However, it didn't take long for Rose to realize how absurd her own excuses were.
"So, where are you planning on going? I will drop you, lest your parents blame that on you," Sam said.
"No, thanks. My family will send a car to pick me up," Rose said.
But when she saw the worry that marred Sam's face, she added, "My parents love me very much, so
they won't blame me."
She was confident about it. But she knew that Valentina would hold a grudge against Anne, and that
didn't sit well with her.
"That's good." Sam felt relieved and left.
The sun was at its peak at East Mountain Villa as it welcomed the bright noon.
Lush trees filled the horizon, giving it a peaceful and relaxing look. Yet, Kevin found relaxing difficult
now.
When a closed door entered Kevin's sight, he couldn't help but take a long pause. He was nervous and
afraid even. He feared that Anne might refuse to forgive him.
After an eternal long pause, he went in.
It was serene inside. The servants were having a break, and thus the quiet sustained.
So, Eddy's laughter cute voice was particularly resounding in this quiet, and that assured him the Anne
was here.
He pushed the door open and entered. As he expected, Anne was there. She looked relaxed as she
played with Eddy. A serene smile on her lips was all it took to please Kevin.
"Anne, I'm sorry." Kevin lowered his head and looked at Anne seriously. Yet, Anne treated him like air.
"You don't have to apologize. I don't want to see you," Anne said.
In fact, Anne was happy that Kevin hadn't married, but she also knew that she couldn't let him off
easily. She couldn't allow him to think that she was an easy target to bully.
Kevin had crushed her heart a little too many times now. She felt if she forgave him so readily, she
might not be able to forgive herself.
"I love you; I know that you love me too. In this entire world, there is only one person I want to marry,
and that's you. Come with me, and I will give you the grandest wedding possible in this world," Kevin
pleaded.
However, his promises fell on deaf ears.
"No, I don't want to marry you. Give up! I don't care. Just marry whoever you like," Anne said in a frigid
tone.
When Kevin heard Anne, he could help but be sad. His head dropped, and his eyes went red. That
sight nearly went through Anne's defenses, but she calmed down soon.
"I won't give up unless I die. We still have a child. Did you forget? Eddy is our son. Do you have the
heart to let him grow without a father?" Kevin reasoned.
Anne knew that Kevin was now tugging at her heartstrings. He was trying to gain sympathy using their
child. After a pause, she indifferently replied, "I'm sure we can somehow work that out."
Hearing this, Kevin felt even more helpless. It seemed like it would take a long time of apologies for her
forgiveness.
In the Luo Family's house.
The European-style furniture looked comfortable. Rose sat on the sofa, nibbling at some fruit.
The fruits were neatly arranged, and Rose was in a good mood. One wouldn't believe if they were told
that she was the bride of an annulled wedding.
Sitting opposite to her was Valentina, bewildered by Rose's jovial mood.
"Rose, are you okay?" Valentina asked.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." A slight smile appeared on Rose's face, which in turn made Valentina
even more worried.
"Rose, just vent it out if you feel bad. Don't hold it inside," Valentina comforted her.
"Mom, I've told you that I'm not unhappy. I'm fine, really," Rose said.
But Valentina looked at her as if she was a lunatic. This made Rose very depressed. And this, not the
marriage problem, was able to dampen her happiness.
"You know what? We are going to the hospital. Bottling up sadness for a long term of time can cause
clinical depression. I'm sure you can't feel anything right now because you are rejecting the truth but in
the long run... Come see a doctor with me, or I would be worried about you forever," Valentina said.
Rose got angry.
"Mom! Why can't you just accept that I'm fine?" Rose was at a loss too. She could tell her that she
didn't care about Kevin and actually liked Mark. However, if her mother heard this, she would tie her to
a stretcher and drag her to a physiatrist.
"I'm going out for a walk," Rose said in anger.
When Valentina was about to stop her, Liam stepped in and said, "Leave her alone. Let her take a walk
and clear her mind."
"Humph!" Valentina snorted and didn't say anything to Liam. She still believed that Anne had stolen her
own daughter's husband.
Liam sighed, sat down, and drank his tea.
In the East Mountain Villa.
In the slightly cold night, the moon filled the villa with a milky brightness. The fens and petals did a
gentle dance as they swayed with the wind and blocked some of the moon's brightness. Those
shadows were the epitome of tranquility.
