Chapter 2

Letting him focus wholeheartedly on preparing for his career.

But during that time, he was truly so good to me.

Though it was difficult, it was also blissful.

When did things start to change? It was after Myra returned from abroad, her marriage in shambles.

I remember when I heard the news, Dashiell was only two years old.

I was so worried that everything I had was as illusory as the moon's reflection in water or flowers in a mirror.

Perhaps sensing something was off, Garrison comforted me for a long time.

He told me many times that he would never go back.

Looking into his sincere eyes, without a trace of guilt, I felt at ease.

Now it seems, back then, he may have been genuine, but true feelings can change in an instant.

Suddenly my heart felt like a waterlogged sponge, swollen with a sour ache, filling my entire chest.

My hands trembled uncontrollably.

It must have been difficult for him to keep it from me for so long.

It's been the better part of a lifetime, after all.

An indescribable pain spread from my chest to every part of my body.

I wanted so badly to ask him why, what gave him the right.

But all my strength left me the moment I picked up my phone.

I collapsed to the floor, allowing the surging emotions in my heart to engulf me.I carefully and meticulously put everything back in its original place. They sat there quietly, as if they had never been disturbed.

But only I knew that beneath these seemingly perfect exteriors, the insides were already riddled with holes.

I silently packed up my own things, one by one. I had lived here for too long.

There were many odds and ends, thankfully Garrison wasn't here now.

It took me nearly three days to finish packing everything.

There seemed to be a lot of stuff, but they were all just worthless old items.

Those nice, valuable things I had brought initially had all been sold off during those difficult days.

Stepping out of the house, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief in my heart.

I looked back at the house where I had lived for most of my life, still feeling reluctant to leave.

But I knew that no matter how long I had stayed, something that wasn't mine would always bear someone else's mark.

I got in the car to head home.

Since my parents passed away, I had never gone back home.

During those youthful years of wandering, I thought I had finally found a place to settle down.

Little did I know, it was just sugar-coated poison, yet I was sweet-talked into swallowing it willingly.I returned to my hometown for three days before anyone from home called me.

"Mom, where did you go?"

"Tomorrow, Nolan starts his vacation, and Xander and I are swamped. I'll send Nolan over tomorrow."

My son's voice, full of vigor, carried a hint of dissatisfaction and accusation.

"Mom, are you listening? It's broad daylight, and the sun is scorching outside. Don't keep running back and forth. I've missed you several times already."

The complaints continued to buzz in my ear.

I felt a bit dazed. Surely I hadn't complained about my own parents like this, right? I couldn't have.

It's been too long; I can't remember clearly anymore.

"Nolan, let your mother-in-law take care of it. I'm not really available right now."

After calmly finishing my words, I hung up the phone.

That night, lying in the room I slept in as a child, I felt exceptionally at ease, my heart brimming with an endless sense of security.

What I didn't expect was that the person who was supposed to return a week later now stood at my door with his head hanging low.

Seeing Garrison in this dusty, travel-worn state, I was a bit surprised.

"Pearl, what are you doing? Do you know that reporters have caught wind of this? Now rumors are flying everywhere that we're divorced. People at the company are asking questions. This is having a huge impact."Garrison's words, the moment they left his mouth, shattered all my imaginings into thin air.