âHow did this happen, Ysabel?â Emmeline looked shocked.
âMy husband did this to me with a whip.â
âWhy would he treat you like this?â Emmeline widened her eyes. This is domestic violence!
âHe ignores his work, doesnât take responsibility, and canât stand criticism. Living with a man like him is exhausting.
âFor the sake of my child. I have to worry about everything, work non-stop, support the family, raise the child, and even support him.â
Emmeline took a deep breath and stood up involuntarily. âWhy are you still with him?â
Im preparing for a divorce. Iâve had enough. If this continues, Iâll have to sacrifice my whole life for him.â
At that, Ysabel whispered in Emmelineâs car, âIâm going to marry Mr. Sayer. I want to find my own happiness!â
Her eyes suddenly lit up, filled with anticipation of getting Emmelineâs blessing.
Emmeline remained silent, feeling that Ysabelâs actions were destroying someone elseâs family. But Ysabel.
driven by love, seemed oblivious to the consequences.
A few days later, Emmeline returned home from work in the afternoon and heard the sound of a puppy.
To her surprise, there was a white little Bichon Frise on the sofa.
Emmeline had always loved animals and immediately put down her handbag to pick up the little puppy and cradled it in her arms. The warm, fluffy sensation made her heart melt instantly.
âMom, where did this puppy come from? Itâs so cute!â
âAbel sent it.â
âOh? When did he do that?â
âAbout half an hour ago.â
âWhy didnât he stay for dinner?â
âI asked him the same thing, but he said there was still work to be done at the factory, so he left.â
Emmeline buried her head in the puppyâs fur and murmured, âTell me, why didnât Abel wait for me?
Doesnât he know that I miss him?â
Little did she know that after putting down the puppy. Abel had driven to the corner of the elementary school.
At 5:25 p.m., after making the prearranged phone call to Emmeline, he didnât leave. Instead, he waited for her, watching her as she left the school and boarded the bus. He followed her in his car, watching her get off the bus, walk through the community garden, and return home step by step. Only then did he drive away.
Emmeline had no idea that almost every afternoon, Abel would rehearse this process.
Love, yet keeping a safe distance, the heart-wrenching feeling was something only he knew.
Monday morning. Josephâs wife paid another visit to the school.
This time, Ysabel couldnât escape her wrath. She was pinned down by the womanâs large body and received dozens of hard slaps.
Joseph arrived and pulled his wife away, delivering a resounding slap to her face.
Even with a woman weighing nearly 200 pounds, it didnât stop her from spinning in place. She fell to the ground with a screeching howl.
Students and teachers crowded the hallway, observing the commotion.
Joseph lifted Ysabel off the ground, and in full view of everyone, they pushed through the crowd and left.
There was a mix of sympathy and commentary from the onlookers.
âAnother real-life Rhett Butler.â
âAt least heâs a man whoâs willing to take responsibility âDoesnât Joseph know that his wifeâs uncle works in the education department? He might be sabotaging himself.
âThis doesnât seem like the seven-year itch but more like a 200-pound dilemma.â
âHahaha!â
Josephâs wife continued to shout from the ground, Joseph Sayer, you b*stard! I wonât let you get away with this!â
In fact, within a couple of days, the school principal had a meeting with Joseph and Ysabel.
For the time being, Joseph was still allowed to work, while Ysabel was granted an extended leave.
With just a few more days until the summer break, the school was bustling with preparations, including renovating the playground and planning to lay green synthetic turf on the running track.
Teachers and students were busy with final exams, and Josephâs incident slowly faded into the background.
The little Bichon Frise that Abel sent grew significantly in just a week, becoming chubby and adorable.
Emmeline named it âSeal.â
Her mother asked, âWhy would you name such a tiny dog âSealâ?â
Emmeline replied, âYou just havenât noticed. Look at those round, gleaming eyes, the small black nose, and that expression. Doesnât it resemble a seal?â
After a closer look, her mother agreed.
Sealâs presence not only comforted Emmelineâs heart but also intensified her longing for Abel.
Several times, she held Seal in her arms, and tears would well up in her eyes.
âAbel, Abel!â Emmelineâs yearning for him had become overwhelming.