Since the return of her daughter, Mrs. Frank has longed for nothing more than to spend her days at her side, tending to and cherishing her. Still, her requests have been rejected many times. Today, however, after much persuasion, Agnes finally agreed to share dinner with her mother.
Mrs. Frank led Agnes to a restaurant she greatly favored and frequently visited, hoping to impart her personal preferences to her daughter, thereby understanding each other better. As for Agnes, she was infuriated by Andrew’s abrupt decision to fire her and sought her mother’s assistance for revenge.
Upon hearing Agnes’s tale, Mrs. Frank was enraged. She aligned with her daughter’s thoughts, wishing to reclaim their assets and seek retribution for her husband. However, since she fell poor, she has been unable to maintain favorable relationships with her wealthy and influential friends, making it difficult to find someone to rely on.
Mrs. Frank fell silent, musing for a long while before placing a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
“Rest assured, my child. I will do everything for you. I will not allow those who hurt you to have their way.”
At her mother’s words, Agnes’s anger abated somewhat. For the remainder of the meal, Mrs. Frank relentlessly pondered how she might bring down Andrew to reclaim justice for their family.
Having her mother was perfect, Agnes secretly mused. Now, she had someone to lean on, rely on, and ask for help. She did not know what the future would bring, but for now, her mother would do everything for her, and she would no longer be alone. As for Andrew, she vowed to make him regret his actions.
Mrs. Frank spent the entire night sleepless, pacing beside her bed. She longed to make a phone call but hesitated, reasoning that he would have reached out long ago if he still cared for their old relationship.
But with her current circumstances leaving her with no one else to rely on, she decided to try it. She dialed a number not saved on her phone, and after a few rings, a man’s voice came through.
“Who is it?”
His resonant voice was a familiar sound that Mrs. Frank had remembered. Time may pass, people may age, and voices may become heavier, but there was no mistaking it.
Suddenly, Mrs. Frank felt a sharp pang in her heart as old memories flooded back.
As silence lingered from her end, the man seemed irritated and asked again.
“I asked, who is it?”
Startled, Mrs. Frank slowly uttered each word.
“It… is… me.”
The man paused for a moment before continuing.
“Is that you? It’s been so long since we last talked, I thought…”
Mrs. Frank cut him off mid-sentence.
“I should say this.”
His voice softened.
“Do you have something important to discuss today?”
Taken by surprise, Mrs. Frank hesitated before replying.
“I would like to meet you tomorrow. I have something to talk about.”
She hung up the phone, her mind in disarray. The man on the other end was her first love. Before she met Mr. Frank, Mrs. Frank had an unsmooth first romance with a young man whom her family vehemently disapproved of due to his inadequate socioeconomic status.
She was the well-bred daughter of a decent family, and he was a peculiar student who left school early to hustle through life. Upon learning of their clandestine love, her family sent her to the city for education, thus separating the two lovers.
Mr. Jonathan made numerous trips from the countryside to the city searching for her but was discovered by her family. Mrs. Frank’s mother threatened to take her own life if they continued seeing each other.
Being the only child, her parents devoted all their hopes and emotions to her. Hence, her relationship with a ragged boy with an uncertain family background was hard to accept.
Once, Mrs. Frank secretly went out with Mr. Jonathan and got caught by her parents upon returning. On the surface, her father appeared normal, but later he said something Mr. Jonathan would never forget.
“I know you’ll hate me, but when you become a father of a daughter, you’ll understand. No parent wants their child to be with someone who can’t fend for themselves.”
Mr. Jonathan’s hands clenched into fists. His humiliation was irremovable. Since then, he has defied all odds to change society’s perception of him, even if it meant committing illegal acts.
Later, Mrs. Frank met Mr. Frank and decided to marry him. Two months before the wedding, she accidentally bumped into her former lover, and her old feelings reignited. She didn’t know what he was doing for a living, only that his circumstances were better than before, but certainly, her family would disagree.
Only the two of them knew about this reunion, but there was one thing she had always kept secret and never shared with anyone. Although the time of their reunion was brief, their relationship had crossed boundaries. At the time, she didn’t tell him she was getting married. Afterward, he said he had to go abroad for work and would return later, during which time Mrs. Frank quietly married. Mr. Frank always loved his wife wholeheartedly, not knowing he wasn’t her only man.
Mrs. Frank thought she would keep this secret until the end of her life to avoid causing anyone pain, but now everything had gone too far. She decided to speak up, seeking comfort, protection, and support from her old love. After all, she was a woman who, no matter how strong or tough, still needed a shoulder to lean on, especially given her current circumstances.
She didn’t know whether he would still love her when he had left her behind to seek new happiness. But if he genuinely still had feelings for her, he would not refuse. After all, this was her only chance, and she had to take it.