Beyond the Divorce

There was a moment of silence, and I anxiously gripped the phone in my hand. Truth be told, I had been afraid that Anson wouldn't pick up or would say something hurtful. In many ways, I had been lying to Millard before.

But this call was real. There had been no prior communication, and I wasn't sure if Anson would understand my hints.

Anson's silence made me incredibly nervous. I just wanted Millard to receive affirmation from Anson in his last moments. Once again, I was betting on Anson's kindness.

But I didn't expect Anson to react like this. After a brief pause, he immediately said, "Millard? Did you really find him? Where is he?"

"Dad, listen, Millard wants to talk to you," I said, switching the phone to speaker mode and holding it up to Millard's mouth.

On the phone, Anson called out again. "Millard?"

Millard seemed to gain some strength, as if he had been injected with a stimulant. "Dad... I'm sorry. Dad, I was wrong."

weak voice traversed time and space, reaching Anson's side, who seemed excited and anxious. "Is that really you, Millard? What happened

I was wrong. In my next life, I... I'll be your son

He looked at me with a smile, then tilted his head to

talking. "What happened to you? Millard... Millard, where are

outstretched hand and said, "Anson, he... he's no longer with us. He was brave to the end

asked, suddenly seeming to realize something. He sighed

to you. It was

he repented in the end. I'm glad you're safe. Come back and tell me everything." Then, he hung up, but I could still hear the regret in his

phone

breathed his last. No matter how cruel and ruthless he was, his last smile was like that of a kind

had called in overnight,