Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 259

Back then, I was all in, busting my chops just to do my job right, pouring most of my energy into work. I learned to navigate the waters of social interaction, learned how to play the game, and learned to tailor my words to different people. Social events came thick and fast, and I started to spend less and less time with your mom. When I got home, she was always already asleep, and when I woke up, she was already out working.

We lived like this for a long time. Your mom was always confident and independent, and I didn't realize there was an issue with her mood.

Looking back, your mom probably started suffering from depression around that time.

If I'd noticed sooner, she wouldn't have taken that road to nowhere.

One day, Silas noticed something was up with your mom and gave me a heads-up. I planned to go home and sort things out. But then Shirley dropped a bombshell on me, and told me she had a kid, my kid, who was already more than ten years old.

I was startled.

I didn't believe a word she said, but she came prepared. She showed me photos and brought along some of the kid's hair.

The kid's eyes in the photo hit me like a punch to the gut. They were like mine, and like yours too. We three had incredibly similar eyes, and I couldn't deny it.

I got a paternity test done, and just as I thought, the kid was indeed my daughter, a result of me stepping out while your mom was pregnant.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was repulsed by the truth. Knowing your mom's temperament, I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I gave Shirley loads of money and told her not to come around

again.

This secret began to weigh me down, and I started to dread seeing your mom. I was afraid to face her unconditional trust in me. I used work as an excuse and only went home after she was asleep. A few times, I realized she was only pretending to sleep.

We used to be a couple who shared everything, but this secret created a rift between us. Your mom must have sensed that I was avoiding something, but she never asked, and I sure as hell wasn't going to tell her.

I felt that our marriage was heading for the rocks, so I started treating her even better, and tried to get back to how we were when we first got married.

We did get back to the way we were, but the peace didn't last long. News of Emma fighting at school reached me. Despite knowing she was hurt, I had the nerve to ignore her.

In the end, I couldn't help but sneak a peek at her, which ended up opening a whole new can of worms.

That time when Silas and I went to see her, we ran into Emma. She looked painfully thin, clearly malnourished. Even though she was already in high school, she was as short as a grade-schooler. She had a bandage on one hand, and she was also surrounded by a bunch of boys who were hurling all sorts of insults at her, mocking her for being the daughter of a murderer, for not having a father. She got really pissed, ignored her injured hand, and started fighting back. She ended up on the ground, crying and explaining that the man they were talking about wasn't her real father, that her real father was a company CEO, a very good man.

I was torn inside. I'd been in her shoes, knew how much it hurt. I swore I'd be a good father and not let my child go through that, but what had I done? I let my other daughter walk the same path I had.

In the end, Silas had to step in. Emma thought Silas was her real dad and immediately clung to his leg, crying out, "Daddy, save me."

She then passed out, and Silas and I had no choice but to take her to a hospital in A City. I realized I couldn't ignore this girl, so I left her in A City. Shirley wouldn't let Emma stay here alone, so she followed soon after. She acted very calmly and promised not to disrupt my family. After thinking it over, I figured Emma still needed someone to look after her, so I decided to set them up in a house a bit farther away.

A year and some change later, I realized I couldn't keep this a secret any longer and prepared to explain everything to your mom.

But I never saw it coming. Your mom chose to take her own life before I could explain anything.

The person I've wronged the most in this world was her. She was the love of my life, but I failed her. She never heard an apology or an explanation from me before she died. If I could turn back time, I'd communicate with her as soon as I found out I had another daughter, even if she hated me and wanted a divorce. I just didn't want to see her dying in front of me, covered in blood.

She was the warmth of my life. I'd rather hurt myself than hurt her.

After reading her diary, I found out that Shirley had approached her and that she'd been suffering from depression for a while.

But I knew her, and these weren't the main reasons she killed herself. She was just using this extreme method to get back at me, to get back at my infidelity and betrayal.

Ines couldn't help covering her mouth and sobbing quietly. The words on the paper were written heavily, almost tearing the paper, as if the person who wrote them used a lot of force.

After your mom died, I fell into a rut. If I wasn't working, I was smoking.

Not long after, the incident between you and Emma happened. You were on the brink of death, and Emma lost her legs. If I hadn't insisted, she'd be spending her days in a wheelchair now. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

During that time, I was totally lost. I only dared to linger outside your hospital room and talk to you when it was quiet at night. When I heard that you woke up, I was over the moon!

Shirley decided to sue you, but I couldn't believe that you'd planned the car accident. I watched you grow up and knew your character like the back of my hand. You might make minor mistakes now and then, but you're always rational when it comes to big issues. I've tried my best to use all my connections to find out the truth, but unfortunately, I found nothing. The power behind the car accident was way beyond my expectation. Only then did I realize that I didn't have enough power to clear my daughter's name.