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Chapter 4

Penulis: Local Universe
“Mommy, is Daddy busy again?”

I froze, looking into my son's eyes, unable to tell him the truth.

His father was not busy. He was with another child.

I could not bring myself to say it. All I could do was pull him into my arms, my heart aching for him like it had done so many times before.

“It's okay, sweetheart. You still have me. Mommy will always be here for you.”

He did not ask any more questions, but his eyes turned red.

On the way to school, neither of us mentioned Henry again. It was as though Henry had never promised anything and this family had only ever been the two of us.

Henry, you had one last chance.

After parking the car, I took my son's hand and walked into the school.

However, the moment we stepped into the classroom, I stopped in my tracks.

“Henry?”

“Daddy?”

Henry was sitting by the window. He instinctively looked up at the sound of our voices, his pupils contracting in shock.

“What are you doing here?”

The surprise in his words made me stop in my tracks. I had a bad premonition.

My son had been in elementary school for six months, yet Henry did not even know his class.

My son did not notice. Overjoyed, he ran up to him.

“Daddy, you—”

Henry frowned.

“What did you just call me?”

The joy on my son's face froze for a moment before he quickly corrected himself, his voice all too practiced.

“Uncle Parker, you're sitting in the wrong seat. Mine is up front.”

He looked up at Henry, his eyes shining with happiness.

This was the first time Henry had ever attended a class meeting and the first time he had kept his word.

However, the excitement did not last long.

A second later, Henry averted his gaze.

“I'm not in the wrong seat. This is my place.”

My son stood still, confused. Just as he was about to say something, a small figure suddenly pushed him aside.

“Go away! He's my Daddy!”

Instinct took over. I immediately pulled my son into my arms, shielding him.

Henry also stood up, but he hesitated momentarily when he met Evelyn’s surprised gaze.

Then, just as quickly, he moved the boy behind him to protect him. His voice was stiff as he said, “Ethan didn’t mean it. I apologize on his behalf.”

Both my son and I froze.

My son had never once received this kind of protection or concern from his father.

“Who is he?” I rose to my feet and asked in a soft voice.

Henry hesitated for a moment. After meeting my gaze, a flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes.

“A friend’s child.”

“Is that so?”

I murmured, but deep down, I already knew the answer.

This was the boy from Evelyn’s photo.

The child Henry was willing to be there for.

Sure enough, Evelyn walked in with a bottle of water a moment later. She looked surprised to see us.

“Miss Clarke? Are you here for the meeting too?” She glanced around. “Why don’t I see the child’s father?”

My gaze instinctively shifted to Henry at her words.

He avoided my eyes.

Realization hit me. He was afraid I would expose him.

For a moment, I felt like I was transported back to the day Evelyn returned.

That night, the ever-cold Henry had gotten drunk for the first time.

When he heard his son call him Daddy, he had actually smiled for the first time.

My son and I had thought that our wait was finally over.

However, the next moment, the name he whispered was not mine.

It was Evelyn’s.

That was when I knew. He had mistaken us for someone else.

I tightened my grip on my son’s hand, ready to speak. However, before I could say anything, my son beat me to it.

“My dad is overseas. He’s very busy, so I don’t want to bother him.”

With one sentence, the two of them were left stunned.

I looked down at my son in disbelief, seeing his reddened and welled-up eyes.

He was looking at Henry, smiling as though he finally understood everything.
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  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 5

    “Uncle Parker, Mommy and I are leaving now.”All the sadness in the world was lodged in my chest at that moment.As I turned around, Henry suddenly grabbed my arm.…“What did Lyle just say?”Henry looked at our son in shock as though he wanted to confirm something.Was it because the child he always pushed away had learned to distance himself?I forced a smile, feeling a sharp sting of irony.“He didn’t say anything, Mr. Parker. The meeting is about to start.”I pulled my arm away from his and led my son to the seats up front.Even as I sat down, I could still feel the burning gaze from behind. However, no matter how hot that gaze was, it could not warm my heart.The meeting started on time.I held my son close, wishing for the first time that the teacher's voice would be sterner.I wanted it to drown out the intimate conversation between the family of three behind us.As expected, the teacher called Lyle up. They announced that he had been chosen as the class monitor

