“Mom,” Grace called.
Emily stopped the story she was reading, her eyes meeting Grace’s sleepy ones. “Hmm, what’s wrong, dear?” she asked softly, her fingers stroking Grace’s cheek.
“Is Mom in love with Uncle Sean?” asked Grace.
Emily was silent for a moment before answering Grace’s question. “I told you, just focus on your studies at school,” she said.
“Mom, don’t be with Uncle Sean. I like Uncle Daniel better,” Grace said.
Emily felt her chest tighten. Was this what was called the inner bond between a father and daughter? Although Grace didn’t know who her father was, her attraction to Daniel was strong.
“Grace, honey,” Emily said, her voice trembling, trying to hold back her own tears. “Mom loves you, and will always be there for you. But love is complicated, and sometimes we can’t choose who to be with.”
“I don’t understand,” Grace whispered, her eyes fixed on her favorite teddy bear.
“Honey, someday you will understand,” Emily said, gently stroking her daughter’s hair. “Now, go to sleep. You’re going to school tomorrow.”
Moments later, Grace’s breathing became regular, already deep in sleep. Emily smiled as she gazed at Grace’s peaceful face. She pulled the blanket over Grace’s body, turned off the light by her nightstand, and then kissed her gently on the forehead.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Emily whispered, her voice full of affection before she left the room.
Emily’s footsteps were heavy as she walked to Sean’s car. Sean was already waiting in the car, and as Emily opened the passenger seat door, Sean smiled at her.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Emily said, her voice almost a whisper.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time. I missed you,” Sean said.
Emily smiled awkwardly, trying to hide the turmoil that was raging in her heart. Before Sean expressed his feelings, Emily felt comfortable around him. She considered Sean a friend all along. However, now, after knowing Sean’s true feelings, being around him felt a little uncomfortable. It was as if there was an invisible wall separating them.
“Don’t you miss me?” asked Sean, his voice slightly depressed.
Emily was silent, trapped in a complicated maze of emotions. She wanted to say something, but the words seemed to be stuck in her throat. “Sean, that’s…” before Emily could continue, Sean cut her off quickly, as if afraid of hearing an answer he didn’t want to hear.
“Have you eaten?” asked Sean in a flat voice, as if to avoid the question he really wanted to ask. Emily just nodded in response.
“Do you want to accompany me to eat?” asked Sean, his eyes sparkling with hope. “I’m hungry,” he continued, his voice a little whiny, like a child wanting to be coddled. A faint smile was played on Emily’s lips, amused by Sean’s slightly childish behavior.
“Finally, you can smile at me too,” Sean said, his tone of voice a little relieved to see Emily smile. “So, how was it? Do you want to accompany me?”
“Alright,” Emily replied. Actually, she had thought that today she would have to give a rejection answer to Sean’s confession. However, outright rejection was difficult for her. Perhaps accompanying him to eat was a more subtle way to approach the topic.
Not long after, Sean’s car pulled up in front of a magnificent five-star restaurant in the city center.
“Let’s go down,” Sean invited, his voice slightly excited.
The restaurant’s gleaming lights shone from inside, radiating the restaurant’s beauty. Sean chose a seat in the room’s corner, near a large glass window that displayed a view of the sparkling night city.
Sean looked excited as he mentioned his food choices to the waiter. Meanwhile, Emily only ordered the drinks on the menu. After recording the order, the waiter immediately excused himself kindly, leaving Emily and Sean alone at their table.
Emily bit her lower lip, somewhat hesitant to speak. “Sean…” she called. Emily wanted to express her rejection, explaining that she couldn’t reciprocate Sean’s feelings. However, before she could get the words out, Sean interrupted her again.
“Emily,” Sean began, “I feel exhausted today. I have a lot of work at the office,” he said and then told her about his exhausting office routine.
Sean had long been appointed as the CEO of W Company after Daniel resigned from the position. Emily didn’t know what led Daniel to leave his position at W Company. Since Daniel’s departure from W Company, Emily had no further knowledge of him until she encountered him again today.
