Chapter 119
Malcolm opened his mouth but refrained from saying anything further. At this moment, Tabitha was completely engrossed in tending to Imogen, a lying little girl, and not receptive to his explanation.
Reflecting on the past, he remembered how he had misunderstood Tabitha and even hurled hurtful words about their child being a bastard.
Now, he could fully grasp Tabitha’s predicament back then. He had been framed for breaking the fish tank, but both Tabitha and their children suffered insults from him.
He wondered, ‘How sad has Tabitha been back then? Who did she talk to
about it?‘
A sense of guilt and remorse welled up in Malcolm’s heart, instantly extinguishing the anger that was about to erupt.
Emmanuel stood aside, savoring every moment of the happenings in front of him before stepping forward with a guilty look on his face.
“Please stop arguing. It’s all my fault for not keeping a close eye on Imogen,” he claimed.
He then flicked on Imogen’s forehead. “What did you promise when you came out with me? Don’t you run around again!”
Imogen’s smugness immediately gave way to a low mood. She apologized. in a soft voice, saying, “I’m sorry, Emmanuel. I won’t do it again.”
Emmanuel smiled and said, “I forgive you.”
Emmanuel seemed to shiver when a cold breeze blew. Tabitha
remembered that his coat was still in her arms and handed it to him quickly. “Put on your coat.”
Emmanuel accepted it with a smile. “Thank you.”
Malcolm immediately shifted his attention toward the long smoked grey
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coat.
Malcolm wondered, ‘Why is Tabitha helping Emmanuel with his coat? Does she understand the significance of assisting a man with his clothing?”
Anger threatened to make Malcolm’s lungs explode as a myriad of questions surged in his mind.
Observing Malcolm’s darkening expression, Tabitha thought he was still upset about the fish incident, Concerned that he might express his anger in front of the child, she quickly took Imogen’s hand and reassured her. gently. “It’s a bit cold outside. Let’s return to the ward and find a new home for the fish, okay?”
Imogen replied happily, “Okay.”
Malcolm stood frozen in place even after the three went far away. His hands and legs felt cold, and a chill ran down his spine, rendering him
unable to move.
Upon returning to the ward, Tabitha retrieved a basin and filled it halfway with water. She temporarily placed the fish in it.
The two little koi gradually regained strength and started swimming in the water, their tails wagging.
Imogen was happy again.
Emmanuel said, “I’m so sorry. I simply want to give you a birthday present. I didn’t expect it would cause you trouble.”
Tabitha shook her head and said it was okay. Emmanuel and Imogen hang. out with her for a while before leaving the hospital.
Upon leaving the hospital, Emmanuel reached out to Imogen and said,
Give me the candies.”
Imogen immediately held the candies tightly and refused, “Tabby gave them to me. Why should I give them to you?”
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Emmanuel pointed to the baby products shop nearby. “See those princess dolls in there? Give me the candies, and I’ll buy you a doll.”
Imogen quickly considered the offer and concluded that having a doll was , indeed better than keeping the candies. Hastily, she handed Emmanuel
both candies and joyfully darted into the shop, selecting her favorite princess style.
Emmanuel looked at the two candies in his palm and slowly curled his lips. into a smile.
These are the sweets from Tabitha,’ he thought.
Emmanuel tightened his coat once again.
This caused Malcolm to recall that Tabitha had been holding Emmanuel’s coat not long ago. Since the incident with the fish tank, Tabitha had grown colder toward him.
While she still greeted him, her gaze felt distant, as if she were looking at a stranger, sending chills down his spine.
Adding to the discomfort, Emmanuel would wear the smoky grey coat in front of him all day. Malcolm couldn’t shake the suspicion that Emmanuel was doing it deliberately.
On the day Emmanuel was sorting out the coat in front of him again, Malcolm finally couldn’t contain his anger and stormed into Tabitha’s
room.
Tabitha was feeding the little koi fish food then.
She asked someone to buy a beautiful transparent fish tank and put them. in it. She would watch the koi swimming around the tank for a while every day.
Malcolm gazed at the koi and noticed that the fish tank had caused all the succulents he had bought for her to be pushed into a corner.
What happened next sent Malcolm’s mood plummeting to its lowest
point. Suddenly, he took off his coat and handed it to Tabitha, saying in a low voice. “Help me with my coat.”
Tabitha frowned. “Your room is next door. You can put it in your room . yourself.”
Malcolm’s eyes darkened. “I don’t want to walk back.”
“If so, you can put it on the chair,” Tabitha remarked without taking her eyes off the little koi, completely ignoring Malcolm.
Malcolm was not angry at her. Instead, his heart was filled with a profound sense of powerlessness.
His recent interactions with Tabitha had been bizarre, though she maintained a peaceful demeanor, avoided quarrels or fuss, and kept a courteous distance from him.
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