Passionate Devotion: Master Fudd's Beloved Wife novel Chapter 1056

“When I was young, I remembered my father not being so indifferent toward me. He would buy me candies and pretty little dresses. When he came back from a business trip, he would always carry me and make me laugh. He also brought me gifts.

“I don’t know when it started, but my mother gradually lost the smile on her face. My father started becoming cold as well. He started to not come home. Although I was still young, as all children are sensitive creatures, I could sense that there were problems between my parents. However, at that time, I thought that they were just fighting and would reconcile.

“Later on, my father had an affair. Not only did he have another woman, but he had a daughter as well. Cara was just two years younger than me. When I grew up only did I realize that the love between my parents was just all a pretense.

“My mother was gorgeous. When I was young and she attended PTA meetings, she would always be the center of attention. However, I don’t know why my dad would have an affair with a woman like Lina. I guess he felt that the grass was always greener on the other side.”

Yanny choked up and continued with reddened eyes, “This twisted form of husband-and-wife relationship lasted until I was about eight years old. I guess my mother was always depressed for a long time as she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor said that as long as she adjusted her mentality, she could completely recover after the surgery.

“However… one day, Lina brought the six-year-old Cara and came to visit my mother in the hospital. Although they claimed they were visiting her, Lina just wanted to provoke my mother. She said a lot of things that aggravated her. I heard all of them as I was standing outside of the door listening.

“When Lina left with Cara, I saw my mother sobbing for a long time. Soon after, the cancer cells spread. From that time onwards, I loathed my father. Compared to Lina and Cara, I hated Winson much more. If it were not for him, my mother would not have to suffer.

“He silently allowed others to bully my mother. If he did not have an affair, maybe my mother would still be alive. She could see me go to university and have a boyfriend. She would be there at every stage of my life.”

Shayne patiently listened to her talk so much for the first time in her life. He buried her tear-streaked face into his chest and asked, “What happened then?”

Yanny grabbed hold of his shirt with both hands, and buried her face in him. Due to her choking, her voice became hoarse and she said, “Not long after my mother passed away, within half a year, Winson brought Lina and Cara into our house. I have completely become a burden to them. Not only did they take over my mother’s position as the mistress of the house, but they also packed and threw away all the things she left behind before she died, saying it was taboo.

“When I saw Lina doing all these terrible things, Winson was acquiescent. It was like he was afraid that if he kept his ex-wife’s belongings, it would attract her spirit. I guess that maybe he was guilty and was afraid of retribution.

“When my mother just passed away, there was a period where he said he has not been sleeping well. Lina hired a Feng Shui Master and he said that the acacia tree in the courtyard was taboo and could attract evil spirits.”

Speaking of that, Yanny cried and laughed mockingly. She smiled and said, “Don’t you think it’s so ironic? Attracting evil spirits? He might as well say that his heart is full of guilty conscience and that my mother's ghost will haunt him and make him sleepless at night.”

Shayne remembered the first time he went to the Jacobs. The acacia tree grew well with dense branches and leaves with a tree full of blooming flowers in summer, looking very dreamy and beautiful.

Shayne lowered his head and kissed Yanny’s forehead. He asked gently, “How did the tree manage to stay alive?”

“The tree was planted by my mother when she just married Winson. This was because the acacia symbolized eternal love and joy between a husband and wife, hence she put the word Joy in my name. My mother said that she wanted me to be joyful and carefree in my life, and also to meet someone that I like.

“However, the Master said that the tree had to be uprooted and not left there. On the surface, it seemed like it was Lina that urged Winson to chop the tree down, but I know that Winson himself wanted to get rid of the tree. He was really afraid that my mother’s ghost would haunt him.

“However, that was the most precious thing my mother left for me. We had so many wonderful memories under that tree. I remembered that in summer, she would hold me under the tree to cool off and tell me bedtime stories. I also remembered the countless times she stood under the tree, waiting for her husband who always came home late.