When he heard this, Derek suddenly raised his head, “What do you mean by that?”
Serina turned her face away and said, “I can take care of my daughters alone. My salary is enough to support us. The girls didn’t have a dad around them since they were little and are used to it.”
“What do you mean by getting used to it? Serina, I came back for our reunion. What are you suggesting? Are you saying you don’t want to be with me anymore?”
Serina closed her eyes. To be honest, she had not thought about whether to be with him, but she just realized that it was time for her to think about it.
After falling silent for a long time, Serina opened her eyes and said in a clear voice, “That’s what I’m saying.”
With that, Derek’s heart sank.
Derek had been putting up with all kinds of difficulties in the past four years. He had been thinking about Serina all the time. He was dying for his reunion with Serina. Derek had worked hard, only to come back to Serina as a glorified man.
But when Derek did show up in front of Serina, Serina said she didn’t want to be with Derek.
“Serina … I admit that I shouldn’t have disappeared without noticing you. When Cherry fell ill, I should have come back to you as soon as possible…”
Derek let out a deep breath. “I swear, I won’t be like that again.”
Derek couldn’t defend himself. He could offer nothing but a promise to have Serina back.
Derek sounded so humble and inferior.
Serina wanted to nod, just like before. Every time, Derek could win her back with his tone softened and his words sweet. Yet this time, Serina stayed extremely calm.
“I’m no longer the little girl I used to be, being silly whenever in love. I’m now a mother, a mother of two. I won’t be as silly as before.”
Serina made it clear.
Serina sniffled and said, “Derek, do you know how helpless I was when sitting outside the ICU? I only have Blueberry by my side. I had to hold my tears back because if I cried, Blueberry would cry harder.”
With that, Serina cried. “At that time, I was so scared. I was scared that I would lose Cherry. She was so little, yet she was in the ICU alone. I felt like I was in an abyss. I couldn’t get out no matter how hard I tried. No one came to help no matter how loud I shouted…
“You know … That night when Cherry was in the ICU, I stayed in the hotel and didn’t even dare to close my eyes. I was really scared, afraid that my phone would ring. If my phone rang, then something must have happened to Cherry. Even when I arrived at the hospital in the morning, I was still worried, afraid that the doctor might start the conversation with ‘I’m sorry’.
“I was in despair at that moment and I desperately needed you by my side. I called you over and over again, yet your phone was never turned on. I was so helpless.
“Derek, you didn’t show up when I needed you. Since I’ve gone through that alone, I don’t think I need you anymore. I think I’m cool by myself. I don’t need you.”
Serina sounded firm when she said her last sentence.
With that, Derek felt as if something was biting his body. He felt awful. Derek gave nothing but indifference to Serina when he should have given her a warm hug.
Listening at the door, Hayden got heated. He opened the door and walked out.
“Mrs. Lambert, it’s not like that. You have to believe in Mr. Darion. Actually, it was because…”
“Go back and wait for me in the car.” Derek raised his hand to stop Hayden.
“Mr. Darion…” Hayden felt bad for Derek and Serina since Hayden knew exactly what Derek had gone through all these years.
“Stop it! Wait for me in the car!”
Hayden sighed in frustration, “Sure.”
Hayden could only leave in silence.
Derek didn’t want to explain because he believed an explanation couldn’t change the fact that he had done something wrong. He was wrong because he wasn’t there for his daughter when she was in great danger. What he did could by no means be justified.
“Have you made up your mind?”
Serina was silent for a moment and nodded. “Yes, I have.”
“Have you thought it through?”
Serina had not thought about Derek for the past two days. Then Derek showed up and started a conversation. Serina only said what she said as the conversation went on.
“I have thought it through.”
“Alright, I see.” Derek turned around and left.
Serina did not expect that Derek would leave so decisively. He turned around and left. Serina felt sad when facing his back.
Would Derek disappear again, like last time? Would Serina ever hear from him again?
Serina bit her lips and her lips almost bled. She held herself back and did not ask Derek to come back.
Serina felt that she was a grown-up and couldn’t be as impulsive as before.
Serina took a deep breath, adjusted herself, and returned to the ward.
“Where is Daddy?” Cherry asked as soon as she saw Serina.
“He just left.”
“How could he leave? He promised to buy me a giraffe!” Cherry pouted, looking unhappy.
“He is pretty occupied. When you are discharged from the hospital, I will buy you a giraffe, okay?” Serina sat at the bedside and smoothed out Cherry’s hair.
“Alright then.”
Derek returned to the car. His face looked grim. He sat in the car and did not say a word.
Hayden sat in the passenger’s seat. Derek did not issue an order to drive, nor did he mention where to go. Hayden didn’t know what to do.
After some thought, Hayden turned around. “Mr. Darion, why didn’t you let me tell Mrs. Lambert the truth just now? It was not your fault. I was blindly optimistic to think Cherry would be fine.”
“Well, you’ve just lost your bonus for this month.”
Hayden opened his mouth in shock. He really wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to speak?
“Then why didn’t you let me tell Mrs. Lambert?”
“You didn’t have to defend me. I did something wrong. That’s all that has happened. When Cherry was in the ICU, I should have been by her side, but I didn’t.”
“Mr. Darion, if you had known that, you would have been by Mrs. Lambert’s side. You are not to blame!”
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I failed Serina and the girls. I can’t be justified.” Derek shook his head.
Hayden was speechless. Derek had always been hard on himself.
“Mr. Darion, are you really going to split up with Mrs. Lambert? You’ve spent the past few years planning the reunion with Mrs. Lambert. But now … And the two cute daughters … Do you really want to part with them?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Mr. Darion, please try harder. Mrs. Lambert is a woman. Sometimes, when women tell you to leave, they just want you to beg for staying!”