The Ex and Her Riches

Eugene was unperturbed. “His personality, surroundings, experiences, and the pain he’s facing in his young life have already determined who he will be. How can a journal influence any of that?”

Cedrick heard the implicit meaning behind those words. He clenched his fist beneath the sleeve of his military uniform, not deigning to respond.

“A person is known by the company he keeps,” Joshua argued. “Besides, a child is born a blank canvas. If he takes an interest in the things you show him and makes irreparable mistakes because of it, you will cause him harm.”

Eugene scoffed incredulously at Joshua’s accusation.

Cedrick, however, froze at what Joshua said about irreparable mistakes.

He recalled what he had heard in the ward and how certain Benedict had sounded in his childish voice.

“Even if you and Mommy are not mad at him, I’ll teach him a lesson in the future. Getting rid of someone means they won’t be around anymore, right? I just don’t want to see him. I want him to disappear.”

Benedict doesn’t like Charles. He hates him.

He wasn’t joking.

Cedrick felt anxious all of a sudden. He realized he did not know who his five-year-son was anymore.

The more he thought about it, the greater the pain he felt in his heart.

“I’m going back to the ward. I’ll leave this to you.”

Without another word, he turned around and swiftly left.

“Huh? Cedrick?”

out to him, he was already

deal with the strange old

not give Benny any more weird reading material even if he begs

strode back

was a mess during his walk back. His heart, too, was filled with

spending every waking hour of the past couple of years trying to save him.

and Gwendolyn had so many obligations that there were still aspects of raising a child that they

that he realized he had been so occupied with Benedict’s

thought about it, the more uneasy

found himself back

door and saw that Benedict was in bed. The IV drip hanging above him had not

quietly and staring at the foliage outside the window. His frail,

sound of the door being pushed open. When he saw Cedrick, he smiled. “Daddy, you’re back.” Then, he looked up at the drip. “The professor who came to change my medication said there’s only one bottle left for today. You can go deal with work first if you’re busy, Daddy. There’s no need to rush over to spend time with me. I’m already five years

a

son. “Are you worried that I would be annoyed, Benny?”

gaze, looking sorrowful. “I’ve been sick since I

in his heart. “Everybody falls ill,” he said solemnly. “That doesn’t mean

arms, enveloping the

You can cry if you’re sad, make a scene, and throw a tantrum. You shouldn’t have to pretend

his head against Cedrick’s chest. “Making a scene and throwing a tantrum sounds like something Zendy would do, Daddy. I’m a boy.

right to express how they feel, too,” Cedrick said. “You can

him, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Why do you want me to cry so much, Daddy? Do you cry in front of Mommy to gain her

Cedrick’s lips twitched.

for his child disappeared completely as a result of

what your mother does. She always pulls that tactic when she wants to apologize to me,

wide, innocent smile.