Chapter 1935
Chloe was the clever one, unable to voice it herself, she used her babies as a way to step down
gracefully.
Boyd was all too aware of what Chloe was up to, but it was enough.
She was right. After twenty-seven years, she was now a married woman with two adorable children
of her own. Herposure upon hearing the news had exceeded his expectations. To expect her to
suddenly call him ''Dad'' was indeed a tall order.
However, her attitude had already made things clear. She acknowledged him.
"I''m sorry."
All these years, he had known, yet he had never been there for her. He, the so-called father, had
never provided her with any care, and now, he was truly unworthy of that title.d2
His apology made Yasmine pause in her yful interaction with Little Sun, her gaze falling down,
her lips pressing together slightly. Perhaps if she had truly died back then, Boyd wouldn''t have
taken this long to face Chloe.
Chloe Herschelt down to nuzzle Little Moon''s cheek, then spoke softly. "It''s toote for any words
now, an apology doesn''t hold much substance. A mistake is a mistake, and what''s missed is
missed."
She looked up at him, "Even if I tell you it''s okay, do you really feel it''s okay?"
Boyd''s gazended on the little one in her arms, the baby''s curious eyes looking back at him, a tiny
mouth opening and closing, those shiny eyes moving around but never leaving him.
This is exclusive content from Noveldrama (Swnovel). Please read it on Noveldrama to
support the author and the trantion team!.His features softened unconsciously, and after Chloe
finished speaking, he shook his head. "No, it won''t."
Even if she forgave him, he could never forgive himself. The mistake was his alone to bear, with no
chance of redemption. She was right, a mistake was a mistake.
Chloe handed Little Moon over to him. Boyd was stiff, unsure of what to do, but he instinctively
reached out to take the baby.
His movements were awkward, far from proper. His arms were rigid, holding the little baby, afraid of
causing any harm.
Perhaps the position was really ufortable, for Little Moon shifted her head, her little mouth
puckered, and she was about to cry.
Chloe guided his arms, pressing Little Moon closer to him, grabbing one of Boyd''s hands to support
the baby''s bottom.
The baby was light, almost weightless, and Boyd, fearing she would start crying, began to rock her
gently.
Little Moon''s anxious expression gently softened as she looked at Boyd. Her eyes, full of joy,
blinked, a luminescent twinkle ignited in them like sparks in the night sky. Her legs yfully kicked
about, brimming with exuberance. Her voice, youthful and filled with mirth, echoed, defining the
serenity of the moment. Chloe smiled.
Boyd breathed a sigh of relief, and his forehead was beaded with sweat.
"First time holding a baby?" Chloe''s sudden question caught him off guard.
Yasmine turned around.
Boyd didn''t see any issue with the question and nodded. "Yeah."
A flicker passed through Yasmine''s eyes.
Chloe''s expression remained neutral as she nodded, turned, and caught Yasmine''s slightly dazed
look.
Elizabeth, a bit slow on the uptake, stood up from the couch and hooked Chloe''s arm. "Let''s head to
the kitchen and n tonight''s dinner."
Chloe caught the glint of mischief in Elizabeth''s eyes and let herself be pulled away.
As they reached the kitchen, Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. "Aren''t you a bit tooposed? That
man is your biological father!"
Chloe chuckled, heading towards the pantry with Elizabeth following.
"Did you know already?"
Chloe shook her head, selecting vegetables from the fridge, "I had no idea."
"What’s with the calmness, then?"
"I just know my mother well. From a young age, I could tell she felt nothing for Nick. With her
personality, how could she possibly share a bed, much less have children, with someone she didn''t
love?"
Chloe turned, cing some greens in the basket.
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully, "That makes sense. I mean, how could someone like your mom fall
for a man like Nick? And allowing to have an affair? She wouldn''t let a man slip from her grasp that
easily."
Chloe also agreed with Elizabeth''s words. If it weren''t for her mother''s willingness, things wouldn''t
have reached this point. Perhaps, Nick''s infidelity back then was a kind of liberation for her mother.
But her current puzzle wasn''t about that. It was about thewsuit with Carolina, the revtion of her
blood tie to Nick. Jonahter confessed that Nick wasn''t Carolina''s son but his with a woman
named Maria. So Nick and this newfound father, Boyd, were they brothers?
Did her mother know of Nick and Boyd''s rtion? Was that why she approached him, so that even if
a paternity test was done in the future, there would be no risk?
Was it really so?
She had investigated and found that her mother and Nick had a one-night stand, a mere
coincidence. Can life be that coincidental?
