Just then, the door across the hallway opened, having heard the commotion.
Quincy, wearing pajamas, rubbed his eyes in surprise and excitement. “Mom! What are you doing here?!”
“Mom, did you come to find me?!” Quincy instantly woke up from his drowsiness and hugged Phyllis tightly, rubbing against her.
Ethan’s hair was still a bit messy, clearly not expecting Phyllis, who was supposed to be in City A, to show up here.
“Phyllis?” His gaze landed on Conrad, who was only wearing a towel. “What’s going on here?”
Conrad crossed his arms and stared at Ethan. “Can someone explain to me what’s happening here?”
He had worked hard to earn some good points, and now Ethan had come back just to steal the spotlight – fine, whatever. But did he really have to drag his ex-wife along to make things worse?
What now? Had Phyllis also taken a liking to Lillian? Was she planning to join her ex-husband in squeezing into this family too?
Conrad shot an intense glare – subtle yet sharp – at Phyllis, who stood nearby.
“Do you need an explanation? Things are exactly as you see them,” Phyllis said.
“You think I don’t hit women, huh?” Conrad was angry.
Ethan stepped forward, grabbed Phyllis, and threw her into the door.
Quincy, completely confused, looked from the door to Conrad and the others. “Is Dad going to argue with Mom again?”
Conrad thought to himself, The perfect pair of troublemakers-one steals someone’s wife, the other steals someone’s husband. What were they fighting about now? Probably just making things more interesting.
“You saw it yourself, I’m innocent. This must be his plot!” Conrad insisted, emphasizing it repeatedly.
Lillian, speechless, grabbed Quincy’s hand. “I got up early, so I brought breakfast for you. Pick whatever you want.”
The room smelled musty, and the place was only on par with the best hotels in this area. The windows were still open, the bed hadn’t been slept in much, and the bathroom was still filled with steam.
Lillian quickly assessed the room.
Jasmine immediately jumped onto the bed, treating it like a trampoline.
“Is that your mom, Quincy? Did she come to pick up your dad?”
Quincy shook his head. “I don’t know, I’m scared they’ll argue.”
At this moment, Lillian was too preoccupied with comforting Quincy to pay attention to Conrad. She held him close and reassured him, “It’s okay. Let’s eat breakfast first, then we’ll take you up to the mountain to fish and see the stream, okay?”
“Okay.”
As the two little ones crowded around to eat their breakfast on the couch, Conrad leaned against Lillian. “Are those two trying to bully me?”
“Who could possibly bully you?” she replied, handing him a piece of burger. “Not hungry anymore?”
“She’s taking advantage of me,” Conrad muttered. “I haven’t let any other woman touch me. I’m not eating; I’ll go take a shower.”
As he spoke, he actually went into the bathroom. Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Lillian followed him in. She had planned to reason with him, but before she knew it, he suddenly yanked her, pulling her straight into the bathroom and shutting the door behind them.
The bathroom was already small, and now they were trying to squeeze in together.
It was difficult for Lillian to even turn around. Most of the space was occupied by Conrad.
He placed both hands on either side of her, staring at her with an intense gaze. The same domineering, forceful feeling that only a man could exude had returned.
“What are you doing?” Lillian asked, holding a piece of burger.
“You’re not jealous?” He took the burger from her hand and bit into it, the rich smell of meat filling the air. For a moment, Lillian couldn’t help but feel that she was like a burger herself, and Conrad was simply preparing to eat.
Lillian was trapped between him and the sink. Every time he chewed, it felt as though he was about to devour her whole.
His warm tongue occasionally brushed against her fingers.
It had been five years since she’d been this close to a man. Though he hadn’t done anything, the bold outline of his muscles, the black wolf tattoo flying across his skin, and even his lips-still as red as they had been five years ago-instantly brought back memories of the intense, fiery scenes they had shared back then.
“Why are you blushing?” Conrad asked playfully.
“Are you thinking about something inappropriate?” he teased.
Lillian cleared her throat. “It’s just too hot in here.”
“I took a cold shower. Why are you hot?” he replied.
Her finger poked him, feeling his toned body, which seemed even better than five years ago.
“The kids are still outside. Behave yourself,” Lillian warned.
Conrad raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Should I take that to mean that if they weren’t here, I could stop behaving myself?”
