Chapter 108 Chapter 108

Chapter 108 Chapter 108
Maggie was stunned, looking at her son as if he were a stranger. She stammered, "Vince, what I said is true. I..."

Vince cut her off. "I have no intention of living with you. I will not go to Japan, so don't count on that anymore. For me, the last ten years have been long enough for me to learn how to exist without you."

"I... I understand." Maggie lowered her head, her confident poise as a successful businesswoman collapsing completely before her son’s rejection.

Vince stood up and walked toward the restroom, leaving a suffocating atmosphere hanging over the table. Maggie also stood up and headed to the counter to pay, leaving behind the pain she herself had stirred up.

Only Serenity and Ashton remained. Serenity watched Vince’s retreating back and then looked at Ashton, too sad to speak.

Ashton looked at Serenity with a sympathetic gaze. "We worked so hard to meet, and now the situation is even worse. I told Mom this wasn't the time to say it, but she wouldn't listen to me. I told her he loves you very much; how could he leave you and go to Japan? I’m sorry, Serenity."

Serenity tried to smile, but it was a crooked, pained expression. "It’s okay. I was caught off guard, too, because I never even considered the possibility of Vince leaving this place. It makes sense; Vince has never done anything wrong to Uncle Caleb or me. Forcing him to leave the people he loves now is probably a massive wound in his heart. But I still feel uneasy."

Ashton touched Serenity’s hand in encouragement. "I don't know how this will be resolved, but I support you and Vince being together. You two have gone through so many hardships to get to this day; how could a little storm from the past separate you? He just needs to understand that love is the one thing no one can force him to give up."

Serenity stared into the void. Ashton’s words were like a faint glimmer of light. Vince’s love for her was the only anchor keeping him from being swallowed by the past. But would that anchor be strong enough against the onslaught of a mother desperately seeking redemption?

—

Time seemed to stretch on forever as Serenity and Ashton sat alone at the table, their meal long since grown cold. Ashton kept checking his watch, glancing around anxiously. "This is taking too long. What on earth are those two doing?"

Serenity felt restless; a woman’s intuition told her something was wrong. She stood up. "I’m going to go check."

In the empty hallway near the restrooms, Serenity froze when she heard the sound of an argument. Ducking behind a wall, she inadvertently overheard the suffocating exchange between mother and son.

Maggie blocked Vince’s path, her voice pleading yet still laced with a controlling tone. "Could you please reconsider what I said earlier? Vince, you were always such a good boy who listened to me. You’re worried about Serenity, aren't you? Once she understands that you truly want to be with me, she will forgive you. Vince, please agree to come with me, won't you?"

Vince looked at his mother, his eyes bloodshot with resentment. "You’re still the same. You haven't changed at all. You only know one thing, and that is how to dump your troubles onto me. You only think of yourself."

"I only want the chance to take care of you. I don't just want to be your biological mother; I want to be a mother who can cherish and love you," Maggie sobbed.

Vince gave a hollow laugh. "Are you joking with me? I’ve forgotten what kind of mother I even had. Because of that, I don't need anything from you. Now you’re trying to act like a mother, wanting me to leave with you. Your explanations make me feel like I’ve had more than enough. I don't want you using me to get revenge on that family."

"I am not doing that. You cannot say that to me. I don't want revenge on anyone. I just want my son back by my side. I want my son to come back to me. Is that so wrong?"

Vince didn't answer; he simply turned and walked away. When he caught sight of Serenity standing there, he didn't explain. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the restaurant. As soon as they were outside, Serenity asked worriedly, "Vince, are you okay?"

Suddenly, Vince turned and pulled her into a tight embrace, as if she were his only life jacket in the middle of a stormy ocean. He buried his head in her shoulder and sobbed like an abandoned child. "I wanted to see her. The truth is, I wanted to meet her. But now that I have, I just can't control my emotions."

Serenity gently rubbed his back, her own tears beginning to fall. "It’s okay. I’m right here with you. I’m here. Can you feel me?"

"I wanted to see her so badly. I wanted to call her Mother. I wanted that so much." His sobs tore through the quiet night air.

Serenity thought to herself in agony. I have never seen Vince cry this much. What else can I do? This is likely a scar in his heart that will never fade. A man only cries when the pain has exceeded the endurance of his reason.

She wrapped her arms around him, offering what warmth she could against the cold night. His scent mingled with the night dew and the bitter aftertaste of the meeting.

It was hard to say how much time passed, but when they finally pulled apart, the young lovers held hands and walked slowly back home.
\---
Mr. Caleb and Briona were waiting on the sofa, their faces etched with worry. Mr. Caleb bolted upright the moment he saw his son walk in. "Vince, how was it? Is everything alright, son?"

Vince suppressed the exhaustion in his voice. "Don't worry, Dad. Everything is fine. We had dinner with her and Ashton. I’m going upstairs now. I’m tired."

"But I’m not finished speaking... Vince." Mr. Caleb called after him, but he walked straight up the stairs.

Mr. Caleb and Briona turned to Serenity, inquiring, "Serenity, is Vince okay?"

Serenity shook her head sadly. "No, he isn't okay at all, Uncle. His mother wants him to move to Japan, but he refused her flatly. The entire time was spent raising their voices and arguing."

Mr. Caleb sighed, sinking back into his chair. "I see. I anticipated this. I truly didn't want it to happen, but here it is."

Serenity excused herself to her room and sat at her desk. She picked up the handmade gift box containing the bracelet she had put so much heart into choosing. She looked at it, her mind heavy with doubts. She opened the elaborately decorated card to read it again. Vince, Happy Birthday. Everything that has happened has brought us closer. From now on, we will always be together.