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 6

    My finger hovered over the power button.It was not because I was unsure of leaving, but because I was wondering if leaving so abruptly was really the best choice.Lyle noticed my hesitation. He tugged at my sleeve, lowering his head, his voice muffled as he reminded me, “Mommy, we should go.”Looking into his urging eyes, everything suddenly became clear to me. I had always known that Henry was not a good person. I knew he did not love me. I knew this marriage was a complete mistake. However, I still blindly threw myself into it because I truly loved him at that time.Now, I had someone I loved even more—my child.I could not keep fantasizing about parting on good terms or hoping for a change of heart. What I needed to do now was take my son's hand and move forward.I turned off my phone and looked at my son’s innocent face, feeling as though a strange force had taken over my heart.It was something warmer than the fleeting and elusive nature of love.“Let's go.“Mommy

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 7

    The more he acted like he did not love me, the more insignificant I became.He used this tactic for seven years.A gleam of sharpness flashed across Henry's eyes as the green light flashed, and he drove away from the intersection.…Back at the company, just as Henry was about to lie down, his phone lit up.This time, it was a text message: [Be happy.]Sender: Serena Clarke.Bang!Henry kicked the coffee table next to him with a gloomy expression.[Serena, what do you mean by this?!][Are you crazy?!][Who gave you the guts to say something like this?!]No one replied.Henry stood up, quickly heading toward the parking lot, dialing my number as he walked.“Beep... The number you have dialed is unavailable.”“Damn it!”He cursed under his breath, yanking open the car door.“Serena, pick up the damn phone!”Still no reply.The wind was strong at night, but it could not blow away the fear in Henry's heart.It had been half an hour, and I still had not responded.This

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 8

    As a reward.A reward for the latest lesson my son and I had learned.However, my son and I had left now.Without warning.Without looking back.Henry covered his face and collapsed onto the ground, feeling utterly out of control.The phone rang again.Henry sat up suddenly and grabbed his phone.“Serena, you…”“Henry?”Evelyn's voice came through the phone.Henry’s face darkened. There was no warmth left in his voice.“Yes?”Evelyn paused for a moment, sounding surprised, but continued, “Henry, the pipes in our house are broken. Ethan and I don’t know what to do. Can you help us?”“How can I help?”Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly answered, “I was wondering... Could we… stay at your place for a while?”“Hah.“You really think it’s that easy? Henry let out a laugh. His voice was as cold as ice.Now that I was gone, Evelyn had lost any value to him.He could not be bothered to pretend anymore.“Evelyn, I thought you were a smart person.”There was a p

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 9

    I had to be honest.Before coming to Irisco, I thought that getting a divorce was a huge deal.I thought that leaving Henry would break my heart and leave me in agony.However, I suddenly realized something after arriving here.It turned out that not waiting for a man to come home was so freeing and relaxing.I no longer had to wake up early to make breakfast for Henry or endure his cold words.I did not have to smell the lingering scent of perfume on his clothes, getting angry while throwing them into the washing machine with a cold expression.I realized that divorce was actually quite exhilarating.Even my son, who always wanted to get closer to Henry, could not help but exclaim when he saw the steaming food on the table, “Mommy, I wish we had left Uncle Parker earlier!”I could not help but laugh when I heard that, but my heart felt bitter.Henry was a jerk and a real piece of trash.He never took any responsibility as a father, yet he always used his fatherly title to b

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 10

    “Sure enough, you’re jealous.“Considering you’ve been with me for seven years, I'll give you a chance. Come back with me, and I’ll let the past go.”My hand trembled as I poured the coffee. I swear, I was this close to throwing the entire pot of scalding hot coffee right in his face.I wanted to see how thick his skin really was.However, I held back. Going to prison over a piece of trash like him was not worth it.Setting the coffee down, I pulled out a printed divorce agreement from the drawer and tossed it onto the table.As the paper slid across the surface, I suddenly remembered how Henry used to do the same thing, throwing documents at me whenever he was displeased.Anyone watching would have thought he had Parkinson’s.Now, it was my turn. Damn, it felt good.Henry’s brows twitched, but he still bent down to pick up the papers.As he stared at the bolded characters on the divorce agreement, the arrogance on his face disappeared for the first time.“Serena, you’re ser

