Chapter 3Sunshine and Rain

Jensen’s face, which had held a trace of guilt, instantly hardened. He shielded Kate behind him, watching me warily. “Summer Jiang, Kate has depression, and you still dare to hit her? Are you insane?”

I ignored his reprimand, my gaze fixed on Kate. “You’d better watch your mouth, or I’ll hit you again.”

Kate whimpered, sounding wronged. “Summer, darling, faking illness really isn’t right. Is this how you raise your children? No wonder Jensen says you’ve ruined them… I, I won’t say anything else.”

I lunged to slap her again, but she darted behind Jensen. I looked at Jensen. “Do you also think Leo and Luna were faking?”

He remained silent. I looked around the house, seeing no sign of the children. He asked, with a dismissive air, “Where have you dragged them off to now?”

He truly didn’t believe me. If only he had come home, he would have seen the table covered with the children’s medications and medical records. But he hadn’t come home, not once.

I remembered how, after learning they didn’t have much time left, my children had wanted our family to be together, to see the legendary ocean. I had pleaded with Jensen, even kneeling and bumping my head on the floor. In the end, I had clung to his trousers, promising him that this one time, I wouldn’t bother him again. I would set him free.

At the time, he had paused, looking down at me from above. His eyes held both joy and a strange complexity. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” I slowly closed my eyes, tears streaming down.

My grandfather had saved his grandfather’s life, so we were betrothed since childhood. When I came of age, my grandfather asked if I still wished to marry Jensen. I nodded, saying yes. Because from a young age, I had loved this legendary prodigy, this unattainable figure. My grandfather arranged the wedding. It was my affirmation that forced him to watch Kate leave the country.

On our wedding day, he ran away for Kate. I became the laughingstock of the city. Jensen’s grandfather was so enraged he ended up in the hospital, then forced Jensen to apologize to me and register our marriage.

He dodged it. Turning around, he warned me, “This is all you’re getting. I won’t marry you legally.”

“I won’t let Kate be ‘the other woman.’”

Neither the position of his wife nor his unconditional love. He reserved it all for Kate.

Kate, because of me and the children, had delayed accepting Jensen’s proposal. I was willing to give him up. Why wouldn’t he spend one last time with his children? He didn’t have to like me, but they were his children too. How could he be so heartless towards Leo and Luna?

I gave Jensen a look of profound disappointment. I used to think his features were like a painting; now, I found them repulsive. Jensen was about to say something, but Kate interrupted him with a whiny complaint. “My face hurts so much. Is it swollen, Jensen?”