He demeaned himself for the sake of her. Back at the hospital, Summer went to the reception to settle the hospitalization bill. The nurse at the reception told her that someone else had settled the bill. Summer’s breathing sped up, and she felt a pain in her chest, as if a thousand needles pierced her. Her hands and feet curled up and her voice trembled involuntarily. “Who paid for it?” “Mr. Valentine. All the bills would be settled under his name; he has instructed so earlier.” The nurse smiled. She could not even squeeze a smile, the look on her face looking more awful than crying, and her nails sank into the tender flesh of her palms. ‘What a fool!’ She felt touched and as if she wanted to cry. The two emotions came together, and she finally laughed. That thought was breeding and spreading like crazy inside her. Every cell in her body shouted that she missed him. Back in the ward, Daisy was watching TV. But Summer was sitting by the window, taking out some wool and k
Charlotte was still young, but old enough to understand what Summer meant. Her tears started to flow. “Mommy, is that Daddy’s new girlfriend?” Summer said nothing, but hugged Charlotte in her arms with a flash of light in her eyes. She looked cunning, like a fox. Summer’s back was facing Daisy, so Daisy did not see her expression but Charlotte’s crying face. She felt sorry for Charlotte. Daisy had seen Charlotte grow up. It broke her heart as a grandma to see Charlotte crying. “Mommy, has Daddy abandoned me? Will Daddy have a baby with his new girlfriend and never want me again?” She cried so hard that she was out of breath. “It is okay, Charlotte. Daddy will have his new life, but he is still your daddy.” She carried up Charlotte and sat down by the window. Tears flowed down her cheeks like a river burst its bank. Her eyes reddened and swelled as she whimpered. “Will Daddy have children again?” Summer did not answer, but just gently patted Charlotte on the back and coaxe
“Thank you.” He thanked her politely but indifferently, like a stranger. “No problem.” Her heart ached, and she took a deep breath. He did not look at her again as he turned to Daisy and said hello politely. “How are you doing, Mrs. Hart?” Daisy looked at the girl and Mark, then at Summer. “Surviving!” she said grumpily. “Take care. After having dinner with Charlotte, I will send her back.” Mark did not mind Daisy’s reaction. Summer remained silent. It was Daisy who felt not too happy. “Charlotte has already had dinner. Thank you for your kindness.” “I want to have dinner with Daddy. I want to be with Daddy. I am hungry,” Charlotte suddenly said. Charlotte’s words were a slap in the face for Daisy. She looked embarrassed. But it was her own granddaughter; there was nothing she could do about it. “I will send her back safely.” Mark turned around and left with the girl and Charlotte. Mark did not look back again, not even trying to glance out of the corner of his eye. H
When Daisy saw the girl holding a bag of presents in her hand and having a smile on her face, she had to let her in out of politeness, no matter how much she disliked the girl. “Mark asked me to bring you this present, Mrs. Hart. He was concerned when he saw you lost a lot of weight.” The girl smiled and put the present aside. Just then, Summer came out of the bathroom and saw the girl, her brows upturning with surprise. But when she looked around, he did not see Mark. The girl had noticed her behavior and quickly explained, “Mark has gone to see Harry to collect some documents. He will be here in a while.” ‘Very observant.’ Summer thought, her mouth twitching, and she nodded to the girl. “Would you like coffee or tea?” “No, thank you.” The girl was well-mannered, and Summer could see that she was a little nervous. While they were talking, Mark arrived with a present for Charlotte. He said hello to Daisy and then looked at the girl. “We will head back to the apartment tonig
Mark seemed very close to the girl, however. He even took her back to their former apartment. Could it be that Mark had fallen in love with that girl? Thinking of what he said when he left, she was scared and terrified. But she must not back out this time, as she was clear that she wanted him back. Turning on the TV, the news was still about Mark and the girl. It made Daisy’s hackles rise when she saw the presents placed at one side. “Throw these things out.” “Why waste it since he has bought it?” Summer looked calm. Daisy was still angry when she saw Summer’s nonchalant expression. But considering that it was she who wanted Summer to leave Mark, she had nothing more to say. Summer’s aunt called in the evening and said that she was introducing a man to Summer. Daisy readily agreed. Her thinking was, since Mark could find a new woman, so could her daughter. She asked Summer for her opinion, and Summer had no objections and let Daisy do whatever she wanted. … Looking at t
The corners of his lips twitched, and his expression softened. “How many young girls do you think I have?” “How am I supposed to know how many young girls you have, and how many God has sent you?” She asked in a mocking way. Mark’s lips curled up even higher now. The next moment, his expression became indifferent again. “I will leave you to it.” The man had not left yet, as he was interested in Summer. He kept on telling jokes, and she could not stand it, finding an excuse to reject him. In the corner by the window, the girl was smiling, and Mark’s expression was soft. The two looked like a perfect match. When she walked past the two of them, she overheard their conversation. He did not look up at her, not even sparing a glance. It even made her feel that the conversation outside the ladies’ room just now was just her fantasy, an illusion; he was still indifferent toward her. She sank her fingernails into the tender skin of her palms. Daisy got up immediately and secretly si
“Every day?” Summer was startled, her voice trembling a little. “Yeah, every day.” Daisy sighed softly. “He stood there and begged me for forgiveness. I don’t know how he got the time to do that; I told him off countless times, yet he persisted.” Summer did not know that Mark had done all these things quietly. “There are few men like him nowadays. Go for it,” Daisy said. Summer froze in place, still in shock and feeling touched. After a while, she pulled back her drifting mind and deliberately asked, “Do you want me to get him back, Mom?” “When I say yes, it means yes!” Daisy got snappish. A smile appeared at the corner of Summer’s mouth, her heart thumping with joy. How she wished she could fly toward him now like a bird. She was not an impulsive person, but she did not want to hold back anymore. Summer nodded, turned around, and walked out of the ward. Just then, Daisy suddenly said, “If he really loves that young girl, you should just stop there. We can’t be the third
The girl was serving food. “Do you want some, Miss Hart?” “No, thank you.” She refused, still sitting on the sofa as an awful feeling spread and flooded inside her. The change of roles happened so quickly. It was still recently that she was in that reverse position. The two were having dinner, and no one talked. Summer thought it could be because she was here that the two of them did not talk. Half an hour later, the two finished their dinner, and the girl cleaned up, leaving Mark and Summer in the living room. Mark sat down, crossing his long legs gracefully, and looked at Summer. “What do you want to talk to me about?” “Can we still be together?” she asked slowly, breathing carefully. Mark was stunned for a moment, the look in his eyes deepening as emotional ripples formed. But it was just for a fleeting moment before it all returned to normal. “What do you mean, Miss Hart?” She had made her meaning plain enough and would not believe that he did not know what she meant. “