Synopsis

Thecruelestthingwasn'tthatshehadlongbeenburiedinthatshipwreck,butthatshewasstillalive.Stilllivingwell,livingwellandnolongerrememberinghim,andalreadyhavingadaughterwithanotherman,andthatmanwasevenhis...*Fallinginlovewithhimateighteen,marryinghimattwenty,givingbirthtohissonattwenty-one,anddivorcingattwenty-four,NaomiShawhadneverimaginedherloveandmarriagewouldendupinsuchashatteredstate.Shehadalwaysthoughtshewouldloveoneperson,bearhischildren,andthengrowoldwithhimhandinhand.Onlylaterdidsherealizethatdreamsandrealitycouldneverbecomparedafterall.Hehadhisunforgettablefirstlove,yetshelovedhimtodeath.Afterfallingintoutterdespair,shewasfinallyabletoleaveeverythingbehind.*Whentheymetagain,shewaswithherdaughter,whohadbeendiagnosedwithmildautism,andhemockedhercoldly,“NaomiShaw,thedaughteryouhadwithsomeotherwildmanisindeednotsound!”Sherepliedindifferently,“Andyouare?”*Hehadalwaysbeenfondofthosecold,glamorous,andenchantingwomen,andhadlittleinterestinasweetandinnocentgirllikeher.Heneverthoughtthatoneday,afterthehurthehadinflictedandthehardshipsoflifeshehadendured,shewouldfinallybecomethewomanhedesired,onlytonolongerbelongtohim.*