Chapter 18
Preston saw Cedric’s post too.
He was filled with a profound sense of emptiness as he stared at one corner of the photo, where a hand wearing a ring could be seen.
That ring was supposed to be Preston’s, and the soup was supposed to be made for him too. Yet, what he used to have was no more. Preston was left with nothing but him and his loneliness.
Freston wondered what part exactly went wrong, yet he could not find the answer. The only thing he could do was to drink himself to a stupor to vent his frustrations.
As Preston started feeling tipsy, those forbidden thoughts that he had tried to push to the back of his head came back to him again. Eventually, he began making phone calls to Jolene
The line finally went through on his fourth attempt. Preston could only hear a faint breathing sound next to his ear.
His mind was hazy as he listened to the sound. Preston’s voice was low and strained.
“Jo, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have neglected you time and time again. I’m sorry. I know you still have feelings for me. You married Uncle Cedric just to annoy me, right?
“Can you divorce him and come back to me? I promise that I’ll make it up to you by giving you the wedding, the ring, and your wedding gown. I’ll give you all of my heart…”
Preston mumbled in a low voice, sharing all the thoughts and feelings that were impossible for him to say out loud previously.
Curiously, no sound came from the other end of the line. The unsettling silence made Preston feel anxious.
“Jo, why aren’t you saying any…”
“Honey, where’s the hair dryer?”
Preston subconsciously held his breath when he heard the faint yet familiar voice through the phone. He heard Cedric’s voice clearly as if the latter was standing just beside him the next instant.
“Hold on. I’ll fetch it for you.”
After giving that reply in a gentle voice, Cedric suddenly used an icy tone.
“Preston Norwood, what you should be doing now is talking to the authorities instead of causing more inconveniences for your Aunt Jolene, whom you’ve hurt multiple times before.”
The disconnected tone could be heard as Cedric hung up right away. Preston could feel his heart sinking into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Cedric was blowing Jolene’s hair by using the hair dryer. Jolene applied her face moisturizer and asked, “Did someone call me just now?”
Cedric nodded and told her frankly. “Preston got drunk again and blabbered a lot of nonsense on the phone. I scolded him on your behalf.”
Jolene could not quite visualize Preston getting scolded. Yet, a strange sense of superiority rose in her as she thought about how she was now Preston’s aunt.
Jolene could not help asking, “You sound like you’ve scolded him quite often. Aren’t you just six years older than him, though?”
Cedric smiled faintly as he took in the curious look on Jolene’s face.
“Preston was a naughty kid back when he was still attending kindergarten. He once pulled the chair away and caused my dad to take a bad fall. My dad was admitted to the hospital for two weeks because of a bone fracture.
“I punished Preston severely that time. Since then, he’s always been wary of me like a mouse is of a cat.”
Jolene finally understood why Preston acted like that around Cedric. It turned out he was traumatized by past experiences.
“So, he’s that scared of you. What do you think of him, though?”
For a moment, Cedric’s hands stopped moving. His eyes reflected the mixed emotions that he was experiencing. After a long pause, Cedric offered his answer pensively.
“He’s too immature and impulsive. I can’t entrust him with important tasks or responsibilities.”
It was an objective assessment of Preston from Cedric.
Jolene was quite amazed by how precise and perceptive Cedric was. She started getting curious about his opinion of her. This time, Cedric paused for a longer time.
“You’re smart, decisive, and rational. Most importantly, you have a good eye for things.”
After having lived two lifetimes, this was Jolene’s first time hearing someone describe her with those words.
However, only she knew how much blood and tears she had shed to finally learn her lessons. Being given the cold shoulder during her seven–year–long marriage, her ughter’s tragic death, being confined to her sickbed, a sad and frustrating life…
Even though that was all in the past now, thinking of it still made Jolene feel desolate. She leaned against Cedric’s chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. Skwivahy managed to process and make peace with those emotions.
They were getting a fresh start.
