Chapter 5
In his anger, Joaquin didn’t think twice about Harley’s departure, assuming she’d just gone off to sulk.
He rushed back to the clinic, only to learn from the doctor that Myra, worried about him, had checked herself out early and gone looking for him.
As soon as Joaquin left, Myra returned home.
Stepping through the door, she spotted a letter from Harley addressed to Joaquin.
It read: “Joaquin, I’m leaving for good. Don’t look for me. This is our final goodbye.”
Purchase completed
Myra had always thought Harley’s claims of not loving Joaquin were lies- after all, she’d made a fool of herself pursuing him for years, unfazed by village gossip,
But now, seeing this letter, she realized Harley truly moved on.
“Good riddance“, she thought.
Without a second glance, she tore the letter to shreds and tossed it in the trash.
“Leave cleanly–no thanks needed for covering your tracks,” she muttered, dusting her hands off and heading to bed.
Joaquin searched the village until dusk, finally returning home to find Myra safe and sound.
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He hesitated, then gently pried her fingers from his sleeve.
“Let’s talk about this after we’re back in the city. You’re pregnant–I don’t want to risk anything.”
With that, he left, oblivious to the flicker of resentment in Myra’s eyes.
The next day, Myra insisted on a trip to the town’s zoo. Joaquin agreed, albeit reluctantly.
At the zoo’s entrance, seeing the weathered stone statues, he was hit with a memory–Harley as a girl, wide–eyed with wonder.
Now she was gone, and he was middle–aged before he knew it.
Myra darted toward the rabbit enclosure, clutching a bag of carrots.
Joaquin idly played with the rabbit in front of him, but his mind wandered to Harley.
“Do you like rabbits a lot?”
Upon hearing Joaquin’s inquiry, Myra was somewhat confused.
“Joaquin, why do you ask this? Rabbits were very cute and naturally made people want to get close to them.”
Not knowing what he was thinking, Joaquin shook his head and a smile played at the corners of his mouth.
“It’s nothing, just suddenly remembered that every time Harley came to the zoo, he would go straight to see the wild animals.”
Others saw the fierce beast and avoided it, but Harley’s eyes shone. brightly.
Myra’s smile froze on her face, and a hint of resentment flashed in her
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Chapter 5
eyes.
“Joaquin, you seemed to mention Harley quite often lately.”
Joaquin hesitated for a moment.
“Oh, really? I didn’t pay much attention myself either.”
Myra patted his shoulder, her voice gentle and persuasive.
“Wasn’t Harley trusted to travel alone?”
“Harley has grown up, and as her uncle, you should let go and allow her to grow on her own.”
Joaquin let out a long breath.
“You were right.”
“I haven’t been resting well lately, and my mind has been all over the place.”
Without waiting for Myra to answer, screams could be heard in the distance.
Joaquin instinctively held Myra in his arms and slowly moved towards the source of the sound.
In the center of the crowd, a black–clad robber held a knife to a girl’s neck. The girl cried out for help, but no one dared to come forward.
Joaquin walked over and his breath caught when he saw the girl’s figure from behind.
The figure looked exactly like Harley, even the sound of the girl crying was similar.
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“Harley?”
Joaquin tentatively tried to speak, but his voice was drowned out in the crowd, and no one paid any attention.
Seeing the kidnapper being forced into a corner and about to stab the girl with a knife, Joaquin rushed forward in one swift step and knocked the knife out of the kidnapper’s hand with his elbow, rescuing the girl.
“Harley, did you have any problem?”
The girl lifted her head, but it was a face completely different from Harley’s.
Joaquin immediately released the girl’s arm that he was holding and stumbled back a few steps.
Joaquin still looked lost and distraught until the police arrived and took the kidnapper away.
“Was I too much at that time? I didn’t even know where Harley went. If she really doesn’t come back…”
Myra interrupted him.
“Joaquin, you don’t remember that Harley also ran away from home before to make you worry, right? After a few days, she still came back obediently.”
“Moreover, even if she really didn’t come back, you have fulfilled your duty to take care of her until adulthood, and she has caused a lot of worry over the years.”
“Maybe Harley had someone they liked and went out on a date with them. As an elder, you shouldn’t worry so much.”
Myra smiled kindly, but her laughter did not reach her eyes.
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Chapter 5
Joaquin furrowed his eyebrows, and his face was filled with gloom.
Myra was right, no matter what, he was just Harley’s elder, and the excessive concern was crossing the line.
Moreover, Harley liked him so much, how could she just leave so hastily? She must have been playing hard to get, just like before, in order to make him worry about her.
It won’t take long before she comes back on her own if she doesn’t receive
his response.
Thinking about this, Joaquin felt a little better in his heart.
He embraced Myra and buried his head in her neck.
“Thank you, Myra, for comforting me. When I return to the city, I will definitely give you a grand wedding.”
The next day, Joaquin went to attend his friend’s wedding.
The bride was an embroiderer, and she personally embroidered both of their wedding dresses.
Joaquin couldn’t help but tease as he looked at the happy smile on hist friend’s face.
“I really envy you for being able to marry such a skillful girl.”
I didn’t expect the bride to be the first one to speak up.
“What are you envious of? I remember little Harley also knitted a sweater for you with his own hands.”
“I was quite shocked when she came to me for lessons back then.”
She knitted a sweater for the first time and ended up with a lot of injuries.
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I advised her to give up, but she was stubborn and said, “You always hesitate to buy yourself new clothes, I’m afraid you’ll be cold in winter.” hesitate to buy yourself n
Upon hearing the bride’s words, Joaquin suddenly remembered that a few years ago he seemed to have actually received a sweater, despite its crooked and twisted stitches, but it was very
Warn
But that wasn’t the one Myra gave him, right?
Joaquin looked at the bride excitedly.
“What color was the sweater knitted by Harley?”
to wear.
The bride pondered, “I remember it was supposed to be navy blue, and she even embroidered a small flower on it…”
Right, they matched up, no wonder he asked Myra about the details on her clothes, and Myra hesitated and couldn’t say anything.
No wonder during that time, Harley always hid his hands behind his back. and avoided him.
But why did Myra want to take credit for Harley’s achievements?
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