After selecting tonight''s dinner ingredients, they left the pantry.
The servant came over to help, and Elizabeth pulled Chloe, who was about to help, out of the
kitchen. "You''ll be looking after the babiester. You don''t want to be covered in cooking smells."
They walked to the dining room and peeked around the corner to see the two in the living room
looking after the babies.
Little Moon in Boyd''s arms started to fuss, crying out loud. Boyd became a flustered mess, beads of
sweat on his forehead, pacing back and forth in the living room, trying to soothe Little Moon, but the
crying indicated his method wasn''t working.
Hearing Little Moon''s cries, Little Sun in Yasmine''s arms began to cry too. The living room was in
total disarray.
Elizabeth hurried to intervene but found herself restrained by Chloe''s firm grip. Elizabeth''s heart
was breaking at the sound of her grandchildren''s cries, but when she caught Chloe''s expression, a
wave of calm washed over her.
As a newly promoted mother, how could she bear to let her precious one cry? Elizabeth’s heart
ached, but she knew Chloe felt the same—if not more. Yet, Chloe had made her decision.
"I''ve got it."
The voice of Yasmine echoed from the living room, pulling Elizabeth''s attention.
Yasmine was settling the still wailing Little Sun into the crib.
Hearing this, Boyd hurried over to Yasmine''s side, ncing at Little Sun who was crying up a storm
in the crib. "He''s crying too. Maybe I should go find Chloe."
Yasmine took Little Moon in her arms, and her posture looked much more natural than Boyd''s. "Go
hold your grandson."
Boyd did as instructed, lifting Little Sun into his arms, trying to mimic Yasmine''s movements and
posture, but he was at a loss, looking towards Yasmine with uncertainty, "Yasmine, he''s still crying."
With a gentle sway of Little Moon in her arms, Yasmine nced at him, "Just wait. Once Little Moon
stops, he''ll calm down on his own."
Boyd''s mouth hung open in surprise, gazing down at his grandson in wonder. Could it really work
like that?
Elizabeth pouted, feeling a pang of sympathy for her grandson.
Soon enough, the question was answered. As Little Moon ceased crying, Little Sun in Boyd''s arms
also quieted down. It was nothing short of miraculous.
Boyd let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a free hand.
Chloe and Elizabeth, previously tense, rxed their shoulders.
Yasmine gently wiped Little Moon''s tear-streaked face with a soft tissue. Boyd followed suit,
awkwardly imitating her actions.
"When you hold them, support their neck and head together. They''re still so fragile, and they squirm
with curiosity. Don''t let their necks hang unsupported. Try to broaden their view; an angled hold is
best." Yasmine approached Boyd with Little Moon in her arms, instructed him, and gently nudged
his elbow upwards to correct his posture.
Boyd stiffened for a moment but then rxed, adjusting his hold as per Yasmine''s guidance.
Little Sun looked visibly morefortable.
"Like that."
With an approval from Yasmine, Boyd''s face finally broke into a smile.
Turning her head, Elizabeth smiled at Chloe and pulled her back to the kitchen for a ss of water,
settling themselves at the dining table. "I''vee to understand your mom''s temperament well.
Considering her rtionship with Boyd for so many years, there must be deep-seated reasons. She
lost a baby once. And you, you only recently learned about your biological father. We can''t possibly
know everything that''s happened. I get your attitude, but don''t provoke your mother lightly. If she
gets upset, my rtionship with her will be effected."
Chloe had been curious about why Elizabeth was speaking so much about her mother today.
Elizabeth didn''t usually pry into such personal affairs. By the end, she realized Elizabeth was
worried about her angering her mother and, by extension, affecting her rapport with her. It was
endearingly amusing.
"Whether to forgive or not, and how they deal with it, the decision has always been my mother''s.
What I''m doing now is just considering how to make her happier. Whether she''s taking revenge on
Boyd or not, her pain is no less than his."
Elizabeth nodded, "That''s true. Every time I had a spat with Royce, seeing him all apologetic and
miserable made me sadder than him. I knew it was pathetic, but I couldn''t help feeling for him, his
pain was my pain."
Chloe chuckled. Wasn''t that just the way it was? The harshest words spoken were like knives to
one''s own heart.
Wasn''t that just affection in its truest form? To be utterly disarmed by someone.
"That''s just life," Elizabeth sighed. "But I tell you, your mom epting Boyd again, that''s a tough
one."
Chloe sipped her water, "Yeah, getting her to say ''it''s okay'' to Boyd is probably impossible in this
lifetime. She has her pride."
