A Marriage Without Touch, A Goodbye Without Tears (Amelia and Ethan) novel Chapter 509

Finished

Chapter 509 A Child’s Truth

Isla suddenly lifted her head, a faint light appearing in her dull eyes.

She thought about Jack.

Daddy wasn’t like Mommy. He never scolded me just because I got my dress dirty.

Daddy would lift me high above his head and let me sit on his shoulders so I could see the whole world.

Daddy used to take me to the lake in the park to feed the swans. On warm summer evenings, he’d run around the garden with me, chasing fireflies so I could keep them like little night–lights.

He bought me so many beautiful princess dresses and always told me that I was the cutest little princess in the whole world.

Even on the day he died, he was still holding the limited–edition princess doll he’d finally managed to buy for me.

Later, Mommy threw the doll away, saying it was dirty.

Thinking about it made Isla’s nose sting, and tears began pooling in her eyes again.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, trying with all her strength not to cry.

Watching her struggle between speaking and staying silent, Ethan sighed softly and gently placed his hand on top of her head.

‘Isla, if your dad knew you were this unhappy right now and too scared to tell the truth, he’d be heartbroken.”

The moment she heard that, Isla couldn’t hold it in anymore.

It was as if she could actually see the sad look on her father’s face.

“Waaah!!” she burst out, throwing herself into Ethan’s arms and sobbing uncontrollably.

“Mr. Rowe… Daddy was really good to me! I miss him so much… but Mommy says she’s the only family I have left now. If I don’t listen to her, then I’ll become a poor little orphan…”

The child’s heartbreaking cries stabbed straight into Ethan’s chest.

Ethan didn’t say a word, letting her tears and runny nose soak the front of his expensive suit jacket.

After what felt like a long time, Isla’s sobbing finally began to fade into quiet hiccuping sniffles.

Her small hands still clutched tightly at the corner of Ethan’s clothes, as if it were the only piece of driftwood she could grab in the middle of a raging storm.

Ethan knew the moment had come.

He gently pulled back a little, his expression more serious than ever before. “Isla, listen to me.”

Finished

Isla lifted her swollen, walnut–like eyes and looked at him timidly.

“Right now, I’ve decided that you’ll be separated from your mom for a while. It doesn’t mean I’m abandoning you. It’s to protect you, so you won’t keep being influenced by her.”

He could feel the small body in his arms starting to tremble again.

He tightened his hold slightly, trying to pass some strength to her.

“I know you miss your dad very much. Your dad was my best friend. He would’ve never wanted you to grow up telling lies or walking down the wrong path. So, what I’m doing right now… is also protecting you

for him.

“I may not be your real father, but I promise you, I’ll take care of you in his place. So Isla, for your own sake, and for your dad in heaven, try to be brave, okay?”

But for a child who had grown up with such deep insecurity, the words ‘separate‘ and ‘sending her overseas‘ sounded exactly like abandonment.

The little color that had just returned to Isla’s face faded again as she shook her head in panic, her voice pleading. “No… I don’t wanna go abroad… Did I do something bad? Is that why you’re sending me away too? Does that mean I’ll never see you again?”

“Of course not,” Ethan immediately said, his tone firm and unquestionable.

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