I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Stella kept wiping her tears away, feeling it was all so tragic. She ached for her granddaughter, so young and already without her parents by her side. Little Lucky, wise beyond her years, reached out her tiny hand to wipe her grandmother’s tears, her innocent voice questioning, “Grandma, why are you crying?” She didn’t understand the reason for the tears.

Though she couldn’t fully express herself yet, one-year-old Little Lucky was developing exceptionally well compared to other children her age, both in language and mobility. Holding Little Lucky close, Stella tried to compose herself, her eyes red as she watched a video of Terrence and said, “Son, you see, this is your daughter with Meredith, poor Rowan.”

Little Lucky glanced at the video and shook her head, her voice milky as she corrected, “That’s grandpa, not daddy.” This statement only deepened Stella’s sorrow. The earnest correction on Little Lucky’s face hurt Terrence deeply; his own daughter did not recognize him, mistaking him for a grandfather because of his white hair.

Unable to hold back his emotions, Terrence ended the video call. As he set down his phone, tears slid down his face. A man in his thirties, he cried bitterly, his sobs filled with repression, pain, guilt, and remorse for what he felt he owed his daughter. It was only in solitude that he could weep uninhibitedly.

Master Emerson, standing at the doorway, heard the crying but chose not to enter, instead closing his eyes and praying silently, “Amitabha Buddha.”

…

In Ravenwood, it took a while for Stella to calm her emotions, with Little Lucky staying by her side, quietly sitting. Little Lucky did not understand why her grandmother was crying. Julian, arriving home and noticing the atmosphere, asked, “What happened? Stella, why are you crying?”

Stella replied, “I just video-called our son. Rowan doesn’t even recognize him anymore. Our son’s hair has turned completely white overnight, you can imagine the pain in his heart.” Stella was heartbroken for her son; when she had visited him at Park Bridge Mountain previously, his hair wasn’t nearly as white. Now, seeing his own daughter mistakenly call him grandfather was too much to bear.

“Did Terry agree to take the call?” Julian was surprised and regretted not returning home sooner. After the family crisis, Julian had taken on the responsibility of supporting Grandma Sterling and stabilizing the internal chaos at Sterling Corporation after Terrence’s departure.

Stella, wiping her tears, looked at the adorable Little Lucky and said, “If he doesn’t come back soon, Rowan will grow up. He’s missing these moments with her, and he’ll never get them back. How could Terry be so heartless?” Hearing this, Little Lucky, barely understanding, asked in her childish voice, “Grandma, doesn’t daddy want Rowan?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Such words from a child not yet one and a half years old, so clearly expressed, twisted Stella’s and Julian’s hearts even more. Stella hugged Little Lucky and reassured, “No, daddy hasn’t abandoned Rowan. He’ll be back soon.”

Little Lucky innocently asked, “What about mommy?” She too wanted her mommy. At the amusement park, all the other kids had their mommies, but she only had Aunt Azure and grandma for company. Azure often visited to make up for Meredith’s absence in Little Lucky’s life.

Stella and Julian were at a loss for words; Little Lucky hadn’t asked such questions before. Just then, Azure’s voice came from outside, “Rowan.” Having finished her classes, she still wanted to check on Little Lucky and had come by.

“Aunt Azure,” Little Lucky’s face brightened as she ran towards Azure, who lifted her into a warm embrace. Azure had been a frequent visitor over the past six months, and Stella had gradually overcome her reservations about her.

Azure teased her, “Rowan, I’ve missed you so much. Did you miss me?” Little Lucky nodded seriously, her earnest expression warming hearts. However, her next utterance made Azure’s smile freeze.

“I want mommy,” Little Lucky murmured, her voice dropping, her mood turning somber as she snuggled into Azure’s arms, seemingly on the verge of tears.