“What did she say?” Dennis said coldly, putting chopped vegetables in the pot randomly.
Toby touched his nose, “Bitch.”
Dennis lowered his brows, halting his process of cooking, “Oh.”
This word seemed emotionless, but people who knew Dennis well could feel the anger contained in it.
Toby rinsed his hands, and said, “What do I do?”
Dennis didn’t give a direct answer, but asked, “Do you know what a woman attaches the most importance to?”
Toby thought a while, and replied, “Beauty?”
Dennis smiled, coldly.
“Only when what one cares about most is destroyed can they be heartbroken.”
Toby raised his eyebrows, “Acknowledged.”
Seizing a piece of tissue, Toby dried his hands and was ready to leave.
Dennis took the pot off the gas burner and added, “She is a woman after all. Ask Mario whether he cares about her, and if not, it will be in your power.”
Toby nodded and left the kitchen.
I was in the sitting room and heard all.
Toby was surprised to see me and smiled, “Mrs. George.”
And he left.
I stood where I was, bare feet.
Dennis came and frowned, “Why don’t you wear shoes?”
“I was in a hurry and forgot.”
He picked me up and returned me to the bedroom.
I pulled his sleeves when he was about to leave.
“What’s wrong?” He smiled.
“I am thirsty.” I had gone downstairs to drink water.
He nodded, “Wait a moment.”
When I imbibed water, he served dishes to me, “Just have a good sleep after eating?”
I nodded.
I didn’t bother to ask about Nova. She was a bitch and I was not divine.
I had a little food and was replete.
He frowned, “You didn’t like them?”
I shook my head and fell into his arms.
I sighed, “They are tasty but I don’t want more.”
He didn’t make me eat more or I would spit out nonetheless.
He understood me better than I did.
And we just sat in silence.
Time was slower.
I fell into a slumber and seemed to hear a few words, “Clara, I am sorry.”
I fell into a deeper sleep.
……
The next day.
Leo came surprisingly, with many things in hand mostly for Clarrie.
Seeing that I didn’t look well, he said straightforwardly, “Why not return to the Kennedy family?”
The Kennedy family was located in the center of the city and guarded by the police.
The journalists would become criminals if they dared a break-in.
I shook my head.
Clarrie was very fond of what Leo brought and touched them tenderly.
I suddenly asked, “Have you visited Karina recently?”
He was surprised and replied, “Yes.”
I heard carelessness and complained, “Leo, you can let her go if you don’t love her. Why keep her around you while ignoring her? Have you thought about the child?”
He frowned and sighed, “Clara, you needn’t bother yourself with it. I wouldn’t treat her unfairly when she gives birth.”
I silenced and asked, “You are in love with that Jessica?”
He frowned, “I am not serious with her.”
“Mom, I met grandma when Leo picked me up. She said she would visit you someday.”
Clarrie interrupted abruptly.
Leo nodded, “It’s Luna. She is busy with a charity fund. I said hello when I met her in the school.”
I said nothing.
I would have forgotten our relationship.
Leo said, “I know you hate her. But she is your mother and has looked for you for all these years. She might be more sorrowful than you are.”
I held my hot cup, “Leo, Sam said that our eyes and brows looked similar when I met her for the first time in L Community. I looked at myself in the mirror when I went home. I thought, yeah, if I hadn’t been abandoned by my mother, I would have the same features as her.”
“Grandma said I was a dandelion and was blown away from my mother when I was very young. And I met her. Well, I didn’t hate my mother because I was told by my grandma that I was blown away by wind and not abandoned.”
Clarrie consoled me, “Mom, you have me.”
I smiled and felt less bitter.
I looked at Leo and continued, “I never hated her for abandoning me. And I was so envious when I knew Olivia was her daughter. She loved Olivia so much and gave her all she wanted at all costs. And I didn’t expect that I was one of the costs.”
I laughed bitterly.
Leo looked very concerned and said to me, “Clara, you know we can not cling to the past.”
I knew that. But the harms done to me in the past were real.
“I dared not hate her because I was born by her. I buried the pain in my heart.”
“I am not that broad-minded, Leo. Do you know why I was upset when Karina was ignored by you? I was like her because I had loved humbly too.”