“No wonder you loved him so much,” Cristofer remarked.
“Yes, I love him. Cristofer, I lived alone in our villa for five years when we were together. During those years, it rained one hundred and sixteen times and thundered two hundred and twenty-seven times. When thunderstorms struck, I would huddle by the French window in our bedroom, looking out at the villa’s gate. Each time I saw a passing car’s headlights, I would hope that you were returning. But, to my disappointment…” Estelle trailed off.
Hearing her words, Cristofer felt as if a knife were piercing his heart. “It’s all my fault, Star. I blame myself…”
“There’s no point in discussing this now. When I was in pain, you weren’t there for me. When I was in despair and needed money urgently to pay for my mother’s medical bills, I called you, but Gretchen answered the phone.”
Cristofer remained silent.
“At that moment, I was pushed to the brink. My mother’s life was at risk, and I needed funds urgently to cover her medical expenses. When Mr. Mysterious messaged me and offered help, I felt like I had no other option but to accept it. Later, he asked me to meet him at the Grand Hotel in Hadale City at night, and I thought I’d have to…” Estelle’s voice trembled with emotion. “Cristofer, do you have any idea how I felt when I entered that hotel?”
“Star…”
“I consoled myself that if, as a dying person, I could save my mother by selling my body at a good price, it would be worth it,” Estelle admitted with a choked voice, wiping her tears. “Fortunately, Mr. Mysterious is a good person. He simply wanted to help me. During our time together, he treated me with respect. He provided the funds for my mother’s medical bills, enabling her to receive the best treatment. He stood by me during the most challenging period of my life and promised to be with me forever.”
Cristofer remained silent.
“But, tragically, he died in an accident. The time we spent happily together was so short that it often felt like a dream. I was abroad when I received the news of his death…”
Estelle paused, lowering her head and forcing a smile. “I’m sorry; I’ve shared too much today.”
“It’s alright. I’d like to hear more,” Cristofer replied.
“You… you want to know about my past with Mr. Mysterious?”
“Yes, I’d rather hear about the happiness you experienced with Mr. Mysterious than the pain you endured during our five years of marriage,” Cristofer spoke gently.
Wiping her tears, Estelle said, “It’s all in the past, Cristofer. It’s been nine years, and both of us should move on. We did love each other when we were young, but that doesn’t mean much. Gretchen’s presence showed us that our love wasn’t as strong as we believed.”
“You’re right,” Cristofer conceded in a voice that closely resembled Mr. Mysterious’s.
Estelle felt a whirlwind of emotions in the midst of thunder and pouring rain, with a familiar face and voice before her. Holding back her tears, she changed the subject, “By the way, Grandpa noticed your hoarse voice, so he asked Uncle Luke to prepare some soup for you. Is your throat bothering you? The soup can help soothe it. I’ll get it for you.”
“Okay, thank you very much,” Cristofer replied.
When Cristofer finished his words, both of them felt an awkward silence enveloping them. They hadn’t spoken to each other like this since their divorce, as if they were strangers to each other. However, Estelle quickly realized that this was entirely normal.
Given their divorce, it was natural for their conversations to lose the intimacy they once had. Estelle proceeded to the study and retrieved the sweet soup for him, ensuring it was still hot.
“Here you go. Uncle Luke mentioned that it’s best to drink it while it’s hot; otherwise, it won’t taste as good.”
Cristofer accepted the bowl with one hand and quickly consumed the soup.
“Star, to be honest, my hoarse voice isn’t because of any throat issues but because I… I secretly smoked today,” he confessed.
“When?”
“When you were… talking with Dr. Carrey at the television station…” Cristofer then explained, “I didn’t smoke when I was with the children. I smoked in the restroom. It was not until the smoke smell dissipated that I returned to the studio.”
Hearing this, Estelle frowned slightly and asked, “How many cigarettes did you smoke?”
“About half a pack.”
“You… You’d better cut down on cigarettes,” Estelle said in a low and soft voice.
Cristofer nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll quit smoking for you and the children.”
“You should quit smoking for yourself, not for me or the children. Smoking is harmful. Do you know how many people have developed lung cancer because of smoking…”
“Did you get cancer because of my smoking?” Cristofer suddenly asked.
“Me? No,” Estelle replied with a bitter smile. “I don’t know what caused my lung cancer. When we were together, I lived alone and seldom saw you. I had never been exposed to any second-hand smoke because of you.”
Cristofer sighed and inquired, “How’s your physical condition now?”
“I’ve been fine in the past few years. If it weren’t for the scar on my chest, I would have forgotten that I had cancer,” Estelle said.
“It’s good to hear that you’re in good health. But you still need to have regular check-ups.”
“I’m too busy to go for regular check-ups,” Estelle said. “Let’s not dwell on this topic. Get some rest. If your arm continues to hurt badly later, then don’t work tonight.”
Considering that Estelle had borrowed his laptop earlier, Cristofer asked, “Is there a challenging issue at the company?”
“Yes, a difficult and demanding client is unsatisfied with our design drawings.”
“May I take a look at the design drawings? I’d like to help.”
“But your arm…” Estelle furrowed her brow.
“It’s much better now. Star, I know I’m not qualified to be with you. I just want to help you. Please don’t turn down my offer, okay?”
Hearing this, Estelle looked at him with a hesitant expression.
Cristofer still had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. His left arm muscles were visibly tense, and his right hand gripped his left elbow tightly, causing his knuckles to turn white.
Observing his discomfort, Estelle sighed softly and went to the bathroom. After a few moments, she returned with a hot, wet towel, which she gently applied to his injured arm.
“A hot compress can help alleviate the pain and provide some relief. Just let me know when the towel cools down, and I’ll reheat it for you,” she said.
Cristofer’s eyes brightened with gratitude as he looked at her. “Okay. Thank you.”