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?”

Joshua called out to him, he was already out of sight

forced to deal with the

more weird reading material even if he begs you for them. If my darling nephew grows

back to the

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

couple of years trying to save him. They spoiled

Gwendolyn had so many obligations that there were still

was only on that day that he realized he had been so occupied with Benedict’s physical

thought about it,

himself back at

was in bed. The IV drip hanging above him had not

at the foliage outside

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

Cedrick a prickling sensation in

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

been sick since I was born.

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

into his arms, enveloping the boy in a father’s vast,

can be yourself and laugh out loud in front of me and Mommy, Benny. You can cry if you’re sad, make a scene, and throw a tantrum. You shouldn’t have to pretend and be serious like an adult. Mommy and I will never abandon you. Even if you never get better,

father’s embrace, Benedict nestled his head against Cedrick’s chest. “Making a scene and throwing a

said. “You can cry in front of me,

want me to cry so much, Daddy? Do you cry in front of

Cedrick’s lips twitched.

had just felt for his child disappeared completely as a result of those

silent for a long time before correcting his son, “Says who? I’ve never shed a tear to gain sympathy. That’s what your mother does. She always pulls that tactic when

wide, innocent smile.