C187 I will Find My Way Back

Kelvin and Tracy remained seated in the quiet living room. Neither of them had the appetite to touch the dinner that had been prepared. Kelvin leaned back against the sofa and sighed deeply. "Wife..." "What have we done?" His voice sounded tired. "When did our family become like this?" "Everything seems to be falling apart."

Tracy reached over and held his hand. "We've all made mistakes." She smiled weakly. "But rushing to fix everything tonight won't help." She paused before continuing. "Let's give the children time." "They've all been carrying heavy burdens." "When everyone has calmed down..." "...we'll sit together and talk properly." Kelvin slowly nodded. Then another thought crossed his mind. "That marriage contract..." "I still don't understand it." "I've never heard of such a thing." "Yet Samantha and Ben both spoke about it as though it had always existed."

Tracy frowned. "I noticed something else." "When Ben introduced Natalie..." "Sarah and Samantha weren't surprised at all." "They behaved as though they already knew." Kelvin rubbed his forehead. "Exactly." "It feels like everyone knows something..." "...except us." He looked upstairs. "So many things have happened right under our noses." "And we didn't notice any of them." Tracy sighed. "I only hope..." "...it's not too late to put this family back together."

The two slowly stood up. The dinner on the table remained untouched as they quietly returned to their bedroom. Inside Samantha's bedroom... The room was dimly lit. Monica slept peacefully on the bed, completely unaware of the storm surrounding her family. Samantha sat quietly beside her daughter. She gently stroked Monica's tiny hand. A faint smile appeared before disappearing almost immediately. "So..." "Just as I expected."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "It seems..." "...from now on..." "It'll only be you and me." She looked lovingly at her daughter. "And perhaps..." "...your Aunt Sarah." Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She wasn't crying because Ben had found another woman. She had already accepted that possibility long ago. What hurt was realizing that he had returned home without asking about Monica even once. Not until she reminded him.

As a mother... That pain was impossible to describe. A soft knock wasn't heard. Instead... The bedroom door slowly opened. Sarah walked inside quietly. The moment she saw Samantha crying again, her own heart ached. Without saying anything, she hurried over and hugged her tightly. "Sis..." "I thought we made a promise." She smiled sadly. "You promised me you wouldn't cry anymore." "We already cried enough this afternoon." "Please..." "Don't cry again."

Samantha hugged her back tightly. "Sarah..." "Thank you." "For always being here." "For never leaving me alone." Sarah smiled warmly. "You don't have to thank me." "We're sisters." "And besides..." "I know Mom and Dad." "They'll never allow you and Monica to be abandoned." She gently wiped Samantha's tears away. "And if my brother has truly moved on..." "...then perhaps that's also your chance."

Samantha looked at her. "My chance?" Sarah nodded. "If he's really chosen Natalie..." "Then he's finally let go of you." "That means..." "You're free too." "You deserve someone who will love you properly." Samantha couldn't help smiling. "You always know exactly what to say." Sarah laughed softly. "I learned from Chris." "He always knew how to comfort people." That sentence made both of them laugh quietly.

The atmosphere in Samantha's room gradually became lighter. Sarah sat beside her on the bed while Monica slept peacefully between them. After a moment of silence, Samantha slowly stretched Sarah's legs and gently rubbed her ankles. She smiled bitterly. "Pregnancy is really a strange journey." Sarah looked down at her swollen feet with sympathy. "My feet have become so swollen, and I was only sitting in the office the whole day." "I never imagined pregnancy could make your feet swell this much."

Samantha gently held Sarah's ankle and examined it. "Your ankles are swollen because your body is retaining more fluid. Your mother once told me it becomes common during pregnancy." Sarah nodded. "Sometimes they feel so heavy that even walking becomes difficult." Samantha smiled warmly. "Then don't stand for too long. When you get home from work, raise your feet on a pillow. It helps reduce the swelling."

Sarah chuckled. "Listen to you." "You sound like an experienced mother already." Sarah laughed as she instinctively touched her own stomach. "But don't worry, I've been reading every pregnancy book I can find." "I don't want to make mistakes." She lowered her voice. "Sometimes I get scared too." "What if I don't become a good mother?" Samantha gently squeezed her hand. "You will." "You already care this much before your baby is even born." "That alone makes you a wonderful mother."

Sarah smiled gratefully. "I hope our children grow up together." "So they'll always have someone beside them." Samantha looked at the sleeping Monica before smiling. "I hope so too." "They'll probably become best friends." The two women smiled as they quietly watched Monica sleeping peacefully. Meanwhile... Inside Ben's bedroom. The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing. Ben lay beside Natalie after the two had shared an intimate moment.

Natalie rested her head against his chest before speaking softly. "Honey..." Ben looked down at her. "What is it?" She hesitated. "You're no longer working at the company..." "How are we going to build our own family?" "How will we raise our future children?" Ben looked at her for several seconds before smiling. "So..." "You'll leave me because I'm unemployed?"

Natalie's eyes widened immediately. "What?" "No!" "You know that's not what I meant." She quickly held his hand. "I love you." "Whether you're rich or poor..." "I'll still stay with you." "I'm only worried about our future." "I don't want you carrying everything alone." Ben's expression softened. He gently stroked her hair. "You don't have to worry." "I'm still one of the company's major shareholders." "The dividends alone are enough for us to live comfortably." "And besides..." He smiled confidently. "I'm Ben Wood." "I'll find my way back."

Natalie finally smiled with relief. "I believe you." Ben reached for his wallet on the bedside table. He counted several notes before placing them into Natalie's hand. "I'm sorry." "You came here and didn't even get to eat dinner." "Go buy yourself something nice." "And perhaps fix your hair before you go home." Natalie looked down. Five hundred dollars. Her eyes immediately brightened. "Thank you, Honey." She carefully folded the money and placed it inside her handbag.