Chapter 11/
“Lori, I finally found you…”
Milford still wore that intimidating gangster–like suit, his presence as powerful as ever, though his figure had thinned considerably and one of his legs now limped. That swagger of his seemed more like something he was forcing, barely holding it together.}
When he saw me stay silent, his gaze shifted to Enid. He crouched down, extending his arms, a strained smile on his face. “Enid, do you miss Daddy? Come here, give me a hug.”>
Enid hid behind me. She looked at him with wariness.
I ushered Enid into the shop, closed the door and turned to face him. “What do you want?“>
Milford froze for a moment, his expression awkward. “Lori, I… I came to take you both home.“}
I gave him a sarcastic smile. “Home? You mean that place where a brother and sister–in–law share a man? That disgusting, filthy ‘home‘? Don’t joke with me. We’re done. You should leave.“}
“No, Lori, it’s not like that. I’ve figured out everything she did. I’ve cut ties with her. All my enemies are gone. No one will ever hurt you again. Come home with me, please? I’ll make it up to you and Enid.”
For all these years, the words I’d heard from him were always, “Just endure for now.” This was the first time he’d said he wouldn’t let me suffer anymore.
Sadly, I didn’t care anymore.}
“After I endured all that suffering, you’re only saying this now, Milford? Don’t you think it’s pathetic?“}
“You think just because you say this, all the torment I went through for over a year, the broken leg, my daughter locked in a dog cage… all of it can just be erased? What kind of compensation is that and why should I accept it?“}
Milford was left speechless by my words, scrambling to explain. “Lori, it was Malissa who deliberately forged the message, making me think you were dead. Otherwise, I would never have let you go through so much…”
“Milford, you’re supposed to be a gangster boss, but when things go wrong, all you do is shift the blame onto the woman.“}
“Malissa is certainly despicable. But YOU, my husband, didn’t even try to investigate after you hear about my death. You didn’t search for my body. You just accepted it, then rushed to marry your sister–in–law, even turning a blind eye while she abused my daughter. Isn’t that even more disgusting?“>
“Go away, Milford! The Lorraine you once knew is dead. Enid doesn’t want you as a father anymore. To us, you’re just a nightmare we’re eager to escape. We’re finally living happy, peaceful lives–don’t come here to disturb us. If you still have any shred of decency left, just leave us alone.”
After that, I didn’t look at him again. I turned around and went back into the flower shop, pulling down the roller shutter, completely shutting him out.”
The next day, when I took Enid to kindergarten, Milford was gone.
In front of the shop, there was a bouquet of bellflowers–his wedding proposal flowers. The meaning behind them was “a love that lasts until death.” In the center of the bouquet was the ancient jade ring that symbolized the title of the Lady of the House of the Wrights. The engraving had been changed back to my name.}
There was also a small card with a simple message…”
“Lori, I’m sorry.”
But sadly, sorne things couldn’t return to what it used to once they changed. No matter how much he regretted or apologized, it was too late.2
I threw everything in the trash, just like I threw away the past.”
-2
A few days later, I received the news of Milford’s death.
Malissa had fainted in the dog cage. After all, Milford had promised his late brother that he wouldn’t actually take Malissa’s life. He had someone open the cage and squat down to check on her, but Malissa suddenly attacked, sinking her teeth into his neck.
She had somehow managed to hide a blade in her mouth and used it to slit his throat.
In his final moments, Milford also used the blade to end Malissa’s life
In just a few days, the Wright family’s empire was quickly divided up by those enemies Milford had crossed in the past. The old butler took Eddy back to his hometown and from that point on, he disappeared without a trace.
I never told Enid that Milford had died
From the moment we left the Wrights behind, everything about him was no longer our concern.
The past was too dark to revisit. Thankfully, ahead of us lay a bright and hopeful future.!!
(The End)
