Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Did you throw them away?”
“No. I kept them. I have them in a box in my attic.”
“So, my father wasn’t ignoring me all this time?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that. He didn’t make a whole lot of effort beyond the funds he gave me when you were younger and those letters. I know when you went to Korea, he refused to see you, but the more that I think about it, that isn’t the case. He’s surrounded by people who shield him from the outside world. There’s a possibility that he may not know you tried to get in contact with him. So…there’s one more thing.”
“There’s more?” Ethan asked incredulously, unable to believe his mother had been lying to him all this time. He wanted to be angry but he wasn’t sure of what emotion to go with in that moment.
“Yes, shortly after you graduated high school, I received a personal letter from Mr. Park In-woo, your father’s secretary. He said if I ever needed anything I could contact him personally and he gave me his card. I know you wanted to get in contact with your father and I’ve been holding on to the means to talk to him all this time.”
“I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I told myself that I was protecting you. But instead, I was protecting me. You would think after all this time I would be over what he did. I don’t think I have the right to ask your forgiveness, but please know, I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Ethan didn’t know what to say. He wanted to offer his mother words of comfort to let her know that he still loved her no matter what but the words wouldn’t come.
“Ethan, please say something.”
“I’m not sure what to say. Eomma, I think I need to go but I promise I’ll call you later this week.”
“You hate me now, don’t you?” Her voice was shaky, and she sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.
“Of course not, Eomma. I love you. And I mean that. I just need some time to process all this.”
“You promise you don’t hate me?”
“I promise.”
“And you’ll call me?”
“Of course I will. I’m hanging up now. Goodnight.” He clicked off before she could respond.
Ethan walked to the kitchen table and collapsed onto the closest chair. He rested his head in his hands.
He understood why his mother felt the need to keep the information about his father away from him but she knew Ethan had been looking for him. She could have given him Mr. Park’s information and he would have perhaps been able to meet his father when he’d gone to Korea.
She’d allowed him to get his hopes up and said nothing when he’d been crushed. He’d forgive her eventually, but the hurt of her betrayal was raw.
“Ethan, are you okay? What’s the matter? Does your head hurt?” Amina asked entering the kitchen in nothing but a towel.
He’d forgotten about the stupid knot forming on his head.
He raised his head, his eyes stinging with tears.
“Baby, what’s the matter?” she asked.
Ethan pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Just hold me.” He buried his face against her body and broke down.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“What’s this?” Amina stared at the letter Paisley handed her.
The blonde plopped down in the chair across from Amina’s desk. “It’s my letter of resignation.”
Amina’s heart plummeted. In the past few months, she and Paisley had become best friends outside of her relationship with Ethan. They were shopping buddies and called and texted each other regularly.
She’d never had another woman she could confide in like Paisley. Amina was friendly with a few of the nurses at the office, but she wasn’t as close to any of them like she was with the chipper receptionist.
“I don’t understand. Why are you leaving? Is there something I can do to make things better? It’s not Carole is it? She’s been very testy lately.”
Paisley rolled her eyes. “Carole is a miserable human being and there’s no changing that. And to be fair, she’s made me want to quit before, like that time she deliberately ate my donut. I think if you hadn’t fixed the situation I may left that day. But no, I’ve learned not to let her get under my skin.”
“So what’s the issue? The office won’t be the same without you.”
“Well, I never finished my degree because I partied way too much when I went away to college. And since then, I’ve kind of been in limbo. You know my situation, how I’m the only girl in a family full of boys. I admit I’ve been spoiled to death by my dad. He still pays my rent and my credit card bills. Isn’t that kind of pathetic? I’m twenty-six years old, still being supported by her daddy.”