Chapter 3
Jessica came running over with her hair in two pigtails, clutching her favorite lop-eared bunny plushie, and threw herself into my arms.
Her soft little face nuzzled against my neck. "Mommy, did you get any news about Daddy today?"
My arms tightened as I held her close.
I had promised her I would find her father.
But now...
I buried my face against her, tears streaming down.
Jessica, I'm sorry.
I can't keep the promise I made to you.
The next day.
I walked into the office with red, swollen eyes. Before I could even sit down, someone told me to go to Brian's office.
Brian sat behind his desk in a sharp black suit. When he heard me come in, he lifted his eyes to glance at me and ordered, "Close the door."
He never usually kept work discussions so private.
An uneasy feeling rose in my chest as I closed the door and walked forward. "Mr. Ethan, you wanted to see me?"
Brian put down his pen, clasped his hands together on the desk, and his chair swayed gently with his movement.
After thinking for a moment, he finally looked at me and asked, "What's going on between you and Mr. Cooper?"
So it was about him after all.
My chest tightened. I unconsciously turned my head to look elsewhere and answered hesitantly, "Nothing. I accidentally stepped on his foot in the bathroom before and forgot to apologize. He's been holding a grudge."
I didn't believe such a weak excuse.
Brian narrowed his eyes, staring straight at me with a deep, cold gaze. "Yesterday, I got a close look at Mr. Cooper. He has a red mole under his right eye. If I remember correctly, Jessica has one too."
I looked at Brian and said, "Mr. Ethan, you can't just say things like that!"
I practically shouted it, my voice high-pitched, echoing throughout the office.
Brian was startled by my reaction, staring at me suspiciously.
My eyes darted around, not daring to meet his gaze. "Do you know what kind of background Glacier Corp has? If word gets out and people hear what you just said, it could cause trouble for my daughter."
Brian pursed his lips. "You've been raising your child alone all this time. Where's the biological father? How come you've never mentioned him?"
My back tensed up, cold sweat breaking out.
When I came to my senses, I heard my own hoarse voice responding, "He's dead."
Brian stopped what he was doing, frowning as he looked at me. "Dead? How did he die?"
Glacier Corp's growth had been so rapid. Plenty of people relied on Jason, but even more people hated him.
If others found out about Jessica's connection to him, who knows how much danger it would bring her.
I nodded. "Car accident. He fell into the sea."
Brian lowered his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's okay." My clenched fists slowly relaxed. I let out a long breath and asked, "Mr. Ethan, is there anything else?"
Brian waved his hand, and I turned to leave his office.
I returned to my desk, praying silently the whole way silently.
Although Jason and I could never be together, I still hoped he was safe.
After a busy day, it was pouring rain when I got out of work.
I had rushed out that morning without an umbrella, so now I could only press close to the storefronts along the street as I walked toward the subway station.
The wind howled, blowing raindrops into the covered walkway. I turned my head to avoid the rain when someone rushed out from behind me.
His umbrella caught on my bag, but he didn't notice at all. He rushed forward two steps, and I fell to the ground.
By the time I looked up, he had already disappeared into the rain with his umbrella.
Half my body was lying in the rain, my head soaked through. Water dripped down my hair, the rain hitting my skin with bone-chilling cold.
Just then, an umbrella covered my head.
Brian bent down slightly, extending his hand in front of me. "Sue, are you hurt?"
I looked up and took Brian's hand, standing up with his support and shaking my head. "Mr. Ethan, I'm fine."
My clothes were already soaked through. The wind blew up my pant legs, making me shiver with cold.
Brian held the umbrella with one hand and quickly took off his jacket to drape it over my shoulders. "Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."
I wanted to refuse, but calculating the time, Jessica would be getting out of school soon. With rain this heavy, I couldn't let her wait in it, either.
"Thank you, Mr. Ethan." I got into the car with Brian.
The air conditioning was on inside, the temperature just right.
Brian found a disposable towel, opened it, and handed it to me. "Dry off, don't catch a cold."
I took the towel, then heard a harsh honking from behind the car.
Once wasn't enough, the driver behind kept pounding on the steering wheel.
The continuous sharp noise made passersby turn to look.
Brian glanced in the rearview mirror and complained, "I only stopped for a moment. What's the rush?"
Despite his words, he started the car and slowly pulled away.
I caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror. It was an Alfa Romeo.
The solemn black car in the rain curtain carried a heavy coldness. Only one person sat in the driver's seat. Though I couldn't see his face clearly, I had an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Inside the Alfa Romeo.
Jason gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles protruding, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
From morning until now, he had been waiting outside DT Company all day. He never expected to witness Sue taking another man's hand and getting into his car.
Five years, she still wanted to marry a rich man. She hadn't changed at all!
I picked Jessica up from kindergarten and took her home. The rain was still falling.
After dinner, I bathed Jessica, carried her to bed, and helped dry her hair.
The hair dryer hummed.
Jessica turned her head, blinking her big eyes at me. "Mommy, today the teacher asked us what we do at home in the evenings. The other kids said their mommies and daddies read them stories and play games with them. Mommy, when will my daddy come read me stories?"
I sat down next to Jessica and hugged her, gently running my fingers through her hair. "Jessica, don't you like it when Mommy reads you stories?"
The little girl hung her head, looking dejected for a while, then looked up with a smile, answering cheerfully, "I love it most when Mommy reads me stories."
I knew she was trying her best not to worry me.
Ever since she could understand things, she had been looking forward to having a daddy around.
I had looked for Kean before, only to learn that after I left, he disappeared without a trace. None of his friends knew where he had gone.
I thought I would never see him again in this lifetime.
I never imagined we would reunite in this city, in this way.
With his current status, Jessica absolutely could not acknowledge him as her father.
I finished drying Jessica's hair and said to her gently, "Then shall Mommy read you a story now?"
Outside, the rain poured down. Inside the apartment, the lights stayed on.
Downstairs, a black Alfa Romeo sat quietly in the rain, where it remained all night long.