Genevieve watched as the mixed-race man, dressed in gentlemanly attire yet acting so roughly, tenderly held Tina’s hand.
“Are you alright? She didn’t hurt you, did she?”
“I’m fine,” Tina shook her head.
“And who are you!”
She slowly rose from the ground as John Walsh, with Tina in his embrace, coldly stared at her.
“I’m her husband. If you dare touch my wife again, I bet you won’t be able to walk out of this room!”
Aurora was frightened by the chill emanating from him; her previously smiling eyes were now filled with a sinister look. If she had doubted before that he was just an actor hired by Tina, now she was completely convinced of his sincerity. He was just like Julian when he protected her, as if no one in the world could touch her without regretting their existence.
“Husband?”
Genevieve was stupefied, never having imagined such a turn of events. She had thought that Tina had come back to compete with her for Magnus.
Yet here stood a handsome man by Tina’s side, in stature and demeanor no less than Magnus. This was the ultimate irony-that her perceived rival had never considered her a threat from the start.
“John, Tina, I’m sorry for the trouble,” Aurora apologized.
“Mr. Montgomery, it seems you still have some family matters to sort out. I’d better not stay for dinner,” Tina said as she picked up her bag. Her upbringing did not allow her to make a scene like Genevieve.
She hadn’t done so ten years ago and it was even less likely now. This dinner was intended for Aurora, but it had been disrupted by Genevieve.
“Tina, everything is ready. Maybe stay for dinner before you go?”
Aurora quickly tried to persuade her.
“No, maybe some other time. You probably need to deal with some things. We won’t disturb you,” Tina said, her decision firm.
“Mr. Montgomery, it was a pleasure visiting your home,” John Walsh said gentlemanly as he escorted Tina to the car, with Aurora following them.
“Tina, are you really leaving tomorrow?”
Aurora detected the resolve in her eyes. She had always known her mother to be a strong woman. Once she made a decision, no one could change her mind. It had always been that way.
“Yes,” she said softly.
“But I don’t want you to go. Can I come to see you later?”
Aurora held her hand. She had only just found her mother again, yet they had to part.
“…Yes.”
Tina’s voice also carried a hint of sadness. She couldn’t refuse Aurora’s request, knowing that once she left, they might never meet again.
“Let’s go, Aurora. Thank you for your hospitality,” John Walsh smoothed things over.
As Tina turned to get into the car, Aurora suddenly hugged her from behind.
“Tina… no, Mom, I know it’s you! Even though I don’t know why you left Aurora all these years. But I believe there isn’t a mother who doesn’t love her child. I don’t believe you are cold-hearted. You must have your reasons. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. I just want to tell you, I hope you can be happy, whoever may bring you happiness.”
Tears had already begun to fill Tina’s eyes, her body trembling. She had thought she was a terrible figure in Aurora’s heart-how many children could forgive a mother who abandoned them? But hearing Aurora say these words filled her with even greater guilt and pain. She wanted to turn around and embrace her, but she couldn’t, and she dared not.
“I know, Mom. Your goodbye is just an excuse. If we really had a chance to meet again, you wouldn’t leave so quickly. Is it my presence that troubles you? Knowing you are still alive makes me very happy. Mom, don’t worry. I’ve grown up; I can protect myself now and have found someone who loves me. I’ll be fine…”
“Aurora, we need to go,” John Walsh said, standing next to Tina. He could clearly see the restrained sadness on her face.
Tina had a thousand words in her heart, but they were all stuck in her throat as she slowly pried Aurora’s fingers apart.
Aurora watched helplessly as Tina got into the car, feeling the lingering warmth of her hand. As the car door slowly closed, Aurora saw her mother’s indifferent profile.
She became even more convinced that Tina had some compelling hardship; otherwise, she wouldn’t even dare to look her in the eye. Perhaps a single glance would shatter all her pretenses, so she preferred not to look, not to think.
The car slowly started, and Aurora felt she might never see her mother again. If this farewell meant another ten years apart, how would she cope?
“Mom, please don’t go!”
Aurora knew it was impossible for Tina to stay, but regretted it the moment the car engine started. She banged on the car door, trying to make her stay, ignoring whatever the reasons, she just wanted her mother by her side.
“Mom, I can’t bear to let you go!”
“Mommy!”
All of Aurora’s strength and pretenses fell away in front of her mother, and she was like a child.
When Tina had left her years ago, she was still a child. Although she was sad then, it wasn’t as profoundly sorrowful as now, understanding the whole situation. She knew Tina was suffering too, feeling her trembling body when she held her.
“What makes you endure and give up on me? Mom, Mom, don’t leave, I don’t want you to leave me again!”
“Should we stop?”
John Walsh saw through the car window that Aurora had turned into a tearful mess.
“Keep going,” Tina said, without even the courage to look at her.
He slowly sped up, and as Tina watched the reflection of her daughter grow smaller in the rearview mirror, long-restrained tears finally fell. The car quickly drove out of Aurora’s sight.
Aurora collapsed to the ground, “Mommy, I will become strong, strong enough to protect you, so no hardship can keep you from staying with me!”
She vowed in her heart, no matter what stood between them, she would remove all obstacles!
The sports car stopped midway up the hill, and John Walsh, seeing the tearful woman beside him, rolled down the window to let the cool breeze in.
“Stop crying. The kid is outstanding; she has grown up. Just like she said, she can now protect herself,” John Walsh comforted her, patting her back gently.
“But I still miss her so much. All these years, I haven’t been able to be by her side, letting her be bullied. I don’t deserve to be her mother. I wish she would yell at me, hate me, hit me, but she said she doesn’t blame me, she knows I had reasons, John, she’s the one I owe the most in this world. She should have had a happy life, not a mother like me. I’m sorry for her,” Tina sobbed.
“Fool, you did this for her good, didn’t you? Since you’ve decided that she should live a normal life, then you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s a sacrifice you made for her, and she’s right not to blame you. You are the greatest mother.”
John Walsh was the one who saw it all clearly. Why Tina had to fake her death and leave wasn’t because she’d given up on Magnus, but because as a mother, she wanted to give her child the best possible choices.
“After this departure, I fear there won’t be another chance to see her, John, promise me, after I die…”
Tina began to say something more but John Walsh interrupted.
“Nonsense, you won’t die. I’m here, and I absolutely won’t let you die! Now that you’ve seen your daughter, she’s doing well. She’s strong and no longer fears any hardship. Everything is just as you wished, she’ll live a normal life. And you, don’t think too much, you’ll also live on, just live well!”
His voice came softly.