âFocus on your work.â Abel chuckled. âIâm also taking risks here; I might end up back in the pre-
liberation cra.â
âI have mixed feelings. Emmeline furrowed her brow. Itâs really frustrating.â
âDonât worry about me,â Abel said. âYou being okay is enough to reassure me.â
When they returned home, Kimberly was still busy in the kitchen, and Maxwell had also returned.
âIs it me or have you lost some weight?â Maxwell asked Abel, and they exchanged a pack of cigarettes.
âIâm constantly out in the market, no time to rest,â Abel said.
âHow are the results?â Dad inquired again.
âDad,â Emmeline chimed in. âAbel is planning to make a big change and become a big boss!â
âWhat do you mean?â Maxwell furrowed his brow.
âAbel plans to take over a factory and start a parts company.â
Maxwellâs frown deepened. âAbel, I brought you out when you were in your teens. For you to achieve your current level isnât easy. You canât mess around!â
âDonât worry, Uncle Maxwell. I know what Iâm doing.â
âWhat youâre doing now is good enough,â Maxwell said. Find a wife in the coming year and have a child; live a good life, and Iâll be reassured.â
Find a wife and have a child⦠Abel thought. Should my goal be that simple?
âAbel, why didnât you tell us you were coming home?â Kimberly came out. âI would have made taquitos for you!â
âIâll come home when I feel like having taquitos,â Abel replied. âIs the medicine prescribed by the doctor at City Hospital working well for you, Aunt Kimberly?â
âIt helps a bit; I can get some intermittent sleep,â she said.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Kimberly opened the door as their neighbor, Ms. Maggie, breezed in.
âThe young man from last time, Albus, is at my house right now, and he brought a bunch of gifts with him, saying heâs here to see Emma.â
âWhy would he?!â Emmeline was immediately angry. âWe barely met, and he thinks he can just come over?!â
âEmma, when you were out last time, I had a chat with him,â Kimberly explained. âHeâs a nice guy, and his parents are actually your dad and my wedding witnesses!â
âWhat does that have to do with me?â Emmeline pouted. âI donât want to see him!â
âYou child. I told him he could come over for tea sometime.â
âDonât drag me into your decisions!â Emmeline was on the verge of tears.
âEmma, please listenâ¦â Abel felt a pang in his heart and tried to hold back his sadness.
âYouâre out of your mind!â Emmelineâs tears welled up in her eyes. âIf you want to see him, see him.
yourself!â
She opened the door and rushed out, running down the stairs with heavy steps.
âEmma!â Abel hurriedly followed, catching up to her in a few large strides and grabbing her arm.
âLet go of me!â Emmeline was furious. âYou want me to meet that guy? Donât you find it disgusting?â
âEmma, Aunt Kimberly has poor health!â Abel furrowed his brows. âDonât upset her.â
Emmeline instantly lost her composure. She went blank momentarily, then crouched down and burst into tears. She wasnât afraid to meet that inexplicable person, but she was genuinely afraid of her motherâs mental state.
âListen, you should let your mom calm down first.â Abel crouched beside her, holding onto her trembling shoulders.
Emmeline looked up with teary eyes. âTell me, what should I do?â
âFirst, go back home.â
âBut, Abel.â Emmeline furrowed her brows. âI canât bear to meet that guy. Can you?â
Abel fell silent.
âAbel!â Emmeline became anxious.
âOf course, I canât!â Abel finally admitted.
âIn that case, I wonât go back!â
âEmma, listen to me.â Abel looked into her eyes.
âOkay.â Emmeline nodded, sensing that something wasnât right.
âThe senior doctor at City Hospital said Mom might have schizophrenia, and she canât handle any stress.â Abelâs gaze became somewhat melancholic.
âYouâre lying to me!â Emmeline stood up abruptly. âYou only said that to make me go back, didnât you?
Youâre lying to me, arenât you?â
âEmma.â Abelâs expression was earnest. âhave I ever lied to you? You know my feelings. You meeting someone else feels like a stab in my heart, but right now. Iâm worried about Aunt Kimberly!â
Emmeline felt a sense of unease. She nodded. âAlright, Iâll go back. I donât want anything to happen to Mom!â