Chapter 3

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Mom and I chatted happily about our lives together over the past six years. Millie had been sitting on Grandma’s lap without getting off. I guess she wouldn’t have to worry about Grandma not liking her anymore.

At this moment, there was a loud knock on the door. No, to be precise, it was the sound of a door being smashed, accompanied by a loud lady’s voice,

“Melanda, damn it, is that you? Are you back?”

Oh, it was my lovely best friend. Mandy was here.

Just as I opened the door, she rushed in like a gust of wind. She was too fast for me to react. Both of us fell to the ground.

Millie burst into tears. She thought her mother had been attacked. It seemed so.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Melanda. I was so emotional.”

I took Mandy’s arm away and struggled to my feet. “I know, honey. How are you?”

“Don’t talk about me first. Where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you call me? Did I do something wrong to make you angry?” After she asked a lot of questions in one breath, she finally remembered Millie, who was still crying. She widened her eyes and asked, “You have a daughter? You didn’t tell me!”

“Why don’t you two sit down? I’ll get you something to drink.” Mom interrupted Mandy’s interrogation.

I took Millie in my arms and comforted her.

“Baby, it’s okay. This is Mom’s best friend, Aunt Mandy.”

“Hello, Aunt Mandy.” Millie slowly calmed down. Although she was not completely at ease, she still obediently greeted Mandy.

“Hi, Millie. I’m sorry, baby. I scared you. I missed your mom so much. You’re so beautiful. You have big eyes and long eyelashes. You look like a princess.”

Mandy looked Millie up and down and suddenly frowned. Her eyes darted around and she looked thoughtful.

Mom brought us milk tea and took Millie to play.

“Alright, can you tell me what happened now?”

I sighed and decided to tell her the truth. Because this was my deal with Mandy. We shared everything. We had no secrets from each other. This was why I left without saying goodbye in the first place. Because I couldn’t lie to her.

I, not knowing where to begin, look at Mandy apologetically. I could only imagine how distraught she had been over the past six years.

“Melanda, please, tell me quickly. There are ten thousand thoughts in my head right now. Millie looks so much like him. Tell me what’s going on.”

Right. I hadn’t forgotten that Mandy was the only person who knew about my feelings for Mike.

I nodded heavily. “You are right, darling. This is his child.”

Mandy’s eyes widened but she didn’t say anything. I knew she was shocked and I knew she was expecting me to continue.

“It was the night of our graduation party. Do you remember Mike fighting?” Seeing Mandy nod eagerly, I continued. “You asked me to stay and take care of Mike. He seemed so helpless and sad. I wiped his wounds, and suddenly, he grabbed me and pressed me to the bed. Even after drinking, he was still so strong that I couldn’t break free. He started to kiss me, and as he did, he silently cried. You know I’ve always liked him. How could I bear to see him cry? My defenses started to crumble. I gave in. I wanted him to see me and love me. He was my first love! But after we were done, he suddenly said, ‘You can go out now. We’re done, Jenny.’ After the sweetness of anticipation, I suddenly heard these words and my world fell apart. My heart broke.”

Hearing this, Mandy gripped my hand tightly and looked at me with grief and pity.

I took a deep breath and continued. “That night, I bolted the door and found out shortly after that I was pregnant. I was terrified. I didn’t know how to tell Mom, you, and Mike. I didn’t want you to think I did it on purpose, to get Mike and force him to marry me. Frankly, it was all my fault. I could have stopped it, but I didn’t, because I loved him so much. I did something I thought was right for everyone. It was hard, but I don’t regret anything that happened,” I told her while wiping my tears away. She was sobbing too. Then she grabbed me and hugged me tightly.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone that night to deal with those people. You should have told me, so that I wouldn’t have misunderstood you. I would have helped you. I’m sorry for letting you suffer so much alone.”

“I didn’t want to hide it from you either, Mandy. I’m sorry. But I’m very good now. You see, Millie is also very good. I even got FB’s acceptance notice!”

“Really? That’s great. FB has always been your dream. I knew you could do it!” Mandy was genuinely happy for me. “So what are you going to do next? You know I mean Millie.”

“I don’t know, honey. I don’t know if he will accept Millie, but I hope he can recognize her himself. I don’t want him to feel pressured at all. He might already have a life of his own. I don’t want to disturb him,” I said with a frown.

“He has a girlfriend he’s dating, but I really don’t like that girlfriend of his. You know, he never had good taste in choosing a girlfriend.” At the mention of Mike’s new girlfriend, Mandy frowned.

“You’d better not interfere, dear. Please promise me. I believe in God. He has his own plans. I hope he remembers what happened that night and recognizes his daughter.”

Even though Mandy thought it was a terrible idea, at my request, she agreed..