“Mhm,” Summer nodded. “My archaeology studies will take at least three years. After that, I’ll think about whether I want to move here for real.” “You’re not going back to Lanford?” Clara asked again.Summer felt melancholy at the mention of Lanford. “I will only go back to pay my respects to Nathan on his death anniversary and also when my child needs me.” Her only ties in Lanford were Nathan and Hayden.Selling her shares was the best proof that she wanted to leave Lanford."How's Hayden doing?" Clara asked with concern."The doctor said his recovery is pretty good, and he'll be healthy enough to leave the hospital after some treatment,” Summer said.“Great!” Clara was relieved to hear that. A mother’s greatest fear was her child’s well-being. “Does he know that you’re his biological mother?” Summer shook her head. “I’m not sure. I’ve only met him a few times. Sometimes, I think that it’s better for him to not know that.” She didn’t want the adult’s grudges to affect Hayden’s ha
Clara knew what Summer was thinking, so she remained silent. It was better to let her calm down by herself. Clara’s phone rang suddenly, and it was an unfamiliar number. She trembled slightly after answering the call. “Ms. Wells, I’m Wilson Birch’s lawyer. Mr. Birch entrusted me to deal with the divorce, and he has prepared a contract. Please come to our law firm to have a look at the documents when you’re free. You can put forward any objections you want, and we will inform Mr. Birch about it to modify the contract.” Clara was stunned, and she couldn’t hear what the other party said clearly toward the end. “Ms. Wells?” The lawyer called out due to the prolonged silence. “Huh?” Clara snapped back to her senses. “Alright, got it.” “This is the address of my law firm…” The lawyer told Clara the address and asked, “When will you come over? I will clear my schedule for you.” Clara hesitated and finally said, “Tomorrow.” “Tomorrow afternoon it is, then. We can arrange for a car to p
“Maybe he still has some feelings for me. Only a little bit.” Clara sighed. “I guess I’ll have nothing more to do with him after I sign the papers. Our only connection will be the children.” “Do you really want to get a divorce? If you really love him, find a way to end his hypnotism. Isn’t it great to have a happy family of four?” Clara shook her head. "No. My liver isn’t healthy. I had liver cancer and a liver transplant. Giving birth to Amy put a toll on my liver. I don’t know how long I can live. Why should I make him suffer again? He doesn’t love me now, and I think it’s better to get a divorce.” “Won’t you regret it?” “There are a lot of regrets in life. I should be grateful that my life is peaceful with you guys around me now.” Summer looked at Amy and handed her back to Clara. “I think that we can always avoid regrets. Some regrets can still be made up for, and some regrets can never be made up for. Like me, Nathan is gone, and I can never make it up to him. On the other h
‘I just want Wilson... the old Wilson back!’ Maybe Clara would never get to see the old him again. “Is he doing fine?” Clara asked. The lawyer hesitated and said, “Mr. Birch is fine, still busy with his work as before.” It wasn’t true, but Wilson had instructed the lawyer to say that when Clara asked about him. “Is that so?” Clara murmured. She glanced at the papers and said, “I would like to change something.” “Sure.” “I will accept the shares and alimony he gives to the children. However, I don’t need any monetary support or his assets. Let him open two bank accounts for the children and credit the money into it. I will only take what I need every month for their expenses. The children will deal with the extra money when they grow up in the future.” The lawyer was surprised at Clara’s words. She was pushing away the money. No normal person would do that. “Mr. Birch gave you everything out of his good intentions, you don’t have to push them away.” “He doesn’t owe me anything
As soon as Clara signed the papers, she would have to cut off ties with Wilson. Even if they had two children together, they were no longer husband and wife. They wouldn’t be able to meet up that much anymore. Clara felt a pang in her chest when she thought of that. A car suddenly pulled up by her side, and Serenity got out of the car hurriedly. “Did you sign the divorce papers?” “Serenity?” Clara was surprised. “Did you sign the papers?” Serenity asked anxiously. If Clara had signed it, she would have had to go to the firm and intercept the divorce procedure. “Not yet. How did you know I was going to sign the divorce papers?"“I went to your place and your mother told me about your schedule. So, I rushed here. Luckily you haven’t signed it yet.” Serenity was relieved. “I should have already signed it, but I was afraid that there were loopholes, so I need time to think about it.” Clara made an excuse. “You couldn’t bear to leave him, right?” Serenity saw right through Clara. C
Clara couldn’t help but feel uneasy as she followed behind Serenity. Serenity took Clara to the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic unit.“Why did you bring me here?” Clara asked in surprise."You'll find out in a moment." Serenity said and walked right into the Chief Physician's office. The doctor greeted Serenity respectfully, “Hello, Mrs. Valor.” “I hope that you can tell Clara everything in detail like what I told you last time,” Serenity said. Clara recognized the doctor, one of the specialists who was involved in her childbirth. “But…” the doctor hesitated. “Don’t worry about Wilson. Although he ordered you guys to keep quiet, I am the one who told Clara about it. I just want you to explain everything to her because you’re the best witness,” Serenity said. The doctor hesitated for a second. “Well, I think there’s something that you need to know.” “And what is that?” Clara asked with a quiver. What the doctor was about to say next wasn’t a small matter. “Ms. Wells, after you ga
Clara broke down in tears. “How… Why…” “Before the surgery, Mr. Birch told us not to tell you about the second liver transplant. We all agreed after considering your condition.” After all, the hospital had to listen to the patient’s husband’s request. Clara couldn’t stop crying. She wondered if Wilson had kept quiet about it because he didn’t want her to feel psychologically burdened or he was afraid that she wouldn’t agree to such a surgery at all.Wilson had still sacrificed for Clara even though he had already forgotten the feelings he once had for her. He would have died on the operating table if the surgery failed! And now, his quality of life would never be better even if the surgery succeeded. Clara didn’t understand his actions. She sobbed and asked Serenity. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!” “Just like the doctor said, you weren't in a good condition, and Amy was in the NICU. I was afraid that you'd get too emotional if I told you about Wilson. It would affect your re
“Listen to your heart, my dear. Go ahead and do whatever you want to do. You don’t have to worry about the consequences,” Mrs. Wells said. Clara had had too much to worry about in her life. She ended up keeping all the bitterness in her heart and suffering alone. Mrs. Wells just wanted her daughter to be happy. Serenity was envious of their relationship. Mrs. Wells would always stand by Clara no matter what happened, but Serenity didn’t have many memories of her mother. The only photo album that her mother had left behind had been burned and half-destroyed!Perhaps her mother would be happy for her knowing the life she was living now. Serenity quietly left the store and went to the elementary school. It was almost time for classes to end, and parents slowly began to gather at the entrance of the school.Serenity was here to pick up Caden and Cynthia, and she had something to tell Yannick as well. The first person she saw was Yannick. “Aunt Serene, are you here to pick up Caden a