Daniel Carter turned back to look at , then got out of the car and opened the back door.
He bent down to look at , cautiously asking, "Do you want to co out and soak up so sun?"
The weather is great today, and though there’s wind on Larwynn Avenue, the sunshine is pleasantly warm.
I nodded and was helped out of the car by him.
Sitting at the front of the car, we looked at the vast expanse of the river and quietly bathed in the sun for a while. Then he turned to with concern, "Feeling better now?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"Your father got sick in prison?"
"Yes, I only found out yesterday." Now I understand why Shirley Turner left my office so easily yesterday; she had planned for this all along.
Daniel paused briefly, then asked , "What do you plan to do?"
"Handle it coldly." I uttered these three words without hesitation.
He slightly furrowed his brows, reminding , "But your stepmother obviously won’t let go of you."
I was silent for a long ti, knowing he ant well, yet still felt resistant inside.
I turned to look at him.
Under the bright sunlight, we squinted slightly, eting each other’s gaze for a mont. With so distance and stiffness, I said, "This is my family matter; can you let handle it myself?"
As soon as these words were out, his always handso and gentle face visibly lost so color.
I felt miserable inside, so I turned my gaze back to the vast river.
Although my original family is a ss, well known by all.
I still don’t want Daniel Carter to directly involve himself, to witness the filth and broken ugliness firsthand.
Who doesn’t want to maintain their dignity?
Especially , accustod to being strong since childhood.
Daniel’s conditions were worlds apart from mine; in Jessica Sawyer’s words, I wasn’t even worthy of polishing his shoes.
How could I have the audacity to let him face my unspeakable family and deal with those parasite-like "family mbers"?
I didn’t want my already fragile dignity to shatter even more thoroughly before him.
Perhaps my overly cold attitude made Daniel feel my rejection. He was silent for a mont, then nodded and kindly said, "Alright, handle it yourself; if you need my help, just say so."
I was startled, looked back at him, and emotionally said, "Daniel Carter, why are you so good? You know, you’re so good that I feel guilty, always thinking I’m being unreasonable, yet you still tolerate ."
Daniel suddenly smiled, a smile brighter than the sunlight, making one’s heart stir.
"Silly girl." He raised his hand to pinch my face, affectionately tugging, "You’re my girlfriend; if I don’t treat you well, why would I be with you?"
"But you tolerate so much from , making increasingly unreasonable."
"Are you that kind of person?" he raised an eyebrow.
I replied earnestly, "Hard to say. Isn’t it said that genetic traits are hard to change? I have a father like that; maybe deep down I have his bad genes too, just not showing yet."
Daniel was amused and exasperated, "You’ve been watching too many short videos, haven’t you? Why can’t you possibly inherit your mother’s good genes?"
I smiled bitterly, "Half and half."
"Silly girl, just by knowing yourself, you can’t be that kind of person. Besides, I won’t let you beco that kind of person."
He spoke more and more gently, then stood up and embraced , tenderly saying, "I understand why you don’t want to interfere in these matters. It’s actually okay. The more I know, the more I’ll feel for you; how could I possibly look down on you because of it?"
I leaned against his chest, feeling the vibrations from his chest, waves of guilt surging within.
Thinking about how good he is to , yet I keep striving to draw boundaries with him, I feel a deep sense of guilt.
But I really can’t completely open up to him.
"Daniel Carter..." I called hoarsely against his chest.
"Hmm?" he bowed his head, breathing by my ear.
I pushed him away slightly, took a deep breath to calm my emotions, and weakly asked, "Aren’t you even a bit angry?"
He raised his hand, wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, and calmly said, "You’re already troubled enough with this, how could I add to your misery by being angry with you?"
I looked at him, deeply moved.
I recalled a saying—look for soone inherently good, not just soone who’s good to you.
Being only good to you, he may be catering to your preferences, possibly pretending deliberately.
While soone inherently good, their essence is clean and pure.
How lucky am I to have t such a person in my youth.
Though ti has worn us down and sent us adrift in the sea of people, fate has been kind, bringing him back to .
The ti spent with him is a healing process for my past.
"Daniel Carter, thank you, thank you for always rembering , and thank you... for persistently waiting for ." Otherwise, we would have missed each other again.
He sighed with a smile, embraced once more, "You’re welco, just accompany well in the future, repaying is enough."
"Mm, certainly." I promised within his embrace.
At this mont, I truly want to be with him forever, till the end of ti.
————
Back at the company, I called the lawyer over again.
Seeking advice from Jason Miller on how to handle this situation.
