Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Mom’s fine now. The new skin on my hand is as fair and tender as yours, Jason. Doesn’t it look nice?” Mary asked with a smile.
Jason nodded and replied, “Mom is the most beautiful mother in the world. Mom, wait for me at the table. I’ll bring the egg over.”
Jason turned and ran into the kitchen to grab the food. A few minutes later, Jason climbed onto the chair beside Mary.
Max Gaston brought out the last bowl of porridge and was just about to take his seat when his phone rang. His gaze shimmered when he saw the caller ID. He got Jason and Mary to dig in first and went outside to take the call.
“Max, I heard from your mother that Mary is back and even came with your child? Is that true?” the voice on the other end of the line asked.
“It’s true,” Max replied.
“Are you with Mary now? How did Mary give birth to your child? Where are you guys staying now? I’ll go and look for you,” the over the line asked.
Max only told Mary after breakfast, “Mary, my father is back. He wants to meet you. I’ll ask him over if you are willing.”
Darius Gaston rushed over to the Hanks villa and arrived half an hour later. His eyes remained locked in place when he saw Mary and Jason the moment he stepped into the living room. It took some time before he walked towards them carefully and said gently, “Mary, you’ve finally come back. It’s been hard on you all these years.”
Mary’s expression changed slightly. She wasn’t sure about what to feel about Darius’s concern.
Darius Gaston had treated her quite well during the ten years she spent with them. However, the leads that Paul Johnson had spent ten years investigating could not be wrong.
“Uncle Darius, this is Jason. He’s four this year. Jason, this is Grandpa Darius, Uncle Max’s father,” Mary introduced.
Jason immediately greeted with great clarity, “Hello, Grandpa Darius.”
Darius took Jason into his embrace and hugged him for a long time. After he let go, Mary got Fred to bring Jason outside.
Darius asked Mary about how she had been the past few years when they settled down in the living room but Mary glossed over it. He could tell that Mary was only giving perfunctory replies and was not willing to go into detail. However, he did not force her. Instead, he said gently, “Mary, don’t leave again now that you and Jason are back.”
“Alright,” Mary replied.
“I’ll let Max know,” Darius said.
“Uncle Darius,” Mary called, a trace of urgency in her expression, “I’m living quite well now. As long as I have Jason, I wish for nothing else.”
“Are you sure about that?” Darius asked. He knitted his brows, a stern expression reflected on his face as he commented, “Back then, Max had thought that the person that night was Sandra White. Now, it seems likely Sandra has been lying to us all about what happened back then. If she really—”
“Uncle Darius, Aunt Sofia really wishes for Sandra to marry into the Gastons— I think that it’s quite alright now that I have Jason by my side,” Mary interrupted.
“I see. Alright then,” Darius conceded. However, he was thinking about going to look for Max at the office later. He told Mary, “Mary, I’m going into the mountains for a few months as a volunteer teacher and have a train to catch in the afternoon. Don’t take on all of your burdens alone. Feel free to approach Max. Call me if Max refuses to help you.”
“Alright,” Mary responded.
“I’m going to visit your parents. Do you want to come along?” Darius Gaston asked as he was about to leave.
Mary looked into Darius’s honest eyes. She clenched the fists beside her torso when she thought about her parents’ death. She said without much emotion in her voice, “Uncle Darius, I won’t be going today. I have to head for work later.”
“Alright then,” Darius said.
Mary stood by the door in a daze for a few minutes after Darius left. She then went upstairs to her parents’ study.
The old books and photo albums were still there. Back then, when Max had brought her here, she asked him why they were still around. Max had only smiled and did not answer her question. How could the items of the original owners be left behind when the villa got auctioned away?
Moreover, she had also been too young back then to protect all that her parents had left behind. When she thought about it deeper, it might have been Max who took her parents’ belongings away before the villa was auctioned and placed them back after he purchased the villa.
Mary flipped open an old photo album. The first photo in the album was that of her parents, while the second showed her family. The third— The rest were mostly that of her mother. Her father was the photographer.
Tears had already welled up in Mary’s eyes by the time she reached the last photo. Her fingers lingered over the photo. It was a shot of two young girls. The girls had straight, shoulder-length hair and were both in school uniform. They were slender, beautiful, and exuded a youthful aura.
Her mother had once told her about this photo. The other girl in the photo was her best friend. Unfortunately, that girl had been troubled by love and ultimately died in a foreign land for her unborn baby.
Mary had not been alone when her mother told her the story. Back then, Paul Johnson, Priscilla Johnson, and even Max Gaston were there.
“Mom, why did you entrust me to Max Gaston back then? He was only six years older than me and not even of legal age yet,” Mary murmured, “Mom, why leave with Dad and abandon me as well?”
Mary still felt an indescribable sadness when she thought about her father’s death and her mother’s suicide even after so many years.
The sudden ring of her phone dragged her back into reality. She put the photo album back before taking the call. She greeted, “Hello.”
“Mary, it’s me,” Paul’s wife, Rebecca Yelton, whimpered on the other end of the line. Mary was rather startled but Rebecca continued, “Mary, that b*stard Paul Johnson wants to divorce me.”
“What?” Mary asked in shock, “Did you guys quarrel? Where is he?”
“He slammed the door and left. I don’t want to live anymore if he leaves me. Help me tell him to pray for me and his unborn son every anniversary,” Rebecca sobbed.
“Clam down, Rebecca. Are you at the hospital or at home?” Mary tried to console her.
“At home,” Rebecca replied.
“Stay calm. I’ll give Paul a call,” Mary said.
Rebecca agreed.
Mary first called Priscilla Johnson after she hung up and got her to rush back to keep an eye on Rebecca. She then called Paul. It took a few dials before Paul’s voice came through. He said, a little depressed, “Mary, did Rebecca tell you? Ignore her.”
“Why did you suddenly fight with her?” Mary asked as she walked out of the study and went downstairs.
“She’s being too unreasonable. She thinks that she’s right about everything. I’ve had enough,” Paul said on the other end of the line.
Mary remained silent. After few seconds, she said calmly, “Paul, Rebecca is carrying your child.”
“She won’t commit suicide. Don’t worry about her,” Paul replied.
“Where are you?” Mary asked.
“In the shop,” Paul responded curtly.
“I’ll head over now,” Mary said as she walked out of the living room. Outside, Fred Gaston immediately received her and asked, “Lady Mary, are you going to the office? I’ll take you there.”
“Where’s Jason?” Mary asked.
“He’s gone to school,” Fred answered.
Mary only told Fred when they drove out of the villa, “Fred, go to the Johnsons’ computer repair shop first.”
“Lady Mary, are you going to look for Paul Johnson?” Fred asked. There was a strange expression on his face. His voice was also rather unnatural.
Mary was very honest with her reply, “Yes. I have some matters to attend to.” She paused for a moment before she continued, “You can send me to the office building if you do not think that it’s convenient or if you’re afraid that Max Gaston will reprimand you. I’ll drive there myself..”