"What are you all laughing at? Did I say something wrong?" Joshua looked utterly confused.The doctor shook his head. "Nothing. I'll head back to the office to finalize Pearton's treatment plan. Mr. Wood, Mrs. Wood, we'll take our leave."The doctor led the nurses out, leaving Joshua still puzzled."Why are you laughing then? Did I say something wrong? Mommy, why are you laughing? Shawn, aren't you the perpetually poker-faced guy? Even you laughed," he kept asking.Shawn raised an eyebrow. "You said you'd devote yourself to Pearton?""Yeah. Don't they always say that on TV to repay someone for saving your life? Why can't I say that too?" Joshua replied nonchalantly."You can. It's up to Pearton if he wants that." Shawn nodded.Gale tugged at Shawn's sleeve. "Joshua is just a kid. Why are you messing with him?"Shawn replied seriously, "I'm quite open-minded. I'll agree if he insists on devoting himself to another man."Joshua sensed something was off. He muttered, "So, it's ok
No amount of pre planning could help the situation then. Fortunately, Pearton succeeded in his crazy idea."Yeah, yeah. Whether he successfully rescued me or not, Uncle Pearton is undoubtedly a great hero!" Joshua nodded repeatedly.Pearton just nodded.Gale bent down, leaning against Pearton. "Take good care of yourself. We won't disturb you. If you need anything, just ask. I will do whatever I can to do it.""Thank you, Mrs. Wood."Pearton was extremely weak. In the short time he had been awake, he had expended most of his energy to converse with them.Gale, not wanting to disturb him, left with Joshua.Pearton slowly closed his eyes with a faint smile.He had done something profoundly meaningful in his life that he would never regret.Back in his ward, Joshua immediately started to settle scores.When Gale tried to put him back on the bed, he clung to her arm. "Mommy, Daddy bullied me. Whose side are you on?""When did he bully you?""Just now! When you ran out to see Un
"She was there? Why?" Gale exclaimed."Matthew couldn't really stand on his own, so she was there to support him. I threw the divorce papers in her face and told her that from now on, I will never see her and Matthew again," Mary explained."I also told Heather that despite all her scheming, seducing Matthew, and taking my daughter away, she gained nothing. I won't bother with her because she wasted half her life. If she wants Matthew, she can have him.""I told her there was nothing left to fight for. She took you away, which is indeed a crime deserving of death. Even if I had the intention to kill her now, it wouldn't change the fact that you left me at a young age. I want to forget it all.""Now you and Shawn have a loving relationship. Joshua and Nicole are growing up well. I don't want bloodshed; I don't want to be the villain punishing Heather. Let's move forward with grace."Gale nodded. "Mom, you're so open-minded. I feel relieved."She was worried that her unilateral dec
"Sure!" Joshua responded enthusiastically. Shawn also agreed.Gale smiled. "That's more like it." Regardless of what they discussed, they would gradually adapt and grow closer. After all, they were father and son.Joshua smirked. Shawn sighed. Even their expressions when they scowled were identical. Gale saw their expressions and found it amusing.A month had passed.Joshua was getting discharged. After spending a whole month in the hospital, Joshua was itching to get out. "I felt I could have left much earlier. Your paranoia and all those checks that delayed me for a week. The doctor finally allowed my discharge. Yes! I am finally free!" Joshua said.He grabbed his hospital gown and waved it above his head. He was in high spirits.The stitches on Joshua's neck were removed, and he would only need to medicate them to prevent scarring."Freedom! Freedom! Woo-hoo! I can run and jump again, free to soar!" Joshua bounced on the hospital bed, wiggling his hips.Shawn and Gale stood
Joshua picked up the gold necklace, bit on it, and grinned. That was not all. When Lucas arrived, he handed Joshua a key. "Great Grandpa, what is...""A house key.""What?! A house?"More precisely, it was the key to a villa. Lucas explained, "In the future, when you grow up and have a family, you can move here. Joshua, you can't keep living with your parents, can you?" Joshua joyfully accepted, "Thank you, Great Grandpa!"Lucas was always generous. After buying a theme park for Nicole, he purchased a villa for Joshua. Their gifts were progressively more luxurious."Do you ever feel that his gifts are getting more extravagant?" Gale nudged Shawn's shoulder.Was that appropriate? Would it cultivate Joshua's lavish spending habits?Take the racing car model from Peter as an example; it looked ordinary, but as a limited edition, it cost tens of thousands! Not to mention the gold necklace and a villa!Shawn replied, "It's fine."Gale realized she should not have asked him beca
Gale spoke first, "Aurum..."Shawn furrowed his brows, scrutinizing. Why was he here? Aurum looked calm. His eyes glanced past Shawn and Gale and made a beeline for Joshua. He held a bouquet, knocked on the door, and offered it to Joshua. "Joshua.""Uncle Aurum! You came!" Hearing Aurum's voice, Joshua's eyes lit up."How could I be absent on your big day?""I thought..."Joshua glanced at Shawn.Considering how petty and jealous his father was, he probably would not have informed Aurum. In fact, Shawn indeed did not tell Aurum that Joshua was getting discharged that day. Aurum came on his own.However, with everyone here, could Shawn really send him away?Aurum smiled. "I haven't bought anything special, Joshua, just a bouquet of flowers.""Flowers are great, so beautiful and fresh. I love flowers!" Joshua ran over, taking the flowers in his hands. "Uncle Aurum, I like everything you give me!"Aurum patted his head. "In the future, stay close to your mom and dad, be obedient
"Actually, you don't have to accompany me. Shawn wouldn't be pleased," Aurum said."It's a matter of courtesy."Aurum suddenly smirked mockingly. "Do we need that between us?"Gale bit her lip. "I didn't mean that...""Gale, you're very fortunate now that you have Shawn by your side. He loves, respects, and cares for you and is accepted by Joshua and Nicole. Four years ago, when you jumped into the sea, you couldn't have imagined that one day you would have such a perfect life.""Perhaps that's life, we never know what happens next."Aurum stopped, facing her. "Gale, are you happy now?"Gale nodded."Do you love him?"Gale nodded again without hesitation.Aurum remained silent for a few seconds, then smiled. "I knew it. I guessed it a long time ago. Your feelings for Shawn never disappeared; they've always been buried deep in your heart. No matter what I do, I can't replace him.""Even though I've done so much for you. Even though we've known each other since childhood.""A
Aurum honestly believed that his silent efforts and years of companionship had wielded results. He thought that Gale had a change of heart and that she had feelings for him.Therefore, he hastily canceled the engagement with Natalie, severing ties. He wanted a fresh start, unburdened, to embrace Gale. However, what transpired was realizing that it was all his own misguided imagination.Gale sighed. "I lied. Back then, it was just to deceive Shawn for a divorce." In a moment of rashness, she wounded two people, Shawn and Aurum. "I'm sorry. I thought you ended things with Natalie because you found the real heiress of the Yarn family. I thought you claimed to like me just to use me as a cover, so I went along and said I liked you too," Gale added.Unexpectedly, she was the true Ms. Yarn, and Aurum's love was genuine. However, her proclamation of loving him was a lie. Aurum slowly clenched his fists. "Everything was fake, all of it. The only true thing is your love for Shawn."