Chapter 143: Getting A Divorce
The air seemed thick with unresolved sentiments.
Cecil extended a hand, ruffling my hair gently, his voice calm and unhurried.
“The person I wanted to take to that concert was you. The person I’ve been waiting to see free from a loveless marriage is you. The person I’ve loved for twenty years is none other than you,” he declared, his tone steady, infused with an undeniable firmness and persistence. His green eyes shone brightly, piercing through my confusion. “Hope, it has always been you, no one else.”
My heart felt as if it were being tugged by an invisible force. Immediately, a wave of flustered confusion overwhelmed me.
When faced with genuine affection and care, it turned out my first reaction was to feel unworthy.
A myriad of emotions washed over me, and instinctively, I wanted to deny his words. “How could it be me? Haven’t you had someone you’ve known for so many years? And I just…”
“Do you remember I told you I only returned to the Lewis family when I was eight?” Cecil explained slowly, raising his wrist to reveal a red string bracelet. “Before that, I lived in Velvet City. Do you recognize this bracelet?
“No.” I shook my head in confusion.
g taken to the Beata family, my memories were mere fragments–snippets of my parents and the dread of being pursued by debt collectors.
Before being
Beata had always been hyper aware of Johnson’s reactions, even over something as simple as my eating habits, so the notion of her taking me to a hospital was inconceivable.
I had consulted a doctor who had diagnosed it as amnesia induced by severe trauma. It had been so long that the prospects of regaining those memories were remote.
“This was your birthday gift to me back then” Cecil, unaware of the depth of my amnesia, showed no disappointment. He spoke softly, reassurance evident in his voice. “It’s okay, we have plenty of time ahead: I’ll remember the past for both of us
“You…” I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper, “When did you recognize me?”
“It was that time when you fainted from low blood sugar. Cecil’s eyes softened with a mix of nostalgia and pity. “I heard someone call your name.”
He chuckled lightly, as if recalling an old, fond memory. “At first, I thought it was merely a coincidence. But as time went on, I noticed many of your habits mirrored those from your childhood.”
I blinked, intrigued. “What habits?”
“Your fondness for both spicy a
and sweet foods; the way you squeeze your hands when you’re nervous; your fear of all things soft and squishy.”
As Cecil listed each habit, he gazed at me with an intensity that left no room for doubt. “Right?”
A sense of truth cascaded over me, each habit confirming what I was beginning to accept. “Yes! You’re right.
ly was me.
It really was me. It truly was
But I squeezed my palm, feeling the weight of a complicated reality. “Cecil, I might….
Responding to Cecil’s affection seemed an insurmountable task at that moment. Liking someone wasn’t instantaneous, especially when my heart was still entangled in unresolved emotions. Committing to Cecil without clarity would be irresponsible to us both.
Cecil, perceptive as ever, responded in a warm, understanding tone. “I don’t need your immediate response, Hope. Don’t feel guilty or pressured about this. Whether it’s my affection for you now or my support back then, it’s because you protected me many times when we were kids.”
He continued, “As a “bastard with a father who was never around and a mother who had passed away, I was often mocked and bullied. And every time, you would wave your small fists and protect me like a little heroine.”
“Is that really true?” I asked, a longing in my voice.I asked somewhat longingly.
Could I really have been that person Ceel described? Sunny, brave, fearless, living like a sunflower despite everything.
Chapter 143 Gelling & Divorce
Cecil nodded with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “Of course, it’s true,”
Reflecting on the past, his voice shook slightly with regret. “When I saw you again in college, I hated myself for missing sa many years of your life. letting you endure so much pain.”
“Cecil, it’s not your fault,” I reassured him gently.
When misfortune struck, Cecil had been just a child, too. Some paths in life have to be walked alone; no one can shield us from every hardship. The very fact that Cecil could pull me up when I needed help most was already a blessing
As our conversation lingered in the air, Elissa emerged from the kitchen carrying a pot of stew, her face beaming with warmth. “How’s the chat going? I’m about to serve the stew!”
Cecil, always supportive, replied with enthusiasm. “Go ahead, I didnt have lunch and I’m starving.”
With Elissa’s presence, the evening meal was filled with laughter and joy, a respite from the emotional storms that had been brewing. Gradually, the worries and the news I had been rolling over receded to the back of my mind. This moment of peace and camaraderie reminded me that everything passes in time.
The next morning, the snowfall persisted, the cold wind biting against the skin, and a pristine blanket of white covered the ground. Elissa had stayed the night and was now animatedly clutching her phone, almost bouncing with excitement. “Hope, how’s your injury? Can you go out today?”
1 sipped a glass of water, curiosity piqued. “What’s going on?”
Elissa all but shouted, “The RF Group’s contract has come through! They said if we sign now, the funds will be available by noon!”
“Already? So soon?” 1 exclaimed, my own excitement mirroring hers.
Logically, a large multinational corporation like the RF Group should have a protracted process for contract drafting and funding approvals. It had only been a few days–how was this happening so swiftly?
When we arrived at the Jacquar branch office of the RF Group, Daniel was already waiting in the reception room with the contract in hand.
Seeing us, Daniel smiled warmly. “Apologies for the simplicity of our setup. The branch office is still being established.”
“Mr. Martinez, are you setting up a branch in Jacquar?” Elissa asked smoothly.
Daniel didn’t miss a beat, handing over the contract as he spoke, “Yes, we are. We planned to take our time, but unforeseen circumstances compelled us to expedite the process.”
I sensed Daniel was alluding to something deeper, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, so I focused on examining the contract. Everything appeared to be in order.
* Elissa, equally meticulous, found no issues, Before I signed, she cautiously asked with a smile, ‘Mr. Martinez, are you certain the funds will be available
by noon?”
“Special circumstances call for special measures,” Daniel replied casualty,
Elissa caught the key point. “Special (
circumstances?”
I was also puzzled and looked at Daniel for clarity.
Daniel paused, then chuckled lightly, “I see a lot of potential in Elevateloy. If we delay the funds, what’s to stop you from cooperating with someone
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