugged him. But she was sick, and as her son, he couldn’t just bring up old grievances or walk away while she lay there unwell. So, he buried everything deep down, though it made him feel suffocated.Mabel hadn’t heard about the drugging incident. She glanced at Mrs. Perez, clearly shocked. When they had asked for her help, they hadn’t mentioned that little detail.Mrs. Perez started to cough violently. Tiffany quickly stepped forward, gently patting her back
"It’s no trouble at all," Tiffany said with a smile, shaking her head. The chance to spend more time with Quincy was something she eagerly welcomed, not something she would find bothersome.Mabel gave a slightly awkward grin. "Quincy, she really does know what I like. We have a lot in common."Quincy didn’t say anything as he turned and headed for the door. They had planned everything out, and if he refused, they would label him as ungrateful. That would mean his mom might refuse her medications and treatments. He didn’t mind bearing the reputation of being unfilial, but he couldn’t stand the thought of his mother’s health deteriorating over it.Tiffany quickly followed, happily chatting all the way to the mall, though Quincy remained silent. He was just going through the motions.In the cosmetics section on the first floor, Tiffany picked up two shades of lipstick and asked him, "Quincy, which color do you think looks better?"He glanced at them. "Aren’t they the same?""No, t
Lydia stopped in her tracks and turned to Quincy, disbelief flooding her eyes. She understood every word he said, but hearing them strung together like that felt utterly surreal.“So, you’re telling me,” she said slowly, “that your mother drugged you with that kind of drug?”“Yes.” Quincy nodded, though saying it out loud made him feel deeply humiliated. Still, he had to tell her the truth. Regardless of whether they ended up divorcing or not, he couldn’t let Lydia believe he was some heartless player messing around with other women’s feelings.“I can’t believe you’re telling me the truth. I… I…” Lydia’s voice trembled, leaving her at a loss for words. Tears brimmed in her eyes until they spilled over, leaving a faint trail down her cheeks.Her mind drifted to the child they had lost so suddenly. She had found it strange at the time. Everything had been fine, and her health had been good. But as soon as Mrs. Perez arrived to ‘help,’ things had taken a turn, and she had miscarried