Candice never knew that a strong man like Emerson would listen to Rene Liu’s songs. The melodic tune, the lyrics that hit home with every sentence, it was as if the song was written specifically for her.
Want to ask if you dare, to love me like you say you would, to be crazy for love as I am, what would you really think…
Candice did not dare to admit, she has never dared to admit that she had fallen for Emerson.
This love was from every night between him and her holding each other five years ago, every enjoyable moment seeping from every pore into her organs bit by bit. She had not known at the start, but when she found out it was deep in her gut, and was beyond cure.
Emerson never told her he loved her. Even when they were having sex, during the most passionate moment, when he spoke to her ear that he would never find another woman, he never said the word ‘love’.
They both knew that it was the taboo between them, and it was unmentionable. Between them was Robert, the brother that Emerson brought up, that he loved and cared the most.
Emerson was a man of principle, but before his brother, there was no principle involved. His brother asked him to consummate his marriage, he agreed and slept with her. His brother’s lawsuit needed that lawyer, he then promised that the day that his brother was released from prison would be the day he would marry Eric’s daughter.
Candice knew that Emerson cared about her, but compared to Robert, he cared more about the brother that he was the closest to and he loved the most. So, now that she brought her son back, and want to spend the rest of her life with Robert, he would definitely keep a distance from her.
Just like when they were in the office alone just now, Candice thought that he would come to hug her, even if it was just a hug. Even if she would push him away rationally, but she still hoped so lowly. But he did not.
Candice put her arms around herself subconsciously, and hugged herself.
She told herself, “Candice, wake up, okay? You have your sensibility, and this man was even more sensible than you.
You could only remain like this, you should only remain like this, this was the best relationship.
The car reached an older neighbourhood, there was still people littering in the neighbourhood, there was still the vegetables from this house and the potatoes from that house in the stairway.
Third floor, 301.
Candice’s eyes were red when she stood at the door. Once there were always her father’s outdoor shoes placed at the door, now, it was empty there.
Emerson opened the door, and walked in. When he turned, Candice was still standing at the door. Emerson pulled on Candice’s hand, lightly pulled her into the room and shut the door.
Candice looked at the familiar surroundings in the house, all ornaments were not moved, and it has been five years, it was still clean and tidy, not even a speck of dust.
“Although I have not come here these years, I hired an hourly worker to clean here once a fortnight.” Emerson said as he opened the window, and let the sunlight outside shine in.
Candice was grateful for Emerson and she went back home without seeing chaos and cobwebs everywhere.
The house was not large, with two bedrooms and one living room, the portrait of her parents hung on the wall in their room. They passed too young and soon, there was never any real portrait of them, it was cropped out of their older photos. Her father was always strict, and her mother was always smiling. But her mother’s wide open, lifeless eyes, stared deadly into Candice’s eyes, and became a nightmare that Candice could never wake up from.
Candice kneeled before her parents’ portrait, and wept silently, she wanted to repent to them, but she did not know what she should say. Even now, besides knowing that meeting Robert was a mistake, Candice did not know what else she did wrong.