After the fiasco, the atmosphere at Abner Olson's place was somewhat off-kilter, mainly because so many people wanted his contact information. It was so disruptive that one classmate joked, "Are we assembling a soccer team with all the people coming to see Abner tonight?"

"Is this what being an adult is like? So straightforward. Love it."

The classmate's comment lightened the mood considerably.

However, Abner was visibly downcast. He had lied earlier about Shirley returning abroad to throw Mark off the scent. In reality, Shirley hadn't been in touch for ages.

A wave of panic washed over him, a fear of being left behind.

Could Shirley be over him?

His heart tightened, and his grip on his beer can intensified, leading to a sharp pang of pain and a warm sensation in his eyes.

An hour later, when the party wrapped up, Abner grabbed a cab back to his apartment complex and from a distance, spotted Shirley. His heart leaped, but as he started to approach, he noticed a middle-aged man standing beside her.

"Shirley, if I hadn't made a trip to Mark's firm, I wouldn't have known you two had split up so long ago. Don't tell me it wasn't because of Abner?"

Shirley had rushed back from overseas just to celebrate Abner's birthday. She hadn't even set foot in her house before her father cornered her. She was exhausted.

"Dad, Abner's doing great in school, he's top of his class now. Mr. James even said he's a promising student who's bound to get into Solstice College. Please, stop being prejudiced against him."

"Enough! If it wasn't for him, would you and Mark have broken up? After I left Mark's company, he kept calling, trying to feel out the situation. I can tell he's not over you. Go talk to him, aim to settle your marriage within six months."

Shirley, suitcase in hand, was physically and emotionally drained.

Hearing this, her headache intensified, probably due to overwork and lack of familial support, which was wearing on her spirit.

"Can't you just stop interfering?"

visibly changed Mr. Davis's

hand and slapped her across the

her cheek and

over, positioning himself between Shirley and

been hit before, and now, over

snapped, and she remained silent,

He intended to apologize, but upon seeing Abner, he knew this

to be smaller, not as tall

"So you're Abner?"

already known the man's identity, Abner

furrow with unwelcome thoughts. "Are you about to be

almost ending, and he'd be a senior

can't stay

inappropriate. Move out.

jovenet

to support you, making it seem like she's raising

"Dad!"

angry, grabbing

me while I was abroad. You were hardly a father when I was growing up, leaving mom to handle everything. Now, you suddenly want to dictate my life? You have no right. Don't bother us anymore, and there's no

you have no say in

by Shirley, Abner felt a warmth in his heart and instinctively

truly scared

around her, and

hard, picturing her in all his future

it was like losing

to earn her praise, and her proud

Davis, trembling with rage, pointed at

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