“Sean,” Emily cut in, emphasizing her words so that Sean would turn to her. “I want to give you the answer.”
Seeing the seriousness in Emily’s face made Sean silent. “Did you get the answer?”
Emily nodded. “Sean, I can’t accept your feelings. I’m sorry. I’m sure you can find another woman besides me out there who is much better than me.”
Hearing Emily’s answer made Sean pause. “I know,” he said quietly. “I guessed. Maybe I got my hopes up. I kept cutting you off because I really didn’t want to hear a rejection from you.”
“I’m sorry, Sean,” Emily replied, feeling guilty.
“Wow, this is what rejection feels like,” Sean muttered with a sad laugh. “It hurts like hell.”
“Sorry,” Emily replied as she lowered her head.
“Do you think I’m going to give up hearing you reject me?” asked Sean, making Emily raise her head again.
“I’ll make sure you love me and forget Daniel, Em,” Sean said, his voice sounding confident.
“Sean,” called Emily, her voice sounding a little worried. “Please don’t do this. You can find a much better woman than me.”
“You have made me understand what love is,” Sean continued. “I will not let go of a good woman like you, just like that.”
Emily was silent, not knowing how to respond to Sean’s statement. She felt a heavy silence fall over them.
The waiter finally arrived back with food and drinks on the table.
“I’m just a widow with one child,” Emily whispered. Her eyes looked regretfully at Sean. “You can still get someone better, Sean.”
“No, Em. You are the best for me. There is no other.” Sean’s voice sounded soft and full of conviction.
A few minutes passed, accompanied by a silence broken only by the sound of Sean’s spoon and fork clashing on the plate. Emily felt awkward, her heart filled with guilt and worry. Finally, it wasn’t long before Sean’s food ran out and Sean drove Emily home. When the car stopped right in front of Emily’s house, Sean turned to her.
“Thank you for keeping me company tonight,” Sean said, his voice sounding soft, but there was a hint of disappointment implied behind his words.
“That’s okay. Then I’ll go in first,” Emily replied, her eyes avoiding Sean’s gaze.
As Emily was about to get out of the car, Sean’s hand seemed to hold Emily’s arm. “I hope my love doesn’t make you avoid me again,” he said.
“But I can’t force my feelings to love you back, Sean,” Emily said, her voice sounding soft. “I’ll only end up hurting you.”
“I don’t expect you to love me back,” Sean replied firmly. “I just want you to feel my love for you until one day you change your mind and love me back.”
Sean removed his hand from Emily’s arm and looked at her with a determined gaze. “I’ll wait, Em. Until you’re ready.”
Emily was silent, her mind filled with various things. Since when did Sean, who she considered ignorant and childish, become this mature? If only Emily had forgotten Daniel, maybe she would try to accept Sean’s feelings for her.
But her love for Daniel never changed. Even though she knew they were not destined to be together because her biological father had killed Daniel’s parents and Daniel had also left Emily and their daughter behind as revenge against Emily’s biological father, who had killed his parents but her love for Daniel was still so great that imperceptibly tears fell back down Emily’s cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Em?” asked Sean, his eyes full of worry as he looked at Emily, who was sobbing.
“It’s okay, Sean,” Emily replied with a trembling voice, trying hard to wipe the tears that kept flowing from her eyes.
Sean felt pain when he saw Emily like this. Without hesitation, he immediately took Emily into his arms, trying to calm her down. “I promise I will make you forget all your memories with Daniel,” Sean whispered softly, while letting Emily cry on his shoulder.
Emily felt the warmth of Sean’s embrace, but her memories still shackled her heart and love for Daniel. She knew Sean was trying his best for her, but her love for Daniel was not easily forgotten.
Meanwhile, a black car was parked near to Emily’s house. Daniel, who was in the car, felt the pain that raged in his heart when he saw Sean’s car in front of Emily’s house, accompanied by the grip of his hand that was getting tighter on the steering wheel.