"Ah..." Elizabeth sighed again. "Isn''t that just making things harder for herself? If it were me, I''d give
Royce a piece of my mind, then tend to him right after. Quick and decisive, no use dragging it out.
Wasting all that time, it''s just not worth it."
It seemed their presence was superfluous, so Elizabeth and Chloe decided to stay in the kitchen
and help the staff with cooking.
Damon arrived home early in the afternoon, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Boyd. Usually, he
encountered Boyd outside. His presence inside the home was a surprise.
Finding Chloe in the kitchen washing vegetables, he teased, "Mrs. Harper, have I been overpaying
the staff?"
Elizabeth shuffled aside, uninterested in their disy of affection.
Chloe turned, a smile on her face upon seeing her well-dressed husband. "Back already?"
Damon kissed the corner of her mouth, his hand resting on her waist as he eyed the running tap
with a slight frown.
Before he couldment, Chloe popped a warm cherry into his mouth. "The water''s warm."
Feeling the warmth of the cherry, Damon didn''t finish his thought.
Chloe dried her hands and pulled him out of the kitchen, loosening his tie.
"What''s going on? Why let him inside? The man I introduced seems quite taken with your mother."
Chloe''s eyes sparkled with a hint of mirth as she asked, "So, what do we do now?"
Damon shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "I''m not entirely sure. But I think your mom''s finally
stopped seeing me in a bad light."
His stance had been unmistakably clear this time.
Chloe chuckled, "Aren''t you worried about offending Boyd?"
Damon''s lips curled into a smirk. "Afraid? He''s probably been holding a grudge since I whisked
Mom away from him. One more grudge won''t make a difference."
As Chloe recalled the incident that brought his mother back—and the bullet wound Damon suffered
in the process—her expression momentarily darkened. But before she could sink into concern,
Damon''s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. "Besides, with your mom backing me,
Boyd''s grudges won''t amount to much."
Chloe couldn''t help butugh at his words. Did he really need his mother''s support?
--
The dinner atmosphere was anything but rxed. Boyd sat there feeling quite out of ce.
Yasmine sat beside him, her face calm but stern, an expression thatmanded seriousness.
Boyd remained silent, anxious not to annoy Yasmine. In reality, he was tormented by the thought of
what might happen after dinner.
And then, the moment Boyd feared, arrived.
As they moved from the dining room to the living room, Yasmine announced bluntly, "I''m not going
back tonight."
Standing by the baby carriage, Boyd''s hand, resting on the railing, twitched as if electrified at her
words. The brief smile that had surfaced upon seeing the babies was swiftly washed away by a
sudden, sharp pain.
"I took that bottle as a promise from you. If you can''t even keep that one promise, what right do you
have to stand before me?"
Initially, the others hadn''t paid much mind to Yasmine''s deration that she wouldn''t return that
night. But as she continued, they began to grasp the gravity of the situation, throwing puzzled
nces between the two.
Boyd''s grip on the crib tightened, his knuckles turning white, his entire demeanor visibly tense. He
remained silent, his pain palpable. It was as if he were trapped in a hopeless situation.
Yasmine looked at him impassively. "If you can''t control yourself, stay away from the babies. If you
hurt them, you might as well end yourself."
The guilt was umting, and his refusal to forgive himself turned his life into a mere torment.
Her words were severe. The others also felt she was being too harsh. But still, Boyd let go of the
railing.
Yasmine turned and began to ascend the stairs, pausing after a few steps. "That bottle..."
Everyone watched her retreating back, anticipating her next words, but she stopped, not continuing,
and went upstairs. They were left with a mix of confusion and concern, all eyes on Boyd.
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"What promise is that? You didn''t agree to leave her, did you?" Elizabeth couldn''t help asking.
Boyd just shook his head, his lips trembling, but no words came out.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and the butler let in Herschel. Direct to the point, he said, "I''m here to
pick up my father."
Boyd''s stiff gaze slowly shifted to Herschel. It flickered, as if he had found a lifeline amidst sinking
quicksand.
Herschel''s eyes darkened as he stepped forward to support Boyd and guide him outside. Boyd
hesitated, ncing back at the staircase where Yasmine had disappeared.
Chloe''s brow furrowed slightly at Herschel''s caution and Boyd''s subsequent expression.
Damon squeezed her hand the next second. Chloe forced a faint smile, but her concern was
evident. Boyd didn''t look well, and she was unaware of the promise he still owed his mother.
