One month has passed since dwin and Phoebe’s wedding, and ever since then, everyone at the hospital knows that dwin and Phoebe’s rtionship isn’t doing well.


    dwin now has a bad reputation in everyone’s eyes because he is believed to have betrayed via. Some even say that from the start, dwin had a secret rtionship with Phoebe and was tempted to marry via because she was wealthier than Phoebe. And dwin doesn’t care at all about the gossip from those who dislike him, and he doesn’t try to set the record straight because he doesn’t want to bother changing his image just for the sake of reputation. Let people say what they think; his closest ones know why dwin married Phoebe.


    It’s all for via, the woman he loves. And until now, he hasn’t received any news from via. While Abigail, ire, and Antony never tell him anything. But dwin is sure, even though via doesn’t contact him, she will definitely reach out to her parents. Because however, via loves them both deeply. dwin chooses to spend his time keeping busy, whether it’s at the hospital, the office, or the furniture workshop.


    He devotes his remaining time to pursue his hobbies. Yes, dwin chooses to delve into the furniture industry not only for the profits but also because he enjoys creating something. It’s like if Antony enjoys building a house, then via would decorate it, and dwin would make the decorations. Initially, making furniture was just a hobby for him to pass the time. But after getting to know Antony, Altezza, and Gian Quirino, he seemed to gain support, deepening his hobby even further, and eventually, in thest eight years, his hobby has be profitable. Increasing his financial coffers, and of course, this sess is inseparable from his coboration with his inws’ family.


    dwin wiped his sweaty forehead. Too focused on the noisy machinery filling the room, he didn’t even notice anyone else there. Straightening his back, the machine still buzzing, he saw Abigail standing, hands folded in front of her chest. Turning off the machine, dwin took off his safety sses and moved to relieve the ache in his lower back from bending too much.


    “What’s up?” he asked, his tone not pleased. Abigail’s presence meant there was a new problem for him. It’s not that dwin considered Abigail a troublemaker, but his niece was more like the harbinger of trouble, especially for dwin.


    Abigail sighed. “Grandma asked us to have dinner at her ce,” she replied curtly, as if confirming dwin’s thoughts from a few seconds ago.


    “Hmm,” was dwin’s only response before he put his sses back on and restarted his saw, finishing the wood pieces in front of him.


    At four-thirty, dwin was on his way to Abigail’s parents’ house. Turns out, the girl hade to dwin’s workshop apanied by her assistant, which was a plus for dwin because that way he could ask his niece to drive his car during rush hour while he could rest his eyes for a moment.


    “What do you think will happenter?” he asked when the traffic light turned red. dwin, fully leaning back in his passenger seat, chose to remain silent. “There’s bound to be more drama,” he answered because dwin still didn’t speak up.


    “How’s ‘her’ doing?” dwin asked softly. Abigail was now driving again.


    “Huh? What?” Abigail asked back. She didn’t hear her uncle’s question clearly because a motorcycle with a loud exhaust overtook them.


    “How’s via? Is she okay?” he tried to sound indifferent even though his chest felt tight from longing.


    Abigail grinned. “She’s fine. Why don’t you just ask me where she is right now?” Abigail teased, her eyes ncing yfully at dwin. dwin snorted. “If you ask, I’ll answer and im that I said it identally.” Abigail replied with a mischievous grin on her face.


    “Hmm. identally on purpose,” mocked dwin. But the man shook his head slowly. For the time being, he wanted to let his wife be free out there. He wanted to let his wife rest from all the troubles that have been tormenting them. “For me, knowing that she’s alright is enough,” he answered honestly.


    “Uncle, aren’t you angry?”


    dwin turned. “Angry? Why would I be?”


    Abigail shrugged. “Everything. I mean, aren’t you angry at via for just leaving you like that?”


    dwin shook his head. “No. I’m not angry. She’s the one who should be angry at me for trapping her into a marriage life she tried to avoid. I was too selfish, yet I received such kindness from her.” dwin replied. His eyes stared nkly at the street.


    “What do you mean?” Abigail squinted. Confused.


    A crooked smile formed on dwin’s handsome face. “Six years ago, I left her after hurting her. I decided to distance myself from her even though I knew exactly how she felt about me. I was too cowardly to even promise her anything. Meanwhile, she? She left me with a message that she would return. Isn’t that much better? She made sure that no matter what, she woulde back to me.”


    “So you’ve decided to wait?”


    “Hmm..”


    “You’re not going after her?”


    dwin shook his head again. “I trust her. No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for her. Right now, I imagine via is vacationing in some remote ce where there’s nomunication device to connect us.” He answered, and that was the end of their conversation because they had arrived in front of Abigail’s parents’ house. dwin’s familiar car was already parked there.


    dwin and Abigail walked side by side. As they entered the house, they saw Julie Hampton gently rubbing Phoebe’s back. Her gestures seemed to beforting.


    dwin and Abigail greeted, but neither of them cared to acknowledge or greet Phoebe. They didn’t bother hiding their dislike for her.


    Abigail chose to approach her siblings, while dwin’s steps were halted by his mother’s call just as Abigail’s father returned from his office.


    “Yes, Ma?” dwin responded, returning to his mother and choosing to sit in the farthest chair from his mother and her second wife.


    “How long are you going to keep behaving like this?” His mother asked sharply. dwin raised an eyebrow as he looked at his mother.


    “What do you mean by that? Behaving like what?” He asked, not understanding.


    “How long are you going to keep ignoring Phoebe like this?” His mother sounded annoyed.


    dwin smiled sarcastically. “Ignoring?” he asked cynically. dwin nced between his mother and Phoebe. “Ignoring like how you mean, Mama? I just transferred the monthly allowance yesterday, isn’t that enough?” He said sarcastically.


    His mother sighed. “You know that’s not what I’m asking, dwin,” she scolded him again.


    “What else, Ma? Why do you have to keep meddling in their marital affairs?” Abigail’s father asked wearily. His wife came with a cold drink in her hand, which Abigail’s father epted with a murmured thank you.


    “It’s been a month, and dwin hasn’t even touched Phoebe,” his mother announced with a voice full of frustration. dwin, now the used, chose to lean back, folding his arms across his chest, his right leg resting on his left thigh.


    “And?” dwin asked tly. Rafka and his wife looked at dwin with confusion.


    “You haven’t even visited the house you rented for her,” his mother continued.


    “And?” dwin asked with the same t tone.


    “dwin!” His mother eximed. Her anger was no longer containable.


    dwin stared coldly at his mother. “Ma, let me rify everything. What you want from me is to marry Phoebe and provide for her, right? And I’ve done that for you. I gave her a home, even if it’s just a rented one, and I’ve also fairly given her my sry because I still have to fulfill via’s rights. So what else?”This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    “Touch her? I never promised you that I would touch her, and I never promised to give you grandchildren from her. Never at all. So stop forcing me to do something I don’t like because I’ve already sinned enough by entering into this marriage.”


    “If that’s the case, lessen your sins. Be a full husband to Phoebe,” his mother pleaded.


    “A full husband? Do you mean by sleeping with her?”