His illness is a fact I can’t escape.
I can only try to take control, think of counterasures in advance, to prevent Shirley Turner from catching off guard again.
However, upon understanding this, I realized the situation might be worse.
The lawyer said, "Prisons are responsible for treating prisoners, but if the illness is severe and the prison hospital can’t handle it, they might allow dical parole."
"So he’ll be released from prison?" I asked urgently.
"Yes. For economic cris like his, which are not severely harmful to society, dical parole can usually be applied for. For dical parole, the family has to bear the expenses, whereas in-prison treatnt costs are covered by the state."
The lawyer explained in detail, leaving shocked.
Since the in-prison treatnt cost is covered by the state, why is Shirley Turner coming to for money?
Is she trying to deceive again, or does she plan to apply for dical parole for Jason Miller?
Before I figured this out, I received a call from my aunt, Evelyn Miller.
Ever since I sold the trading company to her, we hadn’t been in touch.
Seeing the caller ID, I sensed that it might have sothing to do with my scumbag dad.
"Hello, Aunt?"
"Lily, how are you doing recently? Are you busy?" This aunt is quite interesting. Whenever she needs sothing from , she always pretends to care about the younger generation first.
If she truly cared, why disappear usually?
I didn’t bother with her pretense, "Just say what you need."
"Oh, nothing much, just checking in on you. I heard you have a new boyfriend. Just wanted to ask how your relationship is going and what your plans are..."
I was quite irritated, having no ti for her pleasantries, so I dismissively said, "It’s fine."
"I heard the other family is remarkable. Their family... don’t they mind you’ve been divorced?"
I couldn’t hold back and laughed, retorting, "What’s wrong with being divorced? It’s not like I committed murder or arson."
Evelyn Miller complained, "You child, I’m sincerely concerned about you, and you act ungrateful."
"Well, thanks for your concern. I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now."
I was about to hang up when she quickly called out, "Lily, wait! I have sothing to say!"
I reluctantly put the phone back to my ear, "Go ahead."
"Well... you know your dad is sick, right? It’s quite serious."
Sure enough, she just circled around to gossip and see fail.
Indeed, it’s about Jason Miller.
"What disease does he have? Can he die before New Year?" I spoke harshly.
Evelyn Miller got angry, "Lily, you’re crossing the line! After all, he’s your father. He gave you life and raised you. Even if you don’t pay him back, you shouldn’t be so vicious!"
"I’m asking what disease he has and if it’s life-threatening. Isn’t that concern? How is it vicious?"
This question left Evelyn speechless.
After a mont of silence, she said, "Your dad has always had high blood pressure and diabetes, which you know. He managed them well outside, but prison is no place for people, and now his condition has worsened with serious complications. He can’t walk, and his cardiovascular system is failing."
Well, well—
This was truly unexpected.
Could it be that karma really exists?
He betrayed the family back then, first being heartless, leading to my grandpa’s death from anger, and then causing my mom’s cancer from anger.
After bringing Shirley Turner and the twins into our ho, they all ganged up to humiliate in every possible way.
I rember one winter during a heavy snow, Shirley Turner stripped and threw into the freezing snow, barring from entering the house.
I also rember when Jason found displeasing, he’d kick into the dog cage to thoroughly reflect.
And Sophie and Mason, I don’t know how many disgusting, horrifying things they threw into my room and bed from childhood to now.
Are they all facing retribution now?
Sophie is dead...
Jason is seriously ill...
Only Shirley and Mason are left.
I couldn’t help but wonder how fate will repay them.
"Lily? Lily? Did you hear ? Your dad wants to apply for dical parole. Shirley has already borrowed money from to hire a lawyer. You’re the biological daughter, so caring for your father is your responsibility."
I ca back to my senses, finally understanding the ultimate purpose of Evelyn Miller’s call.
It was to inform that Shirley had already borrowed money from her, and she had done her utmost.
Once my scumbag dad is released, he shouldn’t trouble her again. I, the biological daughter, must bear his dical expenses and care for him in his old age.
But I’m no pushover, so I simply said, "He has a wife and son, isn’t it their turn?"
"Isn’t Shirley working for you to pay off debts? Where would she get the money? As for that good-for-nothing Mason, it’d be good enough if he doesn’t cause trouble, expecting him?" Evelyn argued confidently.
I sneered, "So the honest person has to suffer, is that it?"
"This... can’t exactly—"
"Aunt, my dad’s company is in your hands. As his biological sister, if you don’t save your own brother in his dire tis, it might affect your business fortune."
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