44 Affairs Later

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and wiped my father clean.

He had come all the way from my hometown to visit Jessie and me. Before the accident, he carried a bag full of local specialties in his hands.

When I arrived at the scene, all I saw was a mess and my father with blood on his face.

This was the first time Jessie had come to the hospital to visit him since the accident.

“Dad, are you feeling better?” She set down the fruit she brought and pretended to be concerned.

I stood up to get some water, refusing to stand beside her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

When I returned, she was holding my father’s hand and thanking him. Her reddened eyes made it look as if she had just cried.

The moment I stepped back into the room, she hurried out again, claiming she had work to do.

My father trembled as he held my hand. His voice was weak. “Forget it. All that matters is that you two live a good life.”

I was confused and assumed he sensed another conflict between Jessie and me.

It was not until I called the police officer handling the case that he said in surprise, “Didn’t you say it was settled? Your father agreed to it himself.”

The veins on my forehead throbbed. Anger shook through my entire body.

I remembered the day Jessie visited. She held her phone tightly to my father’s ear. Everything became clear.

The police officer played a recording of my father’s voice. His expression was helpless. “Your father’s voice and the signed settlement agreement. These cannot be faked. Your family is strange. One moment you want to hold the driver accountable, the next you do not. Your wife has been running around helping him too…”

He stopped himself. I lowered my head and clenched my fists.

Following the procedures, Shane wired the compensation to me. He grinned and leaned close. “In the end, Jessie just cares too much about me. I told her I could afford the compensation, but she still insisted on wiring the money to me later.”

I almost raised my hand.

“Honey!” Jessie suddenly appeared and grabbed my fist.

She glared at Shane and forced her hand into mine. “Honey, let us go back to the hospital to see Dad.”

I was about to speak when Shane interrupted.

He pouted at Jessie. “Ms. Ford, I am in shock and cannot drive. Could you give me a ride home?”

Jessie hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

I let out a short laugh, pulled my hand away, and walked off.

On the way, I received a text from Jessie.

Jessie: [Honey, I will be there in a bit.]

However, she never appeared at the hospital that entire day.

My phone kept ringing. Not wanting to disturb my father, I stepped into the hallway and answered.

It was Jessie.

The moment I picked up, I heard rapid, breathless sounds on the other end.

“Honey, are you wearing the one I bought you?”

“Of course, I am wearing it all over.”

The sounds continued. Each one felt like a needle stabbing into my chest.

I thought I had grown numb to everything. I thought I had let go of all my feelings for Jessie. Yet the wounds I believed had healed tore open again, bleeding freely.

After my father was discharged, he insisted on returning to his hometown.

Only after sending him off did I go home.

When I opened the door, I saw leftovers from several days ago still on the dining table. Every corner of the house made it clear that Jessie had not been home for a long time.

I ignored the moldy food and went straight to my room to pack my luggage.

I had just reached the foyer when the door opened from the outside.

“Who are you? Why did you barge into my son’s house?”