Chapter 56

56 56. Father-in-law

William parked his car and ran impatiently along his father-in-law’s yard towards the main door. He knocked on the door with mixed feelings. Anxious.

The door was opened by a middle-aged man who looked a bit sleepy.

“Oh, William? What brings you here at this time?” asked Robert in amazement, mixed with disdain for his son-in-law.

“Dad, is Paula here? Can I take her home?” William bombarded his father-in-law with a barrage of questions.

“Come on, come in! Sit down first.” Robert took William into the living room and asked the maid to serve hot drinks and cakes to calm his son-in-law down before answering all the questions.

“Enjoy the cake and tea first,” Robert said with a friendly laugh, but it seemed forced. William half-heartedly finished a large slice of that red velvet cake despite being stuffed. He felt bad if he had to fight his father-in-law just for a trivial matter.

After the last bite of cake and a sip of his tea, William opened his mouth, “So, is Paula still mad at me?”

“Paula doesn’t get angry, William. She is just trying to understand your situation. She just wants you to live as if you didn’t know her,” Robert explained, bearing the pain in his heart. Nevertheless, he was a father who tried to support his daughter’s decision. He didn’t want to interfere in Paula’s business. “Paula accepts your anger and disappointment with her.”

“Anger? Disappointment? What does that mean?” William asked, confused. His forehead wrinkled. When did he get angry and disappointed with Paula?

.....

‘Wasn’t the last time we saw ... Paula finding those damn pills?’

“Hmm?” Robert’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know, William. Paula just told me that you were upset and angry with her.”

Of course, what Robert knew was the first version of Paula’s story. When she left after a drunken William vented his anger on her.

William could only look at his father-in-law in bewilderment. He couldn’t understand what his father-in-law meant. Did Paula make up a story?

Robert exhaled and cleared his throat. “Well, I can’t meddle in your business. You two know best what’s going on, right?”

“I believe this is a misunderstanding!” William insisted that Paula made up the story. He still didn’t understand what his father-in-law was talking about. “I have to talk to Paula myself!”

“Paula ....” Robert fell silent. He exhaled as he stared intently at William. The middle-aged man lightly patted William’s right shoulder and said, “Paula left for Japan yesterday afternoon. There are company matters to be resolved there!”

Seeing William’s pale face at the news, Robert could only sigh in resignation. His experience of life was enough to make him understand what happened. However, he also understood that educating youngsters was different from dictating to them.

“Oh, she called me this morning. She told me that the bathtub there is very small. It doesn’t fit her,” Robert said to dissolve the tension, laughing out loud. He tried to act funny to lighten the mood.

However, William remained frozen, unable to smile at all. The fact that Paula had gone so far as to leave him without saying goodbye hurt him so much. He was heartbroken.

This time, the heartache was completely different than what William had ever experienced. So painful. It hurt so much more than when he found out that Lea was getting back at him by spending the night with Dave. Many misunderstandings were not communicated properly. Paula had decided everything unilaterally. Hurt was an understatement.

However, what did William expect from Paula? She had helped him and Lea to get his parents’ consent. Of course, no wonder Paula chose to leave him immediately.

If only he had said love to her earlier, would Paula have gone anyway? Would she choose to stay?

“Paula didn’t say anything about . . . ” William said after a moment. However, he was unsure how to discuss it with his in-laws.

“About what?” asked Robert in curiosity.

“It’s ... about ....” William’s face turned beet red. He wanted to ask whether Paula told her dad about their passionate night days ago. “Ah, nothing! Forget it!”

As time went on, William’s face grew redder, making Robert want to laugh even more. Fortunately, he was quite good at restraining himself.

“William, I just wanted to tell you. Be a responsible gentleman! Don’t be wishy-washy!” The meaningful statement conveyed by Robert certainly had such a deep meaning. It was hard for William to do that this time. “Oh, you don’t have to worry, Paula is a strong woman. This kind of problem will not ruin her life.”

William’s eyes glazed with tears. Unexpectedly, he had a father-in-law as good as Robert who accepted all the imperfections of the household he built with his daughter. Perhaps, Paula’s big heart was indeed something she had inherited from her father.

“Thank you, dad! You are the kindest father-in-law I could ever wish for.”

“Hohoho, who said that? I wanted to punch you in the face from the first time I saw you,” Robert replied with a playful face. However, this made William shudder in horror. “Well, if I hadn’t made a promise to Paula, you would have been badly beaten by now.”

Robert’s laughter grew even louder and filled the room. William smiled wryly because his feelings were getting worse. Sure enough. Which father would accept gracefully if his daughter is treated like that? If William were in Robert’s shoes, he would not let his daughter be treated unfairly.

“Don’t worry! Paula doesn’t need a man like you. She married you because I promised her some money for her start-up. I regret marrying her to you,” Robert added sarcastically.

William’s confidence collapsed for a moment. Only for a moment.

“In the past maybe I didn’t deserve Paula. However, I will prove that I will be the man who can make her the happiest in this world,” William answered with a firm look.

“Aren’t you the one who wants a divorce?”

“No! I’m not divorcing Paula.”

Robert was silent. He sighed softly, looking at William doubtfully.

“She is divorcing you, no matter what.”