“You wish. You’re still on probation. Do you want me to dock your points?”
Conrad’s face darkened. “Then kindly tell me, how many points do I have right now?”
“45, I guess.”
That was surprisingly high.
Conrad lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “Does today’s incident not count for any deductions?”
“You just reminded me. I’m deducting now.”
“No way,” he said, pulling her closer by the waist. He took another bite of the hamburger. “No deductions. I’ve worked hard to gain those points. Have a little heart, Lillian.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted a shower? Are you going to take one or not?”
“You want to watch? I’ll take one right now. You’ve probably seen it enough times. I miss you, and it misses you too,” he said, unconsciously moving closer, letting her feel the heat of his member.
But Lillian wasn’t going to let him win that easily.
She always felt that when they were together before, they hadn’t truly understood each other. This time, she wanted to do things properly.
“Well, you just think about that. I still have to check on the kids.”
Conrad watched her slip past him, leaving the bathroom. The scent of her lingered in the air.
Before he could savor it, he remembered how Phyllis had just taken advantage of him earlier.
His face darkened, and he made his way to the sink to wash up.
Meanwhile, Ethan was confronting Phyllis in the other room.
Phyllis’ foot still wasn’t healed, and when Ethan pulled her in, she couldn’t help but wince.
However, this time, Ethan didn’t immediately check on her. Instead, he sat on the couch, staring at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
Phyllis wiped away any expression, and they both fell into silence.
Before their divorce, they had often done this.
“Why didn’t you inform me before you came here?” Ethan finally spoke.
“If I had informed you in advance, would you have told me why you were in such a hurry to get back?” she replied.
“What makes you think I wouldn’t tell you?”
“Because you’re good at smoothing over situations, at keeping things from getting worse. Even after all these years since our divorce, you still ask how my parents are during the holidays. A person like you-how could you let me come here?”
Phyllis opened her bag and took out a cigarette, preparing to light it.
Ethan stood up and snatched the cigarette out of her mouth, placing it in his own.
Phyllis froze for a moment.
“What are you doing?”
“You wanted to smoke, so I’ll keep you company.”
Phyllis pressed her lips together, then let out a light laugh. “It seems like being with Lillian has changed you a lot. At least before, at this time, you’d scold me, telling me Quincy’s things were still in this room and to not let the smell of nicotine fill the air.”
Ethan didn’t respond. He flicked his lighter and walked over to the windowsill.
His pajamas were still from the same brand he liked. This man, once used to something, never easily changed.
Phyllis looked at him and said, “If you have nothing to say to me, then I’ll…”
“Phyllis,” Ethan’s voice was steady and powerful. “You came for me, didn’t you?”
She smiled. “No, I came for Quincy.”
“You never used to lie for this reason.” Ethan turned his head, still holding the cigarette between his fingers, his hair falling over his forehead.
The movement reminded Phyllis of when they were in school-back at the library, she’d be focused on her drawings while he’d sit by the window, reading, keeping her company.
They’d kiss and hug sometimes.
They’d return to their rented apartment, make love, tangled embrace, they’d hold each other tight, wanting to give everything.
They had loved each other so fiercely.
But eventually, they both felt the other was cold, unfamiliar.
The only difference was that now, they had a child bound by blood-Quincy-the only connection they still had after five years.
“You still remember the past.”
“Divorce was your idea, but from the way you speak, it feels like I’m the one who’s forgotten.” Ethan let out a puff of smoke.
“And you? Weren’t you going to marry someone else? Then who was that man just now? Ethan, is it me you can’t let go of, or is it this place?”
After she spoke, the room fell into silence.
Then, she suddenly sneered. “See, no matter what, you never give me a clear answer, making me hope and then crushing those hopes over and over again. We’re just not meant to be.”
She grabbed her bag and got ready to leave.
“Didn’t you want to smoke?” he suddenly asked.
Phyllis stopped and turned to look at him.
Ethan snuffed out the cigarette, and then walked up to her. He grabbed her head and pulled her roughly against him, letting the smoke pass from his lips into hers.
At first, he kissed her fiercely, their teeth clashing in a way she had never experienced before-aggressive and rough.
Phyllis nearly couldn’t breathe from the intensity of his kiss.