Chapter 4

"Candy!"

A heart-wrenching scream from Melody echoed in the distance.

The water's surface churned violently as a figure plunged in.

I struggled to swim upward, catching sight of Melody swimming towards me.

I reached out my hand, only to see her grab Fintan beside me, brushing past me to rescue him instead.

So, it was Candy she was calling for.

I smiled bitterly, my consciousness fading, when another kind-hearted soul who had jumped in to help pulled me up.

When I came to, I saw Melody tightly embracing Fintan nearby. The man clung to her neck, nestling against her chest and sobbing.

Melody's face was etched with fear, her eyes never once glancing my way:

"Don't be scared, don't be scared. Auntie's here. I'll never let anything happen to you as long as I'm around!"

I tried to leave with a bitter smile, but Fintan suddenly pointed at me and started apologizing:

"Auntie, it's all my fault... I shouldn't have instinctively pulled Uncle down with me when he deliberately tried to hit me with his wheelchair... It's Fintan's fault for being so unsteady on his feet..."

Melody's expression froze, her gaze toward me clearly filled with accusation and ill will. Yet when she spoke, it was in my defense:

"It must have just been an accident. Thank goodness you two are alright this time."

Fintan was taken aback, not getting the reaction he wanted. He shot me a very dissatisfied glare.

However, a little while later, Melody pulled me aside in a secluded corner:

"Moritz, Fintan is naive by nature. Even if you harbor resentment, you really shouldn't hold it against someone so young, let alone do something so harmful!"

I knew it. How could she possibly believe me?

I sneered coldly, "Me, someone in a wheelchair, hurting a perfectly able-bodied person like him? Don't you find that ridiculous?"

She frowned, "Regardless of whether it was an accident or not, I don't want to see anything like this happen again!"

Seemingly realizing she had spoken too harshly, Melody added:

"Fintan is our older brother's only son after all. If something really happened to him, neither of us could explain it."

"Fine, I get it."

I couldn't be bothered to argue further, which caught Melody off guard.

She suddenly realized that since I had been rescued, she hadn't once asked about my condition.

She reached out her hand, and at that moment, Fintan cried out in pain from not far away.

Melody turned on her heel, instinctively running towards Fintan.

I returned home alone, gathering all the keepsakes, diaries, and various photos from my years with Melody. I burned them all to ashes in one fell swoop.

I also signed for my portable crutch, making it easier for me to leave.

On social media, Fintan posted an update:

[My aunt is way too worried about me! I just choked on some water, and she booked the entire hospital for my check-up... So many doctors surrounding me, I'm getting social anxiety!]

A familiar woman's voice came through in the video:

"Be good and finish all the tests, so I can have peace of mind."

That night, Melody came home very late.

When she returned, Fintan was with her.

"The kid's scared to stay home alone, and his body needs a few days to recover. I brought him to stay with us for a while."

It wouldn't be my home for much longer anyway, so I had no objections.

Melody caught a whiff of ash in the air:

"Did you burn something? What's that smell?"

"It's nothing, just burned some unimportant stuff."

Melody's face darkened:

"Don't burn things like that at home anymore. It's not good for the kid's health to breathe it in."

I nodded, figuring there was no need to burn anything else since it had all been incinerated anyway.

Because of the discomfort from the fever, I went to bed early.

In the middle of the night, a thunderclap exploded outside the window.

I woke up instinctively wanting to hide in Melody's arms.

Ever since the car accident, I've had an acute stress response to loud noises like this.

For the past three years, Melody would always hold me tightly, telling me I didn't need to be afraid with her there. That was the only way I could get through it.

But this time, I reached out to emptiness.

I saw that Melody had already gotten out of bed and was putting on her coat:

"The kid is terrified of thunder. I'm going to check on him."

I shook my head, mocking myself for still instinctively relying on Melody even now.

Watching her back as she left, I got up and placed the signed divorce papers on the table.

I took out my phone and dialed a number:

"You can come pick me up now."

As I hobbled past the guest room on the first floor with my crutch, I heard Fintan's sobbing from inside:

"Auntie, you still like me too, don't you?"

"I can tell you've never gotten over me! Please don't go. Won't you be with Fintan?"

Fintan wrapped his arms around Melody's neck and pressed his lips to hers.

Melody turned her head to avoid a few times, but ultimately couldn't resist embracing Fintan's waist tightly, kissing him back deeply.

A flash of lightning outside illuminated their intertwined lips and tongues with stark clarity.

An unstoppable ache spread through my heart, and I decisively turned away.

I walked out of the mansion's main door, got into the car that had been waiting, and drove off into the distance through the pouring rain.

......

Early the next morning, Melody woke up beside Fintan's bed.

She glanced at the still-sleeping Fintan, unable to resist planting a kiss on his forehead.

Sunlight streamed through the window. Considering she had unexpectedly spent the night away, she pondered ways to apologize and make it up to Moritz.

She decided to order from that Cantonese dim sum place he loved so much.

Moritz was picky, and only fresh, light, and flavorful food like this could meet his standards.

Melody picked up her phone to place the order, but just then her assistant called:

"Ms. Carlisle! It's... it's terrible!"

"Last night, sir went out for a drive and got caught in a mudslide! The car and he were swept into the lake!"