Chapter 16
Mia’s life had always been a whirlwind of uncertainty. When she was younger, Tia Clark, her mother, was often too weak to hold her for long. Tia’s battles with cancer meant frequent stays in the hospital for treatments that could stretch on for months. Each time they said goodbye, Mia feared it would be ages before they could be together again.
This was why Tia Clark resisted conservative treatment options. Despite Simon being the one Mia spent most of her time with, she clung to Tia with an intensity that Tia couldn’t bear to see denied. Mia’s eager yet restrained expression when she was with her mother was heartbreaking.
As a child, Mia would cry out for her mom, but as she grew older, she understood. Mom was sick, and couldn’t always be there to hug her or take her on outings. So Mia became more mature and obedient, never adding to Tia’s burden.
Having such a thoughtful child was exhausting yet a blessing.
In those days, Tia Clark felt devoid of hope. She was deeply moved by Simon’s relentless efforts to save her, yet she couldn’t find the will to live. Cancer devoured Simon’s finances like a greedy beast, and Tia attempted to end her life several times, not wanting to be a burden.
Then Simon brought home a toddler.
The child was tiny, with skin as delicate and soft as rose petals. Even her cries were gentle. Her tiny hands clung tightly to Tia Clark’s fingers. Tia looked at Simon, bewilderment mirrored in their eyes.
“This is my sister’s child,” Simon explained, taking a deep breath, his voice laced with sorrow. “Her husband was in the military and died serving the country. My sister… she couldn’t bear it and followed him.”
“She’s only a year and a half. Let’s raise her together, shall we?”
Tia Clark then learned that Simon, a doctor, had already exhausted his savings on her frequent hospitalizations. Now, her treatments were funded by the inheritance and benefits left by Mia’s parents.
Tia embraced the orphaned child as if she was holding her younger self, tears streaming down her face.
From that moment on, Tia Clark never considered suicide again. Her life now included a little one, as important as Simon, who needed her to grow up. This newfound responsibility anchored her to life.
She loved Mia as fiercely as Mia loved her.
Despite the chill outside, the car felt like a warm haven. Mia, reassured by her mother’s promise, fell asleep contentedly. Tia Clark unwound the scarf from her own neck and spoke softly.
“The man by the lake… that was Nathan, wasn’t it?”
Simon’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. He wanted to deny it, but silence was all he could offer. In that silence, Tia Clark found her answer. She smiled, her expression gentle and serene like willow leaves unfurling in spring. “Simon, what are you afraid of?”
“I…” Simon muttered, focusing on the road. “I’m not.”
“I won’t love him again,” Tia Clark’s voice was light yet unwavering. “Simon, I won’t make the same mistakes over and over.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Simon cursed his own clumsiness with words. In the rearview mirror, he saw Tia Clark’s face, surprisingly serene with the faintest hint of a smile, free of sorrow or reluctance.
“Simon, you’re really quite dense,” Tia Clark’s eyes sparkled, “truly.”
Being called dense out of the blue, Simon couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sweetness. He had to admit he feared Tia Clark might fall for Nathan again, afraid she would be hurt once more.
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Chapter 16
The memory of three years ago haunted him. Seeing Tia Clark lifeless in the lake, Simon had never been more composed. Without her consent, he had canceled her accounts and taken her south.
Now, seeing Nathan again felt like the nightmare’s sequel. Simon clenched his fists; if not for Mia in his arms, he might have confronted Nathan physically.
Tia Clark fell silent after her words, lowering her gaze with a gentle smile, stroking Mia’s rosy, sleeping face.
In three years, Simon had never confessed his feelings. His love for Tia Clark had been long–standing, but awkwardness and Nathan’s interference caused him to miss his chance time and time again. Through countless moments of shared solitude, Simon only wished to protect her, to see her happy.
Regardless of whether Tia Clark loved him or not, being with her and Mia was enough of a blessing for Simon.
Yet at this moment, Simon sensed something in Tia Clark’s indulgent tone that made his heart race uncontrollably, as if anticipating something momentous.
“I…” He was at a loss, stopping the car and opening the back door to reach for the sleeping Mia.
Tia Clark stopped him with a gentle hand, her skin pale as snow, her eyes dark and bright. Smiling, she whispered, “Shh, let’s talk later.”
Tia Clark was neither unfeeling nor unresponsive. Over three years, Simon’s unwavering care had warmed her heart shattered by Nathan. She couldn’t promise anything until her cancer was conquered, but she didn’t intend to keep Simon in limbo forever.
After receiving good news from a recent consultation, Tia Clark made a decision. If she survived the surgery, she would try to entrust her scarred self entirely to Simon.
Love had a peculiar way of blossoming. Tia Clark gazed at the sleepily stirring Mia, gently patting her back.
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
