Chapter 19 Apology
“Apologize.” Francis’s voice was ice–cold, sending a shiver down Wesley’s spine.
Finished
Fear took hold of him, seeping into every corner of his body. His lips trembled, but under his father’s oppressive gaze, he dared not argue anymore. He reluctantly stepped forward, his voice stiff with unwillingness. “I’m sorry.”
Clara did not react immediately. Instead, she turned to Lyla, her voice gentle. “Lyla, he
apologized to you. Do you want to forgive him? If you feel his apology isn’t enough, you can tell Aunt Clara what’s on your mind.”
Clara’s warmth caught Wesley off guard. For a brief moment, he was stunned, but that instant of hesitation quickly gave way to a surge of jealousy. His gaze darkened with resentment as he looked at Lyla.
Lyla, oblivious to his emotions, met Clara’s caring eyes and shook her head slightly. “Aunt Clara, even though my bottom still hurts a little, I’m willing to forgive Wesley. He was just scared that I’d take
you away from him.”
After all, he was Aunt Clara’s child. If he was punished, she would feel sad too. Lyla did not want her fairy–like Aunt Clara to be sad.
Yet Wesley felt no gratitude for her kindness. He scoffed coldly at Lyla, convinced that she had brought this upon herself.
Didn’t she have her own mother? Why did she have to cling to mine?
Seeing how understanding Lyla was, Clara’s heart twisted in pain. She wished the child could be more carefree, more like other children. She should be throwing tantrums, demanding fairness, instead of being so mature beyond her years.
“Is that enough?” Francis turned to Clara, his voice indifferent.
Clara merely glanced at him coldly, offering no response.
She adjusted Lyla’s clothes before straightening up and addressing Ms. Cindy. “I’ll be taking Lylat home for now. However, I don’t want to see such incidents happening again in the future. Please keep an eye on her.”
Ms. Cindy, though unaware of the deeper conflicts between the adults, knew one thing for certain. She had to protect the children.
Judging by the tension between them, if these two kids continued to be around each other, Lyla would only end up getting hurt again.
“Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of them,” Ms. Cindy reassured with a polite smile.
Seeing Clara about to leave, Francis instinctively stepped in to block her path. He had finally found her after all this time. He could not let her walk away so easily.
Chapter 19 Apology
Finished
“Clara, what’s your relationship with Liam? Natalie said she saw you bailing him out at the police. station. Is that true?”
Clara had no intention of answering. Her relationship with Liam was not something she could reveal yet, and besides, her affairs had nothing to do with Francis.
“Move,” she said, her voice devoid of warmth, her gaze fixed colon his hand.
Yet Francis remained unmoved, standing his ground.
“If you don’t tell me, I won’t let you go. I refuse to believe you have any connection to Liam. Was it Zoe who made you do it?” His tone was urgent, desperate. He couldn’t believe that Clara would betray him.
A soft chuckle escaped Clara’s lips. She tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with mockery. “And what does my relationship with Liam have to do with you? What if it was Zoe who asked me to do it? What does that have to do with you?” Her voice turned sharp, cutting straight to the point. “Who do you think you are to meddle in my affairs?”
“I’m your
husband, Francis declared without hesitation.
Clara burst into laughter, as if she had just heard the world’s greatest joke.
“You? My husband? Now you remember that you’re my husband? Did you remember that when you were taking care of Natalie? When you made fireworks for her, did you watch them with her? When you left me, sick and alone, just because she called, did you remember then? And now, suddenly, you claim to be my husband? Francis, you are absolutely ridiculous.”
Francis pressed his lips together, unable to refute her words.
Because it was true. He had done all those things. He had failed her.
But he still did not want to lose her. He still loved her. He and Natalie had no relationship. He had only taken care of her because she was alone and pitiful. He had not expected Clara to misunderstand so deeply.
After a long silence, he finally sighed, his voice filled with helplessness. “Clara, I know these things. upset you, but I was only looking out for Natalie because she had no one else. I never meant to leave you behind.
Clara only found it laughable.
What kind of husband abandons his wife to care for another woman? Did Natalie not have parents? -Friends?
Continuing this conversation felt like a waste of breath. Without another word, she shoved him aside and left with Lyla without looking back.
Francis reached out to stop her again, but this time, she was already gone.
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Chapter 19 Apology
After all, she had told him many times that she was not his mother anymore.
Finished
Francis forced a reassuring smile. “She gave birth to you, Wesley. No matter how angry she is, she won’t abandon you. Don’t worry.”
But he wasn’t sure if he was comforting his son or himself.
Watching Clara’s retreating figure, he felt the distance between them growing further and further. For the first time, he truly feared that he was losing her.
No. She wouldn’t leave me. I won’t let her.
Three days later, it was the night the fireworks competition’s final round was taking place.
The name ‘Niora‘ had become legendary in the fireworks industry, surpassing even the once- famous ‘Mr. E‘ Yet, no one knew who ‘Niora‘ really was. The only confirmed detail was that she was from the Westwood Corporation.
Because it was the grand finale, the audience turnout was even larger than before. Many had come not just for the fireworks, but out of sheer curiosity about who this mysterious ‘Niora‘ was.
The competition soon began. There would be three rounds of fireworks, with the final champion decided by a combination of audience votes and judges‘ scores.
The first participant’s work ignited the sky. It was designed by Francis with the name of The Auspicious Rainbow Cloud. Fireworks exploded into intricate cloud formations. Shine and light fell in streaks of cascading light like a meteor shower, dazzling the audience.
Then came the second participant’s work. And lastly, it was Niora’s turn.
As soon as the host announced it, the entire crowd fell silent in anticipation, waiting anxiously. After all, the past work from Niora was impressive.
The first burst of fireworks ignited in the night sky, blooming like flowers before freezing in their position.
A dragon then emerged slowly. With each new explosion, its body came to life, twisting and soaring across the sky. Suddenly, it disappeared.
The crowd was mesmerized.
In another explosion burst. The dragon reappeared, stepping on rainbow–colored clouds, as if it was descending from the heavens to bring good fortune to the people.
“Is this why ancient people claimed to have seen dragons?”
A dragon walking on rainbow clouds! This must be what the old legends meant by celestial omens!”
“This is unreal. No wonder they’re live–streaming this! If we didn’t see this with our own eyes, it’d
