Chapter 91: The Wounds on Her Body
William could barely hold back from telling Briar his identity, but in the end, he restrained himself.
He came here today to clear things up with Amelia about Jeffrey.
He didn't want any complications.
Seeing Briar's wide eyes darting around, looking for an escape, William quickly said, "Don't be scared, I'm not a bad person."
But Briar clearly didn't want to stay here anymore.
"I once had a child..." William said, and once again the scene of Amelia covered in blood, curled up crying in his arms, appeared before his eyes.
"But later it disappeared. When I saw you, I thought of it."
"I'm sorry for scaring you," he said. "Wanting you to draw me was also because it reminded me of that child."
Perhaps sensing his genuine emotion, Briar looked at him seriously and didn't run away.
She even patted the back of his hand gently to comfort him.
William found it amusing.
Such a small hand, patting his large hand, so light and soft.
Yet he really did feel comforted.
He was being comforted by a little girl?
But... it actually felt pretty good.
"But I still can't draw you," just as he was feeling comforted, Briar's voice came. "I'm a person with principles."
Did such a small person even know what principles were?
William found Briar more and more interesting.
"Did she teach you that too?" William couldn't help asking.
Briar placed the drawing on the table, coloring it methodically.
She said casually, "My mom has taught me lots of things."
"But haven't you only known her for a short time?" William continued asking.
Briar didn't think much of it and answered, "But mom is good to everyone, not just me, but also Jeffrey and Mia, everyone."
"But..." Briar looked happy as she said, "Mom is even better to her own people. Like how mom is really good to me. Even though I still can't call her that to her face, she understands me. She's taking me to get treatment, buying me things, letting me go to school."
Thinking about it, Briar's face suddenly wrinkled up. She said, "It's just that she's not good to herself."
"The injuries on her body haven't completely healed yet."
"But I blow on them for her."
"Mom says when I blow on them, they don't hurt anymore."
Amelia's injuries...
William thought back to seeing Amelia at the hospital before.
She had gauze on her head.
And she had fallen down the stairs... he didn't know how badly she was hurt.
Last time at the Brown Villa, he hadn't been able to look carefully at her injuries either.
The wind blew gently. William watched Briar color her drawing, very carefully.
You could tell that even though she was just a little girl, Briar's focus was quite good.
He suddenly felt this was nice.
A feeling of peaceful contentment.
Time passed slowly. In the distance, William saw Amelia walking toward the kindergarten.
He didn't know why, but he instinctively hid in the shadows.
As soon as Amelia walked into the kindergarten, she saw Briar sitting on a stone stool drawing.
Just seeing her made Amelia's lips curl up involuntarily.
Amelia walked over quickly, looked at Briar's drawing, but didn't disturb her.
Later, Briar noticed her.
"Amelia!" Briar called out with a smile, throwing herself into Amelia's arms.
Amelia caught Briar steadily.
"I drew a picture!" Briar immediately handed the freshly colored drawing to Amelia, looking at her expectantly. "Does Amelia think it's pretty?"
Amelia took the drawing and praised without reservation, "It's wonderful, Briar drew it beautifully!"
She even kissed Briar's little cheek, making Briar laugh happily.
Amelia carefully rolled up the drawing and put it away, then held Briar and sat her on the stone stool, touching Briar's little hands and forehead.
She took out wet wipes to clean Briar's face and hands, then took out the thermos she carried with her and poured warm water for Briar to drink.
Very attentive.
"Thank you, Amelia." Briar obediently finished the warm water and handed the cup lid to Amelia.
Amelia took it. "No need to be so polite. Want more?"
Briar nodded, and Amelia poured her another cup.
After Briar finished drinking, Amelia retied Briar's slightly loose hair and tied her shoelaces while asking about Briar's day at kindergarten.
Briar told her many things, and the two looked very happy.
Standing to the side, William quietly watched this scene.
If they had a child, would she also pick up their child like this?
Or would the two of them come pick up the child together?
Their family of three, would they also be like this, so warm?
William suddenly felt that maybe he was getting old, which was why he was starting to long for family life.
"...Oh right, Amelia, just now a man said he wanted to buy me ice cream."
Over there, Briar said to Amelia.
Amelia frowned slightly. Who was it?
Briar looked around, then pointed in a direction. "Over there."
Amelia looked in the direction Briar was pointing, and then she saw William standing not far away.
Their eyes met, and Amelia slowly stood up.
William didn't hide anymore either, but walked over, looking down at her.
"I think we need to talk," William said.
Amelia looked away, glancing at Briar sitting on the stone stool watching them both.
"Briar has to go to the hospital for a checkup today," Amelia said, the implication clear—she was refusing.
"I'll go with you," William didn't give her a chance to refuse. "Amelia, I think you don't want me coming here to block you every day either."
Amelia's lips pressed together slightly.
She looked at Briar again, and finally, she nodded.
Indeed, she didn't want William coming here all the time.
This left her no choice but to agree.
Briar had been watching them.
Her eyes full of curiosity.
But Amelia didn't know how to explain to Briar.
She didn't want Briar to call William daddy.
Even though legally they were still husband and wife.
But soon they wouldn't be.
So Amelia chose silence, just holding Briar and getting into the back seat of the Maybach.
The scenery kept moving backward.
The car drove steadily toward Evergreen Hospital.
The car was completely quiet.
A suffocating quiet.
William looked at Amelia in the rearview mirror.
When did they become so distant?
Before, she always smiled at him, but now...
William thought again of that empty wedding house.
So he spoke up, "When did you move out? Why didn't you tell me?"
Amelia didn't look at William.
"You don't need to know," she answered calmly.
William felt slightly annoyed at Amelia's dismissiveness, but still held it in.
"Where are you living now?" William continued asking.
But Amelia still didn't look at him, just softly soothing Briar.
After a long while, she finally responded, "We'll talk about it later. Let's go to the hospital first."
"Amelia!" William couldn't take it anymore and said angrily.
Briar was scared and started crying, tears falling in big drops.
"Amelia, this man is scary."
Amelia's patience had reached its limit.
"Stop the car!" she said coldly.