Chapter 8
One night, two months later, I received a call from Gareth Baxton. Remembering his generosity during our divorce, I decided to
answer.
He held back tears on the other end for a long time before finally saying, “Lyn, I miss you.”
I replied nonchalantly, “You’ve had too much to drink,” and hung up.
Later, one day, Noah Baxton came to see me alone. His hair was a mess, like it hadn’t been tended to for ages. He said, “Mom, could you come to my parent–teacher
meeting? Everyone else has their mom there, only I have Dad.”
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Chapter 8
I looked at him silently for a long time, remembering the last time I went and ended up being harshly criticized by him.
Noah Baxton lowered his head in shame and apologized, “Mom, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that! Please, come back.”
He pleaded with me, timidly reaching his hand towards mine, but I pulled away.
Sighing, I said, “I think you have the right to know, your dad and I are divorced. You’re with your dad now.”
I added, “This is what you wanted.”
He burst into tears, and in the end, I called Gareth Baxton to come and take him away.
After being detached from society for ten
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years, I slowly began to adjust. I applied for a position as an art teacher at a school for young girls, considering I had once won the national art competition.
The long–abandoned skill of painting became more familiar again as I taught the girls each day.
In the village school, the requirements weren’t high. Before I arrived, there was no art teacher.
I still remember the principal’s troubled expression, “Miss Jones, your art is exceptional, but our school can’t afford an art teacher.”
I understood, so I offered, “I don’t need a salary, just a meal when I have class.”
The principal gratefully and eagerly
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accepted.
My days passed slowly, but each day was lighter and happier than any in those ten
years.
With the passing of seasons, I heard from a friend that after Gareth Baxton and I divorced, Daisy Morgan frequently sought him out. Initially, he showed no interest.
However, over time, the two openly became a couple.
But Daisy Morgan wasn’t like me; she didn’t do any housework and quit her job, lazing around at home every day.
Gareth Baxton, having to clean the house and cook after work each day, couldn’t take it for long and ended up hitting Daisy Morgan.
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Yet, Daisy Morgan wasn’t to be
underestimated; she wasn’t as fragile as she looked. She reported him to the police.
Since Gareth and Daisy weren’t legally married, the police detained Gareth Baxton for assault.
When he returned home from the holding cell, the place was a mess, and Daisy Morgan had taken all the valuables.
Only Noah Baxton was there, feverish and neglected in a small room.
The doctor said if he’d been brought in any later, the fever could have caused lasting damage.
Naturally, I wasn’t concerned about any of this. It was just something my friend mentioned, and I listened.
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Finally, my friend cautiously asked, “Noah Baxton is still in the hospital. Do you want to visit him?”
I shook my head with a smile, “No.”
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