Chapter 11
“Callie sent in the application last Wednesday.” After Anna confirmed Ethan’s details, she handed him the paperwork with a mocking look.
He held it with trembling hands. Callie had submitted the application on the next day after he suggested Faith transfer her elsewhere.
Regretful and sad, he rubbed his finger against Faith’s signature. His heart felt empty.
Never had he thought that Faith and Callie would leave him for good.
He stepped out of the preschool feeling deflated. For the first time in his life, he had a taste of fear and helplessness.
“They must be home.” He checked the time on his watch and comforted himself as he rushed home in his car.
While driving, he continued spamming Faith with calls, but she had turned off her phone.
Holding onto a sliver of hope, he contacted Mathias. “Is Faith Sullivan in the office?”
A pause later, Mathias reminded him, “Mr. Hale, she has resigned.”
Did she?
“Look into her whereabouts as soon as you can.”
“Got it, Mr. Hale.”
1/2
After ending the call, Ethan rushed home hopefully.
“Callie! Faith!”
The hope in his eyes dimmed when he saw the empty living room. Faith wasn’t in the kitchen, and no warm dinner awaited him on the table. Similarly, Callie wasn’t running down the stairs as usual.
At that moment, it dawned on him that he was accustomed to having them around.
He slowly dragged himself upstairs and came to a stop in front of Faith’s room. With shaking fingers, he opened the door.
He had entered Faith’s room for the first time and was immediately greeted by a faint fragrance that smelled just like her. The fragrance calmed him down.
Her room seemed tidy and empty as if no one had stayed there before.
Ethan sat forlornly on the edge of the bed and hung his head. Memories of Faith working busily in the office six years ago flashed across his mind.
Faith was Ethan’s first secretary. She was knowledgeable in technical matters, meticulous, and hardworking. She rarely made any mistakes at work, and she took great care of him in his daily life.
After he became crippled in a car accident, Faith selflessly stayed by his side. He couldn’t have made a swift recovery if it weren’t for her encouragement and company.
Why did he adarnantly insist that she had taken advantage of him in that one–night stand when he was the one who had forced himself on her under the influence of alcohol?
She tried her best to play the role of his wife, taking notes of his preferences. She made sure he came home to warm meals and always had pressed shirts to wear to work.
But Ethan ignored all her efforts. Yet, no matter how unreasonable he acted, she met him with quiet restraint, never once raising her voice.
The only time Faith yelled at him, it was over Callie. Desperate for him to treat Callie better, she even went on her knees to beg.
“Ethan, I know you never, love me–even hate me. But Callie is innocent. She’s your flesh and blood. I’m begging you to show her some love, even just a little…”
But he had refused to entertain her, dismissing her pleas as a ploy to earn his sympathy. Thinking back, he felt pained by his reaction.
He thought to himself, “Faith, I’m sorry. Callie, I’m wrong.”
Tears stained his face. He buried his face between his arms, mumbling, “Faith, come home with Callie I’il treat you right.”
Downstairs, someone had rang the doorbell. Ethan’s eyes lit up with anticipation as he hurried down the stairs. Faith and Callie must have come home. “You’re home! I bought some candies for Callie…” The joy on his face was wiped off when he saw Nicole and Daniel perched at the door.
Nicole had changed into an alluring red backless dress with a plunging neckline, looking like a vixen. Beside her was Daniel, who unwillingly held a cake
box!
:
“How did you know I’m here?” He coldly stepped before them at the door.
Nicole froze when she detected the coldness in his tone. Then, she replied indignantly, “I asked Mathias for your address, We came here just to give you a surprise. Daniel said he wanted to have cake with you.”
But Ethan did not budge. He wasn’t going to welcome them into the house. A frosty look appeared in bis eyes.
Chapter 11
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“Is it not a good time?” Nicole’s heart sank. She pretended to look hurt and lowered her head. “We shouldn’t have come in the first place. We just didn’t want you to be mad at us.”
Ethan said nothing. Nicole was like a stranger to him now, and he struggled to see her as his first love from years ago.
Suddenly, Daniel pushed past Ethan and entered the house.
He looked around the luxurious living room with envy. “What a nice place! Mom, come in!”
After wandering around the living room, Daniel’s
eyes were filled with jealousy. “Hmph! I can’t believe the mistress and the bastard child get to live in such a fancy house!”
