Seeing her like this, Ethan felt aggrieved and resentful. He came to my door, raising his voice. "Mom, come down and eat something."
Mrs. Rivers only replied coldly, "I'm not eating."
Ethan ran over and knelt down, looking at her. "Mom, whatever wrongs there are, they're all my fault. Don't harm yourself. I'm the one who wronged him. You must eat."
Mrs. Rivers pushed him away instead, slapping him hard. "It is your fault."
Mrs. Rivers screamed until her voice was hoarse, shouting at Ethan. "If not for you, how could Jackson have died? My Jackson."
Ethan fell to the ground, covering his face in disbelief. Mrs. Rivers had never hit him before. Now she hit him because of me.
Ethan couldn't control his anger, demanding, "What does it have to do with me? I didn't perform the surgery. The idea wasn't mine. Didn't everyone say my heart condition was caused by him? So what if he gave me his heart? Wasn't I everyone's favorite son? Why are you all, because of someone so pathetic, hitting me, scolding me?"
Mrs. Rivers turned red with fury, unable to catch her breath.
Gabriel had just returned home and heard the commotion. Rushed in to support Mrs. Rivers, then kicked him flying. "You bastard. We truly spoiled you rotten. No matter how bad Jackson was, he was still your biological brother. He lost his life for you. How dare you say such things?"
Ethan looked at them in disbelief. He clutched his chest as before, saying loudly that he couldn't breathe.
All he received was Gabriel's cold voice. "Your illness is cured now. This heart belongs to Jackson. It's very healthy. Who's going to believe your act?"
The expression on Ethan's face completely distorted. Clearly, in his calculations, after the surgery he should have smoothly gained all his parents' favoritism and Sophia's confession. But the truth was, he'd lost everything.
Why did it turn out this way? Ethan refused to accept it, clenching his fists tight.
On the other side, news of the Morgan-Chung alliance quickly spread through their circles. Sophia heard the news, her eyes bloodshot. Someone who didn't like drinking got completely drunk at a bar. Finally lying on the ground, muttering my name and three words of apology.
The once warm and happy family now left only desolate emptiness.
On the engagement day, Grace and I appeared side by side, receiving everyone's blessings. I clinked glasses with each person. After several rounds, unable to take it anymore, I told Grace and went to rest.
Just reaching the lounge, a figure rushed in. "Daddy."
It was Quinn. Right now, completely different from her usual cold, proud demeanor. Eyes red, clutching my clothes tightly, as if afraid I'd disappear. "Doesn't Daddy want me anymore?"
Seeing Quinn, my heart still instinctively clenched. After all, she was my child.
I sighed, taking a tissue to wipe Quinn's tears, then straightening her messy clothes. My eyes looked toward Sophia. "This is how you care for our daughter. Dirty shoes, clothes not appropriate for the season. Hair that hasn't been washed in days. Most importantly, she's lost so much weight."
Seeing me finally acknowledge my identity, Sophia was overjoyed. "I'm too incompetent. I can't do these things well. Quinn, from childhood until now, you've taken care of everything. She can't be without you."
I looked at her silently. I'd already guessed Sophia's purpose in bringing Quinn to find me. It was nothing other than using our daughter to bind me. But I was determined to let go of the past.
I looked at the person before me, my voice gentle. "You're a smart child. Your independence is also good. Even without Dad, you can take care of yourself."
Quinn cried uncontrollably, choking out, "No, I don't want that. Aren't you my dad? Why won't you take care of me? Why don't you want me? Is it because I wasn't good? I know I was wrong. I'll be good from now on. Don't abandon me. Don't abandon Mom."
After all, just a seven-year-old child. Losing her father would certainly be painful.
I gently stroked her hair. Then looked at Sophia. "You shouldn't have brought her. This will only hurt Quinn more deeply."
Sophia's heart and eyes held only me. Her voice low. "Even if just for our daughter. Can we go back? You don't have to forgive me. Hate me for life, it doesn't matter. Just don't leave me."
Seeing her like this, I knew if I didn't make it clear once and for all, Sophia wouldn't give up.
I softened my voice. "Sophia, you're just not used to it yet. We lived together for eight years. Not being used to it is normal. Time will fade everything very quickly. Ethan is still waiting for you. Isn't that right?"
Sophia suddenly became emotionally agitated, speaking loudly. "I love you. I only understand now. I can't be without you."
I looked at her with a bitter smile. "Then at the beginning, why did you keep hurting me? You knew I didn't ask for anything else from you. I just wanted you to like me. Sophia, you say you've liked me for a long time. I believe you, but your affection was too cold. Your favorability toward me always stayed at ninety-nine percent. Always using that one percent to string me along."
My voice began to tremble. "I'm human. I hurt too. I get tired, too. What made you think I would unconditionally keep giving forever?"
Sophia shook her head in pain. Suddenly her knees went weak, kneeling before me. "It wasn't like that. I was just afraid. I was afraid you only stayed with me because of the system. I was afraid that once favorability was full, you'd leave me. I couldn't lose you. I just couldn't lose you."
Painful memories of the past threatened to drown me again. I wiped the tears from my face, pushing Sophia away. "But it already happened. Sophia, I've been hurt by you beyond repair. Don't torture me anymore. I just want to start a new life."
Seeing the pain on my face, Sophia felt like she'd been punched hard, collapsing dejectedly in place.
I choked out, "Today is my engagement party. If you truly still have any regret toward me, don't come and ruin the few happy moments I have. Okay?"
Sophia was completely speechless. She finally understood the damage she'd caused me could not be repaired.
I disappeared from the lounge.
Quinn beside her watched everything in a daze, understanding in her heart. She would never have her father again. Immediately, countless feelings of sadness and discomfort surged up. She swung her fists at Sophia. "It's all Mom's fault for driving Dad away. I don't have a dad anymore."
Then Quinn cried loudly. Sophia silently held her, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. "We're both guilty. We have no right to seek forgiveness."
On stage, I'd returned to normal. Arm in arm with Grace Chung, beautiful and graceful, surrounded by everyone, we walked onto the flower-filled stage.
Sophia watched it all with red eyes. That night she got drunk again at the bar.
At midnight, Sophia woke up sober and in agony. In a daze, she took a car to the hospital, to where she'd performed surgery on me. Lying on the cold operating table, the bone-chilling cold, the scene from that day still clear in her mind. I'd been pressed on this table and injected with anesthesia. He must have been so cold.
Tears fell. Sophia curled up bitterly. Her chest seemed to start aching, too. She slept like this until the next morning.