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 11

    “What makes you think I still love you?“What right do you have to think that?”With every step I took forward, Henry instinctively stepped back until he hit the soft couch and sank into it helplessly.He had not seen me this determined in a long time.Ever since that night.For a moment, his mind drifted back to the first time we met.During my interview, he looked at my resume and frowned.“Serena, your background isn’t particularly impressive, and you have no experience in this industry.“What made you apply to our company?“What makes you think we’d hire you?”I answered, “It’s because I’m willing to learn. I work hard, and I don’t fear challenges.“If you give me a chance, I promise you’ll be impressed.”Seven years later, I kept my promise.The confident, determined girl who had walked into his office back then had weathered seven long years of storms and stood before him once again.She was stronger than ever.However, this time, there was nothing he could do to k

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 12

    Henry burst into laughter. His arms wrapped tightly around me in an eager embrace. His voice trembled with relief.“Serena, I swear I’ll treat you well. I promise.”I forced myself to stay still, suppressing the overwhelming urge to gag.‘Henry, you need to remember that you were the one who pushed things this far.‘Don’t blame me for what happens next.’…After returning to the country, Henry truly seemed like a changed man.He cut off all contact with Evelyn and went from being cold and distant to overwhelmingly affectionate toward me and Lyle.He was almost too affectionate, indulging our every whim without hesitation.However, my son and I remained indifferent, responding to him the way he had once treated us.When we left, my son had cried so hard he nearly passed out.Especially at the boarding gate. He even bit Henry’s wrist in a desperate attempt to make him release me.It broke my heart.However, there was no way to explain things to him. Not yet.Only after we a

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  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 12

    Henry burst into laughter. His arms wrapped tightly around me in an eager embrace. His voice trembled with relief.“Serena, I swear I’ll treat you well. I promise.”I forced myself to stay still, suppressing the overwhelming urge to gag.‘Henry, you need to remember that you were the one who pushed things this far.‘Don’t blame me for what happens next.’…After returning to the country, Henry truly seemed like a changed man.He cut off all contact with Evelyn and went from being cold and distant to overwhelmingly affectionate toward me and Lyle.He was almost too affectionate, indulging our every whim without hesitation.However, my son and I remained indifferent, responding to him the way he had once treated us.When we left, my son had cried so hard he nearly passed out.Especially at the boarding gate. He even bit Henry’s wrist in a desperate attempt to make him release me.It broke my heart.However, there was no way to explain things to him. Not yet.Only after we a

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 11

    “What makes you think I still love you?“What right do you have to think that?”With every step I took forward, Henry instinctively stepped back until he hit the soft couch and sank into it helplessly.He had not seen me this determined in a long time.Ever since that night.For a moment, his mind drifted back to the first time we met.During my interview, he looked at my resume and frowned.“Serena, your background isn’t particularly impressive, and you have no experience in this industry.“What made you apply to our company?“What makes you think we’d hire you?”I answered, “It’s because I’m willing to learn. I work hard, and I don’t fear challenges.“If you give me a chance, I promise you’ll be impressed.”Seven years later, I kept my promise.The confident, determined girl who had walked into his office back then had weathered seven long years of storms and stood before him once again.She was stronger than ever.However, this time, there was nothing he could do to k

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 10

    “Sure enough, you’re jealous.“Considering you’ve been with me for seven years, I'll give you a chance. Come back with me, and I’ll let the past go.”My hand trembled as I poured the coffee. I swear, I was this close to throwing the entire pot of scalding hot coffee right in his face.I wanted to see how thick his skin really was.However, I held back. Going to prison over a piece of trash like him was not worth it.Setting the coffee down, I pulled out a printed divorce agreement from the drawer and tossed it onto the table.As the paper slid across the surface, I suddenly remembered how Henry used to do the same thing, throwing documents at me whenever he was displeased.Anyone watching would have thought he had Parkinson’s.Now, it was my turn. Damn, it felt good.Henry’s brows twitched, but he still bent down to pick up the papers.As he stared at the bolded characters on the divorce agreement, the arrogance on his face disappeared for the first time.“Serena, you’re ser

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 9

    I had to be honest.Before coming to Irisco, I thought that getting a divorce was a huge deal.I thought that leaving Henry would break my heart and leave me in agony.However, I suddenly realized something after arriving here.It turned out that not waiting for a man to come home was so freeing and relaxing.I no longer had to wake up early to make breakfast for Henry or endure his cold words.I did not have to smell the lingering scent of perfume on his clothes, getting angry while throwing them into the washing machine with a cold expression.I realized that divorce was actually quite exhilarating.Even my son, who always wanted to get closer to Henry, could not help but exclaim when he saw the steaming food on the table, “Mommy, I wish we had left Uncle Parker earlier!”I could not help but laugh when I heard that, but my heart felt bitter.Henry was a jerk and a real piece of trash.He never took any responsibility as a father, yet he always used his fatherly title to b