--
Back at the vi, Boyd didn''t invite Herschel in. Alone, he entered the vi where the ss bottle
remained untouched on the coffee table.
A servant approached with a ss of water, but seeing Boyd standing motionless by the sofa, she
left the ss and retreated fearfully.
Boyd stood there the entire night.
In the morning, a servant heading to the bathroom was startled by his pale, ghostly appearance.
She mustered the courage to approach and asked timidly, "Sir, why aren''t you sleeping?"
Boyd remained still.
"Sir..."
Boyd turned to her, and she gasped, stepping back.
"Go rest," he said.
The servant hurried away, Boyd''s pale face and red eyes haunting her thoughts, his voice like a
specter from the underworld.
Her appearance seemed to bring Boyd back to reality. He slowly moved, his stiff legs barely
Herschelding. If not for the sofa, he might have fallen. After a while, he managed to sit down on the
sofa and continued to stare at the bottle, lost in thought.
When the servants began their morning chores, they found him still staring at the ss bottle.
"Sir, what would you like for breakfast?" A clueless servant approached to ask, but after a long
pause, there was no response, and she was pulled away by another.
"What''s wrong with Mr. Boyd? Why is he fixated on an empty bottle so early in the morning?"
"It''s not just this morning. He''s been like that sincest night, probably didn''t sleep a wink."
"What''s with that bottle? And I noticed only the sir returnedst night. The madam didn''te with
him."
"It seems like a birthday gift he gave to Ma’am. Yesterday, it looked like the madam wanted to use it
as a reason to leave him."
"Why would she? He is so good to her, but Ma’am seems to barely tolerate him, always giving him
the cold shoulder."
Another servant sighed, "They must have had some misunderstanding when they were younger. I
don''t know what she wrote in there, but she wants to leave him so much, so that must be her only
wish."
Their whispers inevitably reached Boyd''s ears. His eyes flickered. He had thought about it all night.
What could that note inside the bottle possibly say? No matter how much he pondered, he could
onlye to one conclusion: her request to leave him. For years, whenever she spoke to him, her
most frequent demand was for him to let her go.
Now that she had stumbled upon a weakness she could exploit, there was no chance she would let
it slip through her fingers.
He had been sitting in the living room sincest night, through the early hours of the morning, and
from dawn until dusk. The household staff tiptoed around, fearful of making the slightest noise that
might disturb him.
Like a statue, he sat in silence, emanating an aura so still it was as if he had ceased breathing.
The air around him was chilling, thick with despair, devoid of life. The only sign he was still among
the living came when Herschel rang the doorbell outside and he spoke, refusing to let the servants
answer.
It wasn''t until the evening, after a full day without food, water, or a wink of sleep, that the staff
mustered the courage to defy his orders and let Herschel in.
Herschel made a beeline for the living room, where Boyd''s gaze was still fixed on an empty whiskey
bottle.
"Who let you in?" Boyd''s voice was hoarse, causing Herschel''s veins to throb with tension.
Ignoring theck of hospitality, Herschelmanded one of the servants to fetch a ss of salt
water. Taking it, he didn''t bother with properness. He grabbed Boyd''s head and forced him to take a
few sips.
The ss shattered on the floor as Boyd''s clothes were soaked through.
Boyd swatted the ss from Herschel''s hand, scattering the pieces across the room. Herschel''s
face was a mask of cold fury, but he ignored the disarray and snatched the bottle from the coffee
table.
Boyd''s expression changed drastically, his bloodshot eyes filled with terror. "Give it to me!"
As Herschel attempted to unscrew the bottle''s cap, Boyd suddenly stood, wrenching it from his
grasp.
"What are you doing?" Herschel stumbled backward, catching himself before he fell.
Boyd cradled the bottle, circling past Herschel toward the stairs, his face a mix of anger and
defense.
Herschel closed his eyes briefly, then spoke with a deep resolve. "Dad, you can''t think straight in
this condition. Let''s get you healthy first, then we can think about other things. If you''re sick, even if
Ms. Yasmine stays your side, you can''t guarantee her safety. Don''t you want to take care of her?
How can you do that if you can''t even take care of yourself?"
Boyd continued up the stairs, clutching the bottle to his chest.
Herschel quickly followed, standing under the stairs watching his figure, angrily said, "Father, please
face the reality. Tying her forcibly by your side will only make her despise you more, and separation
may be the best choice. Inside there is a promise you cannot refuse. Satisfy herst wish in her life,
and maybe in her heart, she can still remember you as a person who once fulfilled her promise."
Boyd''s figure paused for a moment.
