At the table, the atmosphere was not quite harmonious. But it was not so nervous either.
Sherry accidentally ate a piece of hot pepper and thus had to get a cup of water. But before she
reached out her hand Daniel had already handed a cup of water to her.
Sherry had no choice but to accept his assistance and drunk a lot of water. She was in such a hurry
that she coughed.
Daniel patted her back and whispered slowly, “Don’t get that hurry when drinking water.”
After that, he picked two chunks of pumpkin for her, “Those will make you feel better.”
Sherry put the cup down. But before she was able to say anything, she noticed the others were all
staring at them.
As she looked at them, Clarence and Channing both looked away instantly yet calmly while Stella
chose to lower her hand and focus on her bowl.
Sherry felt quite embarrassed.
Her face was flushed all over and she felt her brain was as hot as a volcano.
In the past when Stella and Clarence were showing their love for each other, she just felt envy. But this
time when it was her turn, she felt rather embarrassed.
Sherry said to Daniel in a low voice, “Just mind your own business!”
Daniel was confused. He had no idea how he annoyed her. Maybe she didn’t like pumpkins?
In his memory, she showed no hatred towards pumpkins.
After dinner, Sherry chose to wash the dishes. Daniel also followed her into the kitchen. Seeing that,
Stella secretly walked out of the kitchen.
She took Channing to the balcony and asked him gently, “You caught a cold?”
Channing nodded, “I’ve taken the medicine. Don’t worry.”
Stella stared at him speechlessly.
Channing rarely got sick either as a child or as an adult. But every time he got sick it was because he
was affected by his bad emotions.
Channing coughed and turned back to fix his eyes on the raining sky, “It has been cold recently. You
should take good care of yourself.”
Stella changed the topic, “Yesterday Winnie went to look after you?”
Channing halted and said, “It was you that asked her to come, right?”
Stella bit her lips gently before she nodded.
Channing bent over to lean on the railing casually. “I know what you want to say. But you don’t have to.
I’ve been saying to myself that Jeffrey was dead and I was salvaged. But it isn’t until now do I realize
that what shackles me is not him, but the hatred buried in my mind.”
“I loathed him when I was a child. I hated the fact that I was his son. I hated what he did. I felt all the
things about him were disgusting. I was also scared. I was possessed by the fear that I may become
someone like him someday.”
“After he had just been dead, I dreamed of him every night. In my dreams, he told me that I can never
get rid of him. Even if he had died, in my veins run the blood as filthy as his because I was the only
relative of his.”
“I felt as if he got into my body and became the dark side of me. I’m afraid he will get control of me
someday and make me a second Jeffrey.”
Stella said worriedly, “Channing…”
She knew Channing had been living under the shadow of Jeffrey. To make it worse, when he found
Jeffrey was not his natural father, he felt as if he had lost his last hope about his life.
Stella knew him very much. If she hadn’t made it clear to him, he might have isolated himself from her
as he would think he was of the same kind as Jeffrey.
Channing continued, “It is good to know I have no blood relation with him. At least I don’t have to think I
would end up becoming him. Moreover…”
He halted; his face devoured by the darkness of the night. Then he said, “You might have found that
I’m not close to them. When I saw her body at the funeral, I didn't feel sad at all. They are just
strangers to me.”
After a while. Stella said, “I knew. I won’t force you to do that from now on.”
Channing said, “You just keep yourself who you are. You don’t have to change. Nor do you have to
isolate yourself from them for my sake.”
Stella knew he was referring to Daniel.
She halted before she told him, “William will get back to City N recently.”
By then they would only meet each other more often. They just couldn’t avoid him.
Channing said, “I have no intention to avoid him. I just don’t know what to say. And I’m afraid you will
be in such a dilemma between William and me.”
Stella took a deep breath and said, “Maybe we can discuss it later.”
A solution might naturally emerge by then.
So far William knew nothing about it and he had not met Channing.
What she said now would not make anything better.
Channing took a look at the clock, “It’s quite late. I have to go now.”
Stella said, “It is still raining out there and you’ve caught a cold. I will drive you home.”
Channing declined, “Don’t bother. I will get a cab…”
Before he finished his words, a cold gust of wind rose and made him cough.
Suddenly, someone said behind them, “I will drive him home.” It was Clarence.
Stella turned back to see him leaning against the wall behind them. She had no idea how long he had
been standing there.
In the living room, Sherry and Daniel were cleaning the table with two dusters while having constant
look at them.
Clarence took a look at Channing before he strode towards the door, “Let’s go.”
Channing followed him without a word.
After the door closed behind them, Stella heaved a sigh silently.
She headed to the table and said to the couple there, “Just leave the table alone or it will be as
reflective as a mirror.”
Sherry put down the duster in hand and smiled awkwardly.
Before Daniel could say anything, Stella said, “You must have heard what he said.
After a few seconds, Daniel said slowly, “Then about William …”
“I will consider how to let him know.”
Daniel said, “Maybe it is Emmett that should have a talk with William though it couldn’t make up much.
But at least ...”
Stella knew what he meant. Though he couldn’t make it up, it was Emmett’s fault after all.
She also didn’t know how to inform William that Channing was his son but as he hadn’t met William
since he was a child, he’d rather live alone than accept you as his father.
Daniel added, “I promise this time he will definitely give the paternity test report to William in person
and make it all clear to him.”
Stella started to get tired of it so she nodded, “Okay.”
Sherry noticed she was quite exhausted so she gave a hint to Daniel by pulling him, “Let’s go.”
Daniel put down what he held in hand and nodded to Stella before he left together with Sherry.
The room fell into silence again.
Sitting on the sofa, Stella heaved another sigh.
She used to think she knew Channing very much. But now she found she didn’t.
If she should have stayed with him longer when Jefferey died, he might not get that depressed.
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