Broken Chains, New Beginning

Then, I suddenly remembered that that day was the day my mother was cremated.

I explained the whole story and completed the discharge procedures early.

The attending physician was worried, but could not persuade me to leave, so he offered to accompany me.

When the staff handed me the urn, the devastation I expected never came. Instead, I felt a shackle that had bound me for ten years finally break free.

I let out a soft sigh, bid farewell to the doctor and returned to the Bradley Family alone to pack my things.

As soon as I walked into the living room, I saw Nadine and Julius sitting on the sofa.

Seeing me come back, Nadine hurriedly zipped up her skirt. But the red marks all over her body still revealed the intensity of the battle just then.

I was not sad, nor angry.

As if I saw nothing, I walked into the bedroom with an expressionless face.

As I came out, Julius had already left, only Nadine was left sitting there drinking.

Seeing me come out, she slowly raised her head. The dim light shone on her face and no expression could be seen as she asked, “Alvaro, where did you go today?”

“It's none of your business.”

I did not want to say more, but Nadine suddenly smashed the wine glass.

She strode up to me and yelled, “Why are you pretending to be so pure and innocent? Don’t think I don’t know that you're fooling around with that pretty girl.

“Alvaro, can’t you bear the loneliness? Are you blaming me for ignoring you during this period of time? If so, I will help you!”

As she said that, Nadine roughly tore off my clothes and pulled my hand towards the bed.

I was taken aback by her actions.

Struggling hard, I said, “Nadine, are you crazy? I just had the surgery!”

Nadine, lost in her fury, refused to listen and sank her teeth into my shoulder.

I shoved her away with force and slapped her.

Enraged, Nadine would not back down. She grabbed a wine glass from the table and hurled it at me.

The glass shattered with a loud crash and a thin trickle of blood slowly trailed down my forehead.

For a moment, Nadine froze, her rage replaced by shock as she instinctively reached out to support me.

I stumbled back a few steps and tried to speak, “Why don’t you know how to hide…."

But my body could not hold on and I fell down.

I did not know how long it was before I was woken up by the quarrel between Nadine and Mr. Bradley.

I realized that I was back in the hospital.

Seeing that I woke up, Mr. Bradley seemed relieved. 

But Nadine looked at Mr. Bradley with displeasure as she said, “This is the good husband you picked for me, leaving the children to go out on a date with a vixen.

Mr. Bradley was so angry that he was shaking all over as he scolded, “What date? Do you know what Alvaro did yesterday…."

“Grandpa,” I interrupted Mr. Bradley. “It’s all over.”