Taking a deep breath, Herschel continued, "I can give you three days. In three days, whether you
agree or not, I must take you away from here!"
In the end, Boyd still climbed up the stairs. Herschel didn''t leave. He inquired about Boyd''s state
and instructed the staff to prepare a pot of chicken soup.
Boyd locked himself in his bedroom, sitting at the window, still holding the bottle, and staring at the
folded note inside.
Face the reality...
Fulfill the promise he made to Yasmine? Was that promise to truly let her go?
He had never imagined such a promise. If he kept it, what meaning would his life hold? What
meaning would their lives hold?
But if he didn''t, would she evere back? Would shee back as a shell of herself, convinced
he was a man of empty promises, unable to keep his word?
He was already so unbearable in her eyes. She had said she had her pride. Did she mean being
held captive by him was crushing her pride and dignity? He didn''t want that. Everything about her
was good now. He didn''t want to change that because of him.
But keeping her close was against his wishes, and letting her go, severing all ties, was just as
undesirable.
No matter what he did, it was wrong.
Boyd ran his hands through his hair, exuding a sense of helplessness and despair.
Herschel came upter with the soup, knocking to no answer.
Dinner was the same.
Eventually, Herschel had someone force open the door. Boyd was still by the window, the bottle in
hand.
Setting the soup aside, Herschel said, "How about you try the soup first?"
Silence.
"Dad, your life isn''t just about her. Have you seen your daughter? Your two grandkids? You nning
on just seeing them once in this lifetime?"
Boyd looked up at Herschel, his grip on the bottle loosening slightly.
"Chloe, and your grandkids, Elio and Luna, they tie you to Ms. Yasmine for life."
Seeing some reaction from Boyd, Herschel''s lips curved slightly. "But all of this depends on you
being healthy enough to give and make amends." After a moment, he offered the soup.
Boyd ced the bottle on the windowsill. "I''m not hungry right now."
Herschel''s brows twitched, but he didn''t press, setting the bowl aside. "Then eat when you''re ready,
and remember to drink water."
Boyd nodded. "If I go to see Chloe, and Elio and Luna, would Yasmine allow it?"
"She has no right to refuse."
Boyd''s eyes darkened. "But what if she''s unhappy about it?"
Herschel sighed. Boyd was trapping himself in a maze of his own making.
"She won''t agree to me seeing Elio and Luna. She thinks I''m ill, but I''m not. She doesn''t believe
me..."
"It''s not what she thinks. You are ill."
Boyd closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, his voice hoarse and unclear. "Leave."
Herschel took a deep breath and left, not lingering any longer.
"Dad, if Ms. Yasmine refuses to let you see your daughter and grandkids, will you just ept her
decision?"
"If she''s unhappy, then I won''t see them."
The room fell silent, as if even the drifting dust had more presence than Boyd.
Boyd didn''t want Yasmine to hate him anymore, but keeping her by his side was only fostering that
hatred.
If he left, as Herschel suggested, would she remember him as a man who had kept a promise?
After all,pared to the torrent of hatred she harbored for him, the mere thought that there was a
sanctuary of peace for him in her heart was indeed too tempting to resist.
Should he really let her go? Once he did, their lives would truly be devoid of any intersection. Yet
her greatest wish in this lifetime was just that one thing, and he was the only one who could grant it
to her.
His gaze returned to the ss bottle. His expression was nearly unreadable, but the turmoil and
complexity within him were palpable.
Time seemed to stretch on indefinitely until he finally picked up the bottle, hesitating for what felt like
an eternity before his hand finally moved toward the lid.
Herschel had been sorting out some business over the phone in the living room, and by the time he
was done, it was well past ten. The fatigue on his face was suddenly reced by a taut intensity, his
handsome features betraying a deep, thick emotion.
He stood, intending to check on Boyd upstairs, but after only a few steps, the sound of footsteps
echoed from above. Soon enough, Boyd appeared in the living room.
Herschel was taken aback. "You..."
Boyd, leaning on the banister, his face deathly pale, looked at Herschel. His lips trembled slightly as
he spoke a few words.
The surprise was unmistakable on Herschel''s face upon hearing Boyd''s utterance, cutting through
his initial attempt to speak.
--
The next morning, Yasmine and Elizabeth were downstairs taking care of the children.
Chloe was tidying up her room when she got a call from Damon. In just a few seconds, her
expression shifted to confusion and surprise. She hung up and went downstairs, approaching
Yasmine. "Boyd left this morning. He went back to B Country with Herschel."