If it were before, such a poor performance would move Brian a little, but now when this woman who stands in front of him says it, he feels nauseated. His long fingers suddenly pinch her chin and he says: “Antonia, don’t forget who you are. Don’t really regard yourself as Mrs. Si, or your family will all die.” Antonia’s face is pale, but she doesn’t dare to move, allowing herself to be pinched by him. “Do you understand?” Brian looks at her frostily. She nods her head like a chicken pecking rice. Brian shakes off the hand used to clamp her with his handsome eyebrows slightly frowning, and draws a tissue to wipe his hands, as if he has just touched something dirty, which makes Antonia’s face paler. She stands virtually on the side, and at the bottom of her heart, she feels more hatred for Florence. But she has also learned to pretend to be delicate and obedient in front of Brian because she knows that now Brian hates her, so the only thing she can do is to do everything he wants.
After a few days, Brian’s life seems to have changed dramatically, but his life seems to have been like this from the very beginning. Rodney reports to him the recent situation of Florence. Probably Florence is afraid that Brian would inquire about her flight, so she doesn’t leave. She just settles down in a remote place. When mentioning it, Rodney pauses and looks at Brian’s face. Brian looks up at him. “You just mentioned, where does she live now?” “It’s in the alley on the east side.” The alley on the east side, literally, is where the slums are located. Hearing it, he frowns. It does not occur to him that Florence has not gone to Austin for shelter, but has taken Nelson to such a place. He raises his eyebrows and gets up to pick up his jacket, and then strides out. Rodney knows Brian very well, so he hurriedly follows up. He also knows where he is going. Sure enough, the place he goes to is not out of his expectation.
In the dirty and disorderly alley, a group of men with bottles in their hands are still walking along the street. They also flirt with women passing by from time to time. There are even some hawkers standing in the corner and shouting for their stalls. The combination of the stench and various sewer odors makes one feel unable to breathe in such an environment. Outside the alley, however, a luxury car that doesn’t fit here parks. The window is slowly opened. Brian is in the back seat, looking outside with a cold face. It is only when the light of the night shines on his handsome face that one could see him clearly. His eyes are full of sharpness and the chill on his face is heavier.
“Has the card been given away yet?” “Yes, although it was given to her by Austin, Miss Li did not use the money inside. She returned the card to Austin and soon changed her place.” Brian narrows his eyes. He is angry but he also takes pity on her. In fact, her character has not changed from the beginning to the end. Sometimes she is so stubborn that she makes others hopeless. When he wants to say something, he notices a beautiful girl coming to him. Brian closes the window and tells Rodney to drive out to keep her out of sight.
Florence holds Nelson’s hand tightly and carries a bag of fresh fruit and milk which are just bought from the supermarket on her right hand. For the child’s health, she has to go through the hardship of buying these things. There is no shortage of drunks in the lane every day, so Florence deliberately avoids them by going another way. The dim light is turned on, and there is only a little more light in the dark room. The setting is simple, with a square wooden table near the window. To build a kind of sweet atmosphere, Florence buys some flowers and puts them on it intentionally, which adds a little more color to this lifeless room. Nelson sits sullenly on the chair with his hands propping on his face, as if he is thinking about something.
Florence washes the fruits she has just bought and brings them out. When she sees his thoughtful look, she cannot help smiling a little. Wiping her hands and following his gaze, what she can see is nothing but the messy dump. She feels a little bitter in her heart. If it is not to avoid Brian, she won’t let Nelson stay in such an environment anyhow. Her white fingers stroke his hair and says:”Nelson…We won’t be here for long time. Mommy will take you out of here after a while, OK?” Nelson turns his head and frowns. His voice is also depressing, not as animated as usual. “Mommy, why do the other kids have daddy but I don’t?” Florence is stunned. She never imagines that he is thinking about it. Her heart is suddenly overwhelmed with complex emotions. Only this question, she never knows how to answer Nelson.
Nelson looks at her aggrieved. His beautiful eyes are blinking, “I want Uncle Brian to be my father, but why do we leave Uncle Brian?” In child’s world, there are only like and dislike. That he desires to stay there is a proof that he likes Brian. Florence begins to think whether she is too selfish or not. Compared with Brian, it must be he who can give Nelson the best. If Nelson lives with her, besides a tough life, what can he obtain? She opens her mouth with bitterness, “Nelson, do you really want to go back?” “En!” Nelson’s eyes are bright. “Can we go back?”
What should she answer? She does not speak for a long time, and her expression is very grave. Nelson notices that and finally realizes, “Mommy, do you dislike Uncle Brian?” She rubs his head and says: “Children shouldn’t care about grown-ups’ things.” Nelson looks at her and says firmly, “If mom does not like Uncle Brian, then I dislike him, either!” He is very serious. Florence almost cries and couldn’t help laughing, “You are so lovely! Mommy doesn’t dislike Uncle Brian. But Uncle Brian has his own family and he will have his own children. So we cannot enter Uncle Brian’s family to hinder others, OK? Nelson nods his head without full understanding. Florence does not expect him to understand, either. So she comforts his mood for a while and then lulls him to sleep. Looking at the sleeping little person, Florence just thinks about how to leave under the nose of Brian. She cannot let Nelson be hurt anymore. But she doesn’t know that a man is watching the shadow by the window outside. The rain comes down without warning. Rodney stands behind Brian, “Mr. Si, it’s raining, let’s go back.”