After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 44

As I walked out of the cemetery, I saw someone I hadn't expected—my dad. Jackson must have gone to see him, which is how he found out about my mom's camera. He must have also known that I was back.

With a somewhat tentative tone, he asked, "Have you eaten?"

I didn't respond immediately and asked, "What do you want from me?"

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Could you come home for a while?"

I couldn't hold back a sarcastic laugh. "You've always told me to stay away. I've followed your wishes, so why now, all of a sudden, do you want me to return?" His voice trembled as he said, "... Your sister is ill. She has cancer."

I froze for a moment, taken aback.

"I've tried everything... we've sold everything we can. You're her sister. Could you help her?"

His face was full of sorrow and regret.

"I know you resent me, but it wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't my choice to push you away..."

His eyes were filled with pain. "You're my daughter. How could I ever bear to send you away? I had my reasons."

was a tangled mess of misunderstandings. "I know," I said, not

letter, I'd been so happy, eager to tell him that I was going to follow in my mother's footsteps and become a doctor. I rushed home, hoping to share the good news,

will be going to college soon too. How are we going

already raised her to

either her or me

and ran out, sitting on the street alone for the rest of the afternoon. That entire summer, I

when the time came for me to report to college, I thought I had everything figured out. It felt like a

so you sacrificed me. No matter how much it hurt,

but I interrupted, "I

you're not a terrible father, but

reached for my phone and transferred 300,000 yuan to him. Over the years, he'd sent money into my account from time to time, and I had saved it all, planning to repay him when

back the money you gave me. The rest... let it be my

"Please, don't come looking

the restaurant, I felt a wave of lightness wash over me. All the burdens that had weighed heavily on my heart seemed to lift and disappear, one by

found myself at the flower shop where Joseph had once bought my mother the bird-of-paradise flowers. The owner recognized me, but the shop was

are you moving these

closing down! I want to try something

a moment. "Well,

of the valley, hyacinths, and olive branches, and wrapped them into a bouquet for me. "May we all embrace new