A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"It doesn't matter," Jacob replied. His voice had a cold and flat tone, so Emily couldn't tell whether he was angry or not. Instead of dragging the conversation, she decided not to say anything more.

Beryl's eyes were red and swollen. Clear watery snot streaked from her flaring nostrils, down her red mottled skin and to her open quivering lips. She stretched out her arms towards Jacob and said, "Handsome uncle, I need a hug."

Jacob's aching heart was relieved by her affection, as he moved closer and hugged the little cute girl in his arms. Surprisingly Emily didn't stop either of them, and just watched silently from the side. Perhaps she didn't say anything because she felt guilty for treating Jacob rudely, or maybe she felt very happy to see Jacob and Beryl getting along with each other so nicely.

Beryl wrapped her arms around Jacob's neck happily and whispered in his ears, "Sorry, handsome uncle. I made Mommy scold you."

Beryl thought that she was to blame for what had happened because if she had explained to her mother clearly, maybe Emily wouldn't have lashed out at Jacob like that. Burdened with a guilty conscience, Beryl lowered her head and waited for Jacob's forgiveness.

Jacob's heart melted like butter on hot toast at the sight of Beryl's apologetic face. Not only did he forgive her, he had long forgotten about the harsh words Emily had said to him.

With a warm smile on his face, Jacob brushed his hand through Beryl's hair and said, "It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Thank you, handsome uncle! You are so nice!" Beryl smiled at him happily and rested her head on his shoulders.

Beryl's words threw Jacob into deep thoughts. Was he really a nice man?

All he did was brought her outside to play for one day, and that was enough for her to think he was a good man? Beryl had no idea that, as her father, he should have been there by her side since the day she was born. He didn't fulfill his fatherly duties, nor did he give her the love she deserved to have as a child. He had left her with an incomplete childhood.

Moreover, he even tried to force her mother to give her up and take away her chance to see this world.

Was he really a good father? Not by any means. If anything, he was the most irresponsible father in the world.

Jacob eventually understood why Emily was so nervous and disapproving of him. It was because after all this time, even before Beryl was born, he had done nothing for the good of the child.

Jacob was overcome with grief when he realized that he had failed to be a good father to Beryl. While he was wallowing in self-pity, suddenly, a soft and tender kiss landed on his face. Stunned, he froze for a while before he realized that Beryl had kissed him and was staring at him with an innocent smile.

"Don't be sad," Beryl comforted him with her lovely voice. "It was not your fault," she pointed at Emily quietly and continued, "Mommy always overreacts to everything."

"Your Mommy was just worried about you." Jacob found her so adorable that he wanted to spoil her, but he knew that he had to perform his duty as a responsible father, so he turned his smile into a stern face and said, "You should try to be an obedient child, and you should always listen to your Mommy, okay?"

listened to Jacob. The most perfect feeling she had ever known had swept through her. For some

leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck. There was an

if... As if she was leaning on

of love, that was albeit, foreign to her, and yet comforting in ways she

he held Beryl in his arms and continued, "Now that we are in a hospital, I would like to have a

left them both in a moment

any need for it?" "I don't want to put Beryl through

know, you didn't do anything wrong to me four years ago," Jacob explained, as his voice trembled. He felt helpless for not being able to explain the truth to Emily and let her come back

for what happened four

I had known the truth at that time, I would have still made the same decision!" Jacob

Beryl, nor did

leave, before she said, "Just

air. His head hung low, as he helplessly watched them walk away and gradually disappear. The happiness in his

know the truth? Did she not love me anymore?' Jacob thought bitterly.

agonized incessantly as

anything wrong

off her thoughts, Emily took a deep breath and tried hard to control her emotion. She drove back home as quickly as she could with Beryl

anxious. "Miss Cloris! Beryl! Oh, thank god you

still muddled, lost in deep thoughts over Jacob's words, and she failed to notice Zoe's unusual

again because

Emily

supper. She was furious at Jacob, but she was also disappointed with Beryl for going out with a stranger without telling her. To teach Beryl a lesson, Emily ignored

quiet and finished her meal on her own. Hoping to earn Emily's forgiveness, Beryl also put away the dishes after she finished her meal and sat quietly in the living room.

broke the silence by asking Beryl to come and stand in front of her. She held Beryl's hands tenderly and looked

wanted to make handsome uncle buy me one more piece of strawberry cake,

was so worried about you? Did you think it was funny to see Mommy feel

and raised her voice, "You didn't give me the chance to explain, and you didn't even listen to handsome uncle. You just