Chapter 8 The Final Gift
Three months ago, the lowlife who beat up Henry was released from prison.
I met with him the day he got out.
I still remember what Henry once said— that someone was waiting for him on that road.
If that person really existed, maybe— just maybe they were the only one who could prove my innocence.
–
I had looked into Henry’s circle, but came up with nothing.
So I guessed that his friend might be one of those thugs.
Turned out, I found more than just the “friend’s” identity. I found the entire truth.
And tomorrow, I’m going to use that
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truth to hit Henry where it hurts.
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To give Linda a divorce ceremony she’ll never forget.
After arranging everything, I drifted off into a daze again.
In my sleep, I seemed to hear someone asking, “If you really don’t care, then why do you need antidepressants?”
The next day, after I was discharged from the hospital, Susie insisted on taking me to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
I didn’t argue. My body still hadn’t fully recovered.
When we got there, I said goodbye to her and walked into the building.
An hour later, Linda and I walked out with the divorce agreement signed. All
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that was left was to wait a month to
finalize it.
The moment I stepped outside, my dad stormed up and slapped me hard across the face.
I wasn’t quick enough to dodge. My cheek burned with pain.
I looked at him. He was glaring at me with utter disgust.
“You ungrateful brat! How dare you make such a big decision without us?”
I calmly pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek to push down the taste of blood. “I’m just an orphan. I don’t need to consult anyone about getting divorced.”
My dad froze, eyes widening slightly at my cold words.
After all, the last time he saw me, I was
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kneeling in front of him and my mom, begging them to believe me, begging for one more chance.
Next to him, my mom looked stunned. “What orphan? Chase… what are you talking about? What do you take us for?”
I said, “Aren’t you Henry’s parents? Oh right, now that I’ve divorced Linda, you should be happy. Your son can marry her now.
“Linda will still be your daughter–in- law.”
As I spoke, I glanced at their faces, which were growing paler by the second, and smiled. “You’re welcome.”
A flicker of panic flashed across my mom’s face. She grabbed my arm, voice trembling. “Chase, what nonsense are you saying? I’m your mother!”
But my dad pulled her away with a
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expression and said, “He’s right. She’s no longer our child. Our child is Henry.”
Then he turned to Linda and said, “Linda, once the divorce is final, marry Henry. I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re my daughter. You’ll have the grandest wedding anyone’s ever seen.”
Linda gave a small nod, then looked at me. “Chase, Henry tried to kill himself last night. If I hadn’t found him in time, Andy would be an orphan by now.
“I’m going to marry him. The four of us will be a happy family. You’ll regret this.”
As she said it, her eyes stayed fixed on me, like she was searching my face for something.
When I didn’t react, she looked disappointed.
She didn’t even know what she’d been
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hoping to see.
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At that moment, Henry burst out from the shadows and hugged her tightly, his voice choked with emotion. “Linda, I’ll spend my whole life loving you.”
There was a bandage wrapped around his wrist.
I couldn’t help glancing down at my own wrist, where my watch sat.
Beneath the strap, the skin was rough and scarred.
But they had never noticed.
I brushed my fingers over the wound and said coolly, “Feeling proud of yourself, Henry?”
Henry flinched. “Chase, don’t blame us.
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s you–for refusing to change, for breaking Linda’s
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heart, for pushing her toward me.”
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I smiled. “Why would I blame you? If someone’s willing to take out the trash for me, I should be grateful.”
Their faces turned.
I kept going. “And to show my appreciation, I’ve prepared a little gift for you.”
