Where Mountains and Seas Never Cross

"After this, they can be good sons and grandsons for him."

So, that was her true purpose!

Anger surged through me, my entire body trembling. Before I could say anything, Wanda suddenly dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

But she was not alone. One by one, my son and grandsons gathered around her.

"Dad, Mr. Collins has already suffered so much. He has no family, no children."

"We’re only changing our surname to give him some comfort in his final moments."

"Grandpa, Dad is right."

"Mr. Collins has been very kind to us. He even wrote us into his will, leaving us his family property."

"Even if we change our surname, we’re still your grandsons."

"It’s not such a big deal."

"Yes, Grandpa. Nowadays, many people take their mother’s surname."

"Besides, Grandma has already remarried. It’s only reasonable for us to follow her lead."

"And if it matters that much, we can always change it back after the funeral."

Listening to their words, I felt that I struggled to breathe.

My son… My grandsons… They were the people I had poured my entire life into.

Lucas was born after a difficult labor. I carried him down five flights of stairs, rushing him to the special care unit. Along the way, my head struck a corner, leaving my face bloodied, but I did not stop.

Xavion was once chased by a rabid dog. I threw myself in front of him, fighting off two mad dogs with nothing but my bare hands. The injuries left me bedridden for three months.

And Xavier struggled with severe asthma as a child. It was I who braved the treacherous mountains, risking life and limb to gather rare herbs to treat his condition.

***

The more I thought about it, the colder my heart grew and the angrier I became.

"If you still want me to agree, it will have to be over my dead body!"

Seeing that her words could not move me, Wanda’s gaze turned steely. Without a word, she grabbed my arm and dragged me to the fire escape outside.

"Ethan, since you’re so stubborn, there’s no point in hiding it from you anymore."

"No matter whether you agree or not, the children should bear