Chapter 4

Looking at my former in-laws, I felt an inexplicable tightness in my chest.

Even they accepted Egbert Simmons as though it were only natural.

Sylvia's friends came over too, telling me not to hold her past against her.

"Sylvia's a devoted soul. Once she sets her heart on someone, she loves them forever. You don't have to worry about her ever changing her mind."

I stood there in a daze and pulled at the corner of my mouth.

Love forever?

Never change her mind?

Then why did she stop loving me?

My fingertips already ached, cold as ice.

I knew I had to make a decision.

I reached out my hand to Sylvia and, with all my strength, said:

"All right. I'm willing."

Her eyes lit up. She grabbed my hand at once and slid the ring onto my finger.

My ring finger felt heavy.

But somewhere inside me felt hollow, as if there were nothing there at all.

The people around us clapped, eyes red, wishing us well.

Eustace ran circles around us, overjoyed.

"Yay! Mom and Dad are together again! I have a dad again!"

Sylvia hugged me too, so moved she was crying and laughing at once.

"Once you've fully recovered, we'll hold our wedding together."

"I promise, I'll give you a wedding you'll never forget..."

Like a puppet under someone's control, I stiffly pulled at the corner of my mouth.

"Sure..."

Before I could finish.

Two people came storming in from outside, shouting at Sylvia.

"What wedding! We won't allow it!"

Startled, I snapped back and looked at them.

Dad... Mom?

Eustace ran over, hugged them, and cried out happily.

"Grandma! Grandpa! I'm going to have a dad again!"

Hearing that, Mom and Dad's faces darkened enough to drip ink.

"What do you mean, a dad!"

"In this whole world, your only father is Hudson!"

With that, Dad walked over and slapped Sylvia across the face.

"Back then you insisted on bringing Hudson along on that mountain hike, and there was a car accident on the way—it was Hudson who protected you with his life!"

"He was our only son! Not even thirty! And he died for you!"

"What did you promise us at the funeral?"

"You said you'd stay faithful to Hudson for the rest of your life and raise Eustace well!"

"My son has been dead barely any time at all, and already you want to find another man, a second marriage?"

"Then what about my son? What does he count for!"

"How is his spirit in heaven supposed to feel!"

"I'll say it plainly here and now: if you want to remarry and find Eustace a stepfather, not a chance!"

I looked at my parents' aged, wrinkled faces and their graying hair.

My heart ached beyond bearing.

In this whole world, maybe only my parents still cared about how I felt.

Sylvia kept her head down and said nothing—probably remembering the car accident that had killed me too, her face full of guilt and helplessness.

Her mom and my mom started arguing outright.

"My daughter is in the prime of her life, and she stayed faithful to your son all this time. Why shouldn't she remarry?"

"And Eustace needs a father right now—what's wrong with her marrying again! Can't you see he wants a new dad too?!"

"Are you set on hounding my daughter and grandson to death, both of them?!"

My mom was so furious her face went ashen, her trembling finger pointing at her.

The next second, she shut her eyes and collapsed.

My heart lurched. I rushed forward and caught her, the word bursting out of me:

"Mom!"

In all the chaos, no one noticed anything strange about me.

No one except Sylvia, whose pupils shook violently as she stared at me in disbelief.