And when he was suffering from manic depression, he was in a terrible condition.
In the past few years, he had dreamed countless times about the days after he was married to Estelle.
During those years, he showed his most ruthless and fierce side to Estelle.
At that time, he hated her because he thought she was the culprit of the car accident that killed his parents.
At that time, he had misunderstood her because he had been foolish enough to let Gretchen manipulate him repeatedly.
He hadn’t listened to Estelle’s explanations or shown any concern for her, subjecting the woman he loved most to numerous grievances and plunging her into despair.
Now, he was determined not to repeat the same mistake.
Cristofer didn’t want to cause Estelle any more pain, so he made a daily effort to manage his emotions and faithfully took his medication to treat his manic depression.
However, over the past few years, he noticed his condition deteriorating steadily.
In the beginning, he struggled with insomnia, hypersensitivity, and irritability. As time passed, he found it increasingly challenging to control his emotions and became progressively short-tempered. Consequently, he had fired more than ten secretaries.
To the outside world, he was God’s favor, a legend in the business world, and an object of envy. However, nobody realized the torment he endured, living in his personal hell.
Taking a deep breath, Cristofer pulled himself back to reality, saying, “Uncle Nelson, I just want to find happiness.”
Nelson countered, “You have a thriving career and are admired by countless people. Aren’t you happy with that?”
Cristofer questioned him, “Do you believe that success and fame are the only sources of happiness?”
“Yes,” Nelson responded, “I’ve reiterated countless times that love is futile and illusory. Only your career will not betray you. Women are capricious. Since Estelle has fallen in love with someone else, why persist in your desire to be with her?”
“But only when she’s with me can I get a good night’s sleep.”
“You can ask the doctor to prescribe some sleeping pills for you,” Nelson suggested.
“Uncle Nelson,” Cristofer replied with a resigned smile, “I’ve tried every sleeping pill available. If there were one that could guarantee a sound sleep, I wouldn’t still be seeing a psychiatrist.
Upon hearing this, Nelson sighed deeply and asked with concern, “What did the psychiatrist say during your last session?”
“My bipolar disorder is still quite severe, and I still require medication. Dr. Cruise believes that the medications she initially prescribed are suitable for my condition, and she advised me to continue taking them as prescribed.”
“Well, it appears she might not be as reputable as you think. You should consider finding a different doctor.”
“Dr. Cruise is one of the most renowned psychiatrists.”
“Her reputation is overrated,” Nelson retorted. “Let’s drop the topic. Cristofer, your top priority now is securing a partnership with the African gem supplier. This will make your career more successful. By the way, you should think about finding a suitable wife. What are your…”
The phone suddenly hung up.
Cristofer glanced at the phone screen, only to discover that his phone had run out of power. He casually placed the phone on the windowsill and resumed smoking.
A moment ago, he had been tempted to end the call abruptly, but he managed to restrain himself. He recalled that Nelson had saved his life twice in the past, creating a sense of indebtedness that felt like a rope around his neck. Each time Nelson made a request, it was as if that rope tightened, forcing him to comply.
Now, with the phone call disconnected, he felt a sense of relief as if that metaphorical rope had been loosened, granting him some peace.
After finishing his cigarette, Cristofer spent a considerable time on the balcony, ensuring that the smell of smoke had dissipated from his body before returning to the bedroom.
Estelle and Yohan were nestled together in the soft bed, sleeping soundly.
Afraid that he would disturb them, Cristofer cautiously removed his slippers and walked barefoot on the floor. He gently slid under the covers and lay beside Estelle.
Estelle was facing away from Cristofer while Yohan had his back to her. The three of them occupied the bed, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.
Cristofer couldn’t help but catch a faint whiff of jasmine emanating from Estelle’s body.
The scent was fragrant and soothing. And he felt that it had a sleep-inducing effect.
Not long after lying down, Cristofer started to feel extremely drowsy, struggling to keep his eyes open.
In his half-conscious state, he noticed that Estelle had shifted in his arms and appeared to be looking at him.
Then, a soft and warm item fell on his face. With his eyes closed, he reached out to grab it and then found it was her hand.
Subconsciously, he put her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. After that, he fell asleep.
In his dream, he heard Estelle say to him in a sobbing tone, “I miss you so much…”
Then he comforted her gently, “Star, don’t cry. We’ll leave here tomorrow. We’ll get married, and I’ll pick off a star for you…”
****
That night, Cristofer had a good sleep.
The next day, when Cristofer woke up and saw the unfamiliar furnishings of the unfamiliar room, he was stunned for a few minutes until a stinky smell made him wide awake.
“Dad, I want to poop,” Yohan, whose hair was messy, said and rubbed his eyes with a drowsy look.
Cristofer turned to look at the mini version of himself and shook his head with a helpless smile.
“Dad…”
“I’m here. Let’s go to the bathroom.”
As soon as they walked out of the bedroom, Yohan rushed to the bathroom with his hand on his belly.
When Cristofer passed by the living room, he stopped his steps.
The air had freshened after the storm, carrying the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil. In addition to that, the kitchen wafted the enticing aroma of food.
Estelle, wearing an apron, had set two bowls of cereal on the table. She noticed Cristofer and greeted him with a slightly awkward smile. “Go wash up quickly. Breakfast is ready.”
“Okay,” Cristofer agreed and glanced around. “Where are Auntie Aurora and Yvonne?”
“My mother has the habit of doing morning exercises. She went to the garden downstairs with Yvonne.”
“Got it.”
Estelle then took off the apron and put it aside. Only then did Cristofer find that she had been neatly dressed.
Estelle had dressed in a white shirt and a light gray women’s suit that beautifully accentuated her body’s curves, enhancing her perfect figure and giving the illusion of longer legs.