Anne was sitting in the yard and gazing at the moon. The moon passed through clouds and gave the
villa an otherworldly glow.
Anne felt a little cold when the winds blew, but she didn't want to move. Kevin gently covered her with a
blanket.
"What are you looking at?" Kevin asked.
"Nothing." After giving a nonchalant answer, Anne closed her eyes with no intention of continuing the
talk.
"Let's go out one day," Kevin said and sneakily brushed her hair.
"No, I have to take care of Eddy. I don't have time," Anne replied coldly.
By now, she had given up on counting the number of times that she had brushed off Kevin's advances.
Yet, Kevin stood firm and kept on trying.
"It's about Eddy. Sam asked me to bring him in for a check-up," Kevin said.
"All right." Then Anne put the clothes into Kevin's hands and got up to go to sleep. After that, she
dropped the blanket on Kevin and went to sleep.
Finally, getting Anne's approval, Kevin couldn't help but smile. "Edward, you are really are a good son."
In the hospital.
Due to the ever-changing weather, it was filled with patients.
Dry leaves filled the hospital's patio, and a beautiful family of three could be seen walking on it. Anne
held a crying Eddy in her arms as she entered the hospital with Kevin.
"Eddy, don't cry." Anne tried to comfort him.
Eddy didn't stop crying, so Kevin decided to hold him instead. Anne was about to refuse, but she saw
Eddy actively reaching out for Kevin.
So, she gave up. She didn't want Eddy to suffer from the conflict between his parents.
Yet, when she saw Eddy joyfully giggling in Kevin's arms, she couldn't help complaining, "Traitor."
"Anne, why are you here?" Sam gave Kevin a cold shoulder but warmly greeted Anne.
"Didn't you ask us to come here for a re-examination?" Anne asked, confused.
"Me?" Sam turned to look at Kevin, and all that entered his sight was Kevin's serious face. He
immediately knew what was going on and decided to play along.
"Oh... Yes, yes. Well, I'll take Eddy for a check-up, and you two go to the B-890 VIP lounge first. I'll talk
to you when the check-up is done."
After Sam left with Eddy, finding the room turned out to be a difficult task for Anne and Kevin.
On the way, Anne muttered, "Why is it so remote?"
Though she was just mumbling, Kevin heard hear clearly. "Recently, the hospital has been crowded
with patients. Maybe all the other rooms are occupied because of that, and only this one is left."
Anne did not speak, and they walked in silence. Five minutes later, they found the lounge, and Anne
was shocked.
She found out that calling it a "cubicle" would be more appropriate than calling it a "lounge."
For starters, it only measured about four square meters. One of the walls was actually a big window,
and there was only one chair. So, one of them had to keep on standing.
Anne had a feeling that Sam gave them this room on purpose.
Just when she was wondering about the room, Kevin very unceremoniously occupied the only chair in
the room. Seeing that, she decided to move aside instead of sharing the chair with him.
She stood by the window and enjoyed the scenery outside.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Kevin sneakily shifting the chair towards her.
"Sit down. The chair is ready."
Only then did she discover that the chair was actually adjusted to suit her.
It turned out that Kevin was adjusting the height of the chair for her.
Anne felt embarrassed now and didn't know if she should take it.
"No, thanks. I'll just stand here," Anne said lightly.
However, her world turned upside in the next second, quite literally. Kevin picked her up and put her on
the chair. When she finally realized what had just transpired, she felt flustered and turned her face to
the other side.
As if stating a fact, Kevin said, "You are a woman. How can I make a woman stand there?"
Kevin did a half squat and stared dead in her eyes. Anne dipped her head even lower in response,
trying her best to hide the blush.
Looking at the blush on Anne's ears, Kevin felt a little joy, but he pretended like he saw nothing.
They had been waiting in the lounge for nearly two hours, but Sam still wasn't done with the check-up.
Anne was tired of waiting, but Kevin said nothing.
Kevin was facing the window. He looked at the crowd, then at the building that stood at a distance. His
back looked cold and lonely, but his face would turn tender whenever he looked at Anne.
The two lovebirds kept on peeping at each other until it was finally dark, and Sam was back.
"Why are you so late?" Kevin asked unhappily.
Sam glared at him in return. Wasn't it because he was trying to help him? He lied to Anne for him and
gave them a chance to be alone. But, Kevin actually dare complain.
"I'm busy," Sam said, annoyed.
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