Chapter 38
Irene was so frightened that she shrank behind Sharon
Sharon picked her up swiftly and looked towards the woman.
The woman stared right back at them. “Who are you? What are you doing here!”
Her face seemed a little more relaxed than it had been just a few moments before.
She haphazardly smoothed her disheveled hair over the top of her head, revealing her face.
“Sophic” Sharon suddenly recognized her.
When the woman heard her name, she looked up and down at Sharon, sizing her up.
“It’s me, Sharon.”
Only then did Sophie recognize her, clapping her hands and covering her mouth in surprise. “Sharon, I haven’t seen you in years. You’re getting prettier and prettier every day, aren’t you! I almost didn’t recognize you because I thought you were a model or actress.”
Sharon gave an embarrassed smile.
Sophie then apologized. ‘Sorry, 1 threw the bucket earlier because I thought it was my deadbeat son. Are you guys alright”
“We’re fine.” Sharon’s thoughts were not focused on the bucket at all. She looked at the yard and house behind Sophie. “Where’s my dad? Doesn’t live here anymore”
Her heart lurched in fear as the alternative crossed her mind, and her voice was soft and watery.
“Your father is fine. Sophie saw the look on her face and could tell she was imagining the worst, so she hurriedly reassured her. He thought this house was too big for one person, and moved to a small house at the end of the road. My family is big, so he agreed to let us stay here.”
Sophie seemed self–conscious as she explained.
Even though they were tenants, she hadn’t paid a single penny in rent up to this day
Sharon’s father didn’t press her for money, so she assumed he didn’t care for il
Sharon wasn’t in the frame of mind to discuss this and simply requested. “Can you take us to see him“”
“Yes of course.” Sophie was in his debt, so she was in no position to decline.
Sophie heaved and huffed as she lugged her heavyset body to the end of the road
A small store came into view. It was dilapidated and spartan, and didn’t even carry a signboard.
“Your F
father
is inside.” Sophic pointed to the store and said.
Sharon looked at the store.
Not only was it run down, it was also pitifully small.
There were seemingly randon items piled up around the outer wall, most of which were actually toys she had played with as a child. Tricycles, scooters, skates
Looking at all her childhood knick–knacks, Sharon was overcome with emotion. Tears stared rolling down her face.
Sophie made to call out for her father, but Sharon stopped her. “I’ll go in instead. She held on to Irene’s little hand and entered.
She walked along the yellowing hallway and reached a room.
kens were piled up here as well, except this time it was filled with shoe samples.
Lach was exquisite and beautiful.
Irene looked at the varioun colors and styles of the shoes and couldn’t help but reach out to touch them.
Sharon didn’t are her father in the room, so continued making her way further bark,
She found herself in a small backyard
11:01 AM
Chapter 38
There, a man sat with his back to her in front of an age–old shoe making machine. He was hunched over and operating it with his hands and feet
His movements were slow and deliberate, and his hair was completely grey and silver.
Sharon’s eyes were fixed on him. There was a familiarity to the figure and yet some stark differences as well, but she instantly recognized him as h father, Ethan.
Before she got married, he had only sported an occasional gray hair or two. He had broad shoulders and stood tall and strong. His reflexes were
swift and alert.
But now, he cut a smaller, trail figure.
“Dad.” She called out in an almost whisper, unable to contain the sadness in her heart.
The laboring man visibly paused
He turned slowly.
Sharon saw an aged face full of wrinkles. His features were soft thanks to years of meticulous crafting. He wore a pair of large, black–rimmed reading classes. He could have passed off as a tenured academic.
He removed his glasses and observed her carefully, finally recognizing her. “It’s you… Sharon.”
“It’s me, Dad. It’s me! Sharon shortened the distance between them. She was emotional and wanted to give him a hug, but stopped herself.
Instead, she started crying.
Ethan held her hands and pulled her closer, and then cupped her face. “It’s really you, Sharon. You’ve come back. No wonder the sky seemed exceptionally blue today”
child why have you lost so much weight?*
He looked Sharon up and down and wiped the tears off her face, “My child, why have you
In Ethan’s memory, Sharon was strong and healthy, and carried some baby fat on her face. Now, her jawline was much sharper and she was terribly slender.
Sharon felt her guilt gnawing at her. Not only did her father not bear a grudge against her for marrying into the Stanley family, but he was worried abon her health and well–being.
She felt like a failure of a daughter. She cursed at herself inwardly.
“You’re home now, that’s all that matters. Edian couldn’t contain his happiness.
He didn’t probe into her personal matters and instead offered to cook for her. “Tell me what you want to eat, I will make it for you.” He was more concerned about restoring her to a healthy weight.
Ethan had always doted on Sharon and pampered her since she was a child.
If there was something she wanted, no matter how difficult or absurd the request, he would try all ways and means to accommodate her.
Even with such a loving father, she had chosen to live with the Stanleys and put up with their ill treatment. She should have poured her heart and soud toward caring for her father and repaying his kindness, and instead wasted her time and effort on them. Her remorse overcame her and she started crying again.
Ethan comforted her by patting her back, like when she was a little girl.
It was a while before the two headed inside.
They walked in just in time to see
to see Irene.
Ethan’s eyes lit up as he saw the adorable little girl. This child…..“
Sharon walks over to Irene and nudges her forward. “Dad, this is my daughter. Her name is Irene?
introduced I
Eihan to Irene as well. “This is your grandpa. His name is Ethan”
Hello Grandpa Eilian” Irene greeted him happily.
What a lovely girl you are? Kalan responded in delight and lowered his body to hug her. “You’re just as beautiful as your mother when she was a luile girl”
This time it was hist um torry.
bluron knew he was thinking about how he had to raise her as a single father.
