Joan took the teapot and poured two cups of tea. He put one cup of tea in front of Stanford and took a
sip of tea from the other one in his hand. When he put down the cup, he spoke, "When I was eight, my
grandpa gave me a simulated pistol. I liked it very much. It became my favourite toy, but later I
accidentally lost it and couldn't find it. Until one day, I saw another child holding it and taking it as his
favourite toy too. From that moment onwards, I knew I’ve lost it, and it would never come back.
Knowing it won’t come back anymore, I learned to let go."
He looked up at Stanford. "Do you think I should ask the child to give it back or let it go?"
Stanford looked indifferent. "If it were me, I would be more willing to ask the guy who does it prefer."
"But I think since I’ve lost it, I’m no longer eligible to have it. What do you think?"
Joan leaned over. "Why did I lose it? It's because I couldn't protect it, so it left me."
"Then how can you be sure that the person who found it won't lose it?" Stanford looked at him. "Mr.
Morton, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"How long did you own that gun?"
"I had it from eight to twelve, so it’s four years."
"Four years? If the gun has a soul and feelings, how long do you think it will take for it to forget its
former owner when it’s with the new owner?" Stanford looked at Joan. "Do you know how many years I
have known my ex-wife?"
Before Joan asked, he said, "I was nine the first time I saw her."
He didn't forget the kind little girl he had met once.
Joan fell into silence.
Stanford had never been deferential to anyone. He had never begged anyone no matter when. At that
moment, he only wanted to say to Joan, "I don't know what kind of family you live in, Mr. Morton, but I
want to tell you that she had taught me to love. You might not understand what it's like."
Joan didn't keep silent anymore and he spoke, "But you hurt her."
"That’s why I want to make up for it."
"But have you ever wondered if that's what she wants?" Joan stood up. "She will stay here until her
brother gets married. During this time, if she still loves you or you can win her heart back, I will send
her blessings, but if she still hasn't come back to you during this time, I will try my best to win her
heart."
Joan then left.
Yet Stanford didn't move.
Meanwhile, Amanda had returned home. Everyone was still awake and they were in the living room.
"Why are you so late?" Theresa looked at her and asked.
"Amanda went to see a friend," before Amanda spoke, Bonnie said.
Amanda came over with a smile. "Why haven't you guys slept yet?"
"Come with me." Matthew stood up and walked towards the study room.
Amanda greeted them and followed. After entering the study room, Matthew asked her to close the
door.
"Dad, what do you want to tell me?" Amanda closed the door and came over.
"Have you heard of the company named Rhoda Corporation?" Matthew sat behind the desk and
handed her a document.
Amanda shook her head.
"Have a look at the information first," Matthew said.
Amanda browsed through it. "It’s a Thai company?"
"Yes." Matthew looked at his daughter. "When your brother gets married, I and your mother will go
back. I want you to stay with us, so I’ve found you a job."
Amanda certainly wanted to stay with her parents so that she could take care of them. She nodded. "I'll
go to this company."
She promised without asking for any position first.
"Don't you have anything else to ask me?" Matthew looked at his daughter.
Amanda walked around the desk, put her arms around his neck from behind and acted affectionately to
her father. "I suppose you won’t set your daughter up?"
Matthew patted her hand. Even if he was a father, his daughter had grown up. She was no longer a
child that could be educated any way he wanted. Now she was an adult and had experienced a
marriage once. There were many things she can't tell him frankly.
But he believed that after what happened this time, she had gone matured.
"Your mother is in the house, go keep her company." Amanda acted like a child. "I want you to go with
me."
"She won't beat you, what are you afraid of?”
“I'm not afraid, I just want you to go with me. You haven't seen me for a year and don't you miss me?"
She always looked like a child in front of her father.
Matthew pretended to be serious. "Come on, how old are you now? Still acting like a child."
"I am your child."
"..."
Both of them then entered the room together. Dolores was writing something. Amanda was
mischievous that she put her finger in front of her lips and asked Matthew to keep silent. She then
walked quietly towards Dolores from behind and stretched out her neck to see what she was writing.
Her son was getting married and as a mother-in-law to be, she had to prepare wedding stuff for her
future daughter-in-law. There were too many things, so she wrote down a list to avoid forgetting when
the time comes.
"Why, you’re so generous," seeing the gift list written by Dolores, she said. "Are you going to give all
the money to your little son and forget about your eldest son?"
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