When they arrive at the villa, Fanny has already tuck Adair into bed. The living room is so quiet. Lily
and Rex are the only ones staying in it.
It might be due to the incident just now. Rex doesn’t look like he is in a good mood. He is grumpy but
he tries to control himself and he doesn’t want to influence her, “Finally, we've got rid of trouble.”
Lily gives him a glass of water, “A tiny trouble could manifest into a big one with the help of time. Which
is why it is always the best to make things clear right from the start.”
There was Marina, then now, Vivian. Luckily they didn’t create another tragedy this time.
Rex fetches over the glass and drinks some water. The warm liquid flows into his throat and it makes
him feel better. “Speaking of which, you should also make things clear with Ryan before things get
complicated. Make up your mind on whatever decision you need to make.”
Lily didn’t expect Rex to bring up about Ryan. She frowns and wants to counter what he said but when
she stops and thinks carefully. What Rex said actually make sense too.
It is more or less the same situation, with different people in it.
Rex looks at her furrowed brows, “I don’t want to force you into doing anything. I know Ryan has been
a very good friend to you but I’m sure he must have other intentions too. You should be able to feel it.”
Lily bites her lips. Yes, of course, she could feel it.
Rex speaks in a gentle tone, “Lily, we should look into your heart now. As well as the other’s too.”
…
Lily decides to stay in J City after all. After she made up her mind, Ryan is the first person she
contacted. She is bringing Adair back to the apartment. Although Rex doesn’t want her to go back,
when he thinks about how he is the factor of why she needs to go back, he couldn’t bring himself to say
anything.
When the lift arrives at the designated level, Lily brings Adair to the entrance of a unit. She is feeling
nervous now. She hasn’t been feeling nervous about meeting Ryan in so many years.
Lily takes a deep breath and enters the set of familiar number into the digitalized padlock. The door
opens.
She walks in and sees Ryan sitting on the couch in his black outfit.
“Uncle Ryan!” Adair runs into Ryan’s arms. He lay his head onto Ryan’s chest and says, “I miss you.”
The room gets warmed up by Adair’s action. Lily turn and lock the door behind her, then sits on the
couch.
Ryan then looks at her, “You’re here.”
There’s a feeling of tightness in Lily’s throat. She answers, “Yes.”
She made a call to Ryan before she comes here today but she never mentions what exactly she wants
to talk about. However, she thinks he knows what she is going to tell him from the oppressive
atmosphere in the house when she steps into the room.
Ryan has been a very alert and sensitive person.
“Uncle Ryan, do you miss me?” Adair raises his head and asks Ryan. His eyes are filled with
expectations.
Of course, he does. Gentleness fills Ryan face when he hears Adair’s question. “I miss you too.”
Adair is excited about Ryan’s answer. He tries to pull Ryan to a room, “Uncle Ryan, let’s play Lego. We
haven’t played Lego for a very long time.”
“Give me a minute, alright? Let me talk to your mother first. You go ahead, I’ll join you later.” Ryan
cares about Adair’s mental health. He doesn’t want Adair to hear this heavy conversation he is going to
have with Lily.
Adair is a thoughtful child. He nods and walks into the room alone.
Looking at Adair walking into the room, Ryan says, “He isn't estranged to me.”
“How would he? After so many years of living together with you. It’s only been a short period that we’re
back here. How would he be estranged to you…”
Before Lily could finish her sentences, Ryan turns around and stares at her in a piercing glance, “What
about you?”
Lily’s heart stings a little. She blinks her eyes and answers without thinking too much about the
question, “I won’t either.”
After hearing her answer, Ryan laughs softly. If she won’t then she wouldn’t be so nervous when he
asks the question, and she wouldn’t try to cover up for herself.
He doesn't hold on to her answer, instead, he changes the subject. “What do you want to talk to me?”
Finally, they are back to the main subject. Lily tries to relax and says cautiously, “Ryan, I’ve been
thinking a lot lately. About raising Adair and about what happens when he needs to enrol into
educational facilities. Initially, I thought the UK is my best choice. I thought I’m used to the life over
there but slowly, I found out that I’m just trying to run away from the problems I’m having now. My
parents, Adair’s grandparents are right here. I can’t be that selfish. I have to be responsible for myself
and to them.”
Ryan remains silent. He listens without saying anything. He doesn’t even look at Lily. His hands are on
his leg and his sight falls on a random corner of the room.
“I can’t put Adair in an unhealthy growing environment. He needs his family and he needs to be
pampered and care for. I could only give him so much. Anyway, no matter what decision I have made, it
will never change our relationship. You are the reason Adair is born safety into this world and I will
never forget about that.” While Lily is explaining, she has a flashback of when she is pregnant and had
just arrived in the UK. It’s Ryan who kept her and Adair safe and sound without the need to worry about
food and accommodation.
Ryan waits until Lily finishes what she wants to say. He sits up straight and looks at her, “Are you
done?”
He reacts calmly but Lily hopes he would question her about her decision. That might make her feel
better but he didn't. She fixes her hair behind her ears and answers, “Yes.”
“When are you going back to the UK?”
He sounded too calm like what he heard from Lily just now is just the tiniest matter that doesn’t require
any attention. He even completes her sentences about going back to the UK.
Communicating with such an intelligent person is open and scary experience at the same time. You
wouldn’t know what he could pick up from your lines and use it against you.
“Within these two days,” Lily doesn’t want to lie to him at all so she tells him her plan. “My identity was
terminated five years ago, now I have to go through all the processes and get my ID back. It is kind of
troublesome.”
After finishing her sentence, the living room becomes so silent that she could even hear the clock
ticking clearly.
She knew this would happen and she has got many to say to Ryan but when she faces him, she
doesn't know where to start telling.
Lily feels sorry about Ryan. She failed him and wasted his feelings on her.
“Is he the reason you’re staying back?” After a while, Ryan asks her.
Lily stuns. She only realizes who Ryan is talking about after a few seconds. Her heart beats fast and
she lowers her head. “He is part of the reason.” She doesn’t want to lie to Ryan.
Ryan’s heart is shattered into a million pieces. His Adam’s apple moves up and down as if he is trying
to swallow his grief in. He tries to smile but he couldn’t, “I shouldn’t have let you come back.”
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