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 8

    As a reward.A reward for the latest lesson my son and I had learned.However, my son and I had left now.Without warning.Without looking back.Henry covered his face and collapsed onto the ground, feeling utterly out of control.The phone rang again.Henry sat up suddenly and grabbed his phone.“Serena, you…”“Henry?”Evelyn's voice came through the phone.Henry’s face darkened. There was no warmth left in his voice.“Yes?”Evelyn paused for a moment, sounding surprised, but continued, “Henry, the pipes in our house are broken. Ethan and I don’t know what to do. Can you help us?”“How can I help?”Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly answered, “I was wondering... Could we… stay at your place for a while?”“Hah.“You really think it’s that easy? Henry let out a laugh. His voice was as cold as ice.Now that I was gone, Evelyn had lost any value to him.He could not be bothered to pretend anymore.“Evelyn, I thought you were a smart person.”There was a p

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 7

    The more he acted like he did not love me, the more insignificant I became.He used this tactic for seven years.A gleam of sharpness flashed across Henry's eyes as the green light flashed, and he drove away from the intersection.…Back at the company, just as Henry was about to lie down, his phone lit up.This time, it was a text message: [Be happy.]Sender: Serena Clarke.Bang!Henry kicked the coffee table next to him with a gloomy expression.[Serena, what do you mean by this?!][Are you crazy?!][Who gave you the guts to say something like this?!]No one replied.Henry stood up, quickly heading toward the parking lot, dialing my number as he walked.“Beep... The number you have dialed is unavailable.”“Damn it!”He cursed under his breath, yanking open the car door.“Serena, pick up the damn phone!”Still no reply.The wind was strong at night, but it could not blow away the fear in Henry's heart.It had been half an hour, and I still had not responded.This

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 6

    My finger hovered over the power button.It was not because I was unsure of leaving, but because I was wondering if leaving so abruptly was really the best choice.Lyle noticed my hesitation. He tugged at my sleeve, lowering his head, his voice muffled as he reminded me, “Mommy, we should go.”Looking into his urging eyes, everything suddenly became clear to me. I had always known that Henry was not a good person. I knew he did not love me. I knew this marriage was a complete mistake. However, I still blindly threw myself into it because I truly loved him at that time.Now, I had someone I loved even more—my child.I could not keep fantasizing about parting on good terms or hoping for a change of heart. What I needed to do now was take my son's hand and move forward.I turned off my phone and looked at my son’s innocent face, feeling as though a strange force had taken over my heart.It was something warmer than the fleeting and elusive nature of love.“Let's go.“Mommy

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 5

    “Uncle Parker, Mommy and I are leaving now.”All the sadness in the world was lodged in my chest at that moment.As I turned around, Henry suddenly grabbed my arm.…“What did Lyle just say?”Henry looked at our son in shock as though he wanted to confirm something.Was it because the child he always pushed away had learned to distance himself?I forced a smile, feeling a sharp sting of irony.“He didn’t say anything, Mr. Parker. The meeting is about to start.”I pulled my arm away from his and led my son to the seats up front.Even as I sat down, I could still feel the burning gaze from behind. However, no matter how hot that gaze was, it could not warm my heart.The meeting started on time.I held my son close, wishing for the first time that the teacher's voice would be sterner.I wanted it to drown out the intimate conversation between the family of three behind us.As expected, the teacher called Lyle up. They announced that he had been chosen as the class monitor

  • One Goodbye Is Enough   Chapter 4

    “Mommy, is Daddy busy again?”I froze, looking into my son's eyes, unable to tell him the truth. His father was not busy. He was with another child.I could not bring myself to say it. All I could do was pull him into my arms, my heart aching for him like it had done so many times before.“It's okay, sweetheart. You still have me. Mommy will always be here for you.”He did not ask any more questions, but his eyes turned red.On the way to school, neither of us mentioned Henry again. It was as though Henry had never promised anything and this family had only ever been the two of us.Henry, you had one last chance.After parking the car, I took my son's hand and walked into the school. However, the moment we stepped into the classroom, I stopped in my tracks.“Henry?”“Daddy?”…Henry was sitting by the window. He instinctively looked up at the sound of our voices, his pupils contracting in shock.“What are you doing here?”The surprise in his words made me stop in my tr

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