chapter 9
Chapter 9
The day before I was to set off again, I received a call from Aaron’s father. This tough old man, who had been stubborn all his life, finally
backed down for his son.
“Anna. You should go see Aaron. He’s not doing
well.”
I was shocked but felt it was somehow inevitable. Once, Aaron had loved our daughter very much, but now his selfishness had led to
her death. Someone as proud as Aaron couldn’t
accept this.
I entered the hospital room, and Aaron’s
emotions were intense.
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In just a few months, he had lost all his hair, his complexion was ashen, and all his teeth had fallen out. He had a large tumor on his neck. He looked older than his father by several years,
and I didn’t see Rita or Ronnie there.
“You’re back…” He looked at me deeply, as he
had so many years ago.
But all I felt was disgust and aversion.
He seemed to sense my emotions, and after asking me to sit down, he began to speak to himself, “Rita and I were both cowards. When we were young, we didn’t dare defy our families‘ orders but selfishly wished for the other to
compromise.”
He suddenly sat up, “After Rita married, it was
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you
who stayed by my side and encouraged me. I truly, truly loved you, even after Rita came
back.”
Listening to Aaron’s words, I couldn’t help but question him, “If you loved me, why did you keep leaving us behind?”
Aaron’s expression shifted from embarrassment to resignation, “I’m dying, so there’s nothing I can’t say. Men always long for what they don’t have. I always thought there would be so much
time between us.”
“Is that your excuse for falling in love with someone else?” I asked sarcastically.
“You always stood silently behind me, both before and after we married. I never expected
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that I would cause our daughter’s death.” His expression turned sorrowful, and he couldn’t
help but burst into tears.
“Anna! Please forgive me! I really know I was wrong. I’m dying, and I don’t have much time left. Do you hate Rita? I’ve sent her abroad; we’ll
never see her again!”
I hate Rita, but more than that, I hate Aaron,
who was our daughter’s father.
It turns out he knew everything–Rita’s scheming against us, the inappropriate actions. he took. But because of my indulgence, he
became more and more brazen. Wasn’t I also a
culprit?
Our daughter was destroyed by us.
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“Aaron, I will never forgive you. Go to hell and apologize to our daughter!”
I turned to leave, but Aaron’s breathing became increasingly labored. The machines around him beeped non–stop. Aaron’s parents rushed
into the room, crying desperately over his weak
breaths.
Before long, Aaron’s chest made its final two
movements. The doctor declared Aaron dead.
My steps did not falter; I left the hospital without a second thought.
Aaron was dead, and I was reborn.
“Let’s go, William! Let’s start our new
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adventure!”
“Anna! Are you really okay?” He looked at me.
with concern.
“I’m perfectly fine. In fact, I feel like celebrating with champagne,” I said.
William relaxed, seeing my calm demeanor, and
couldn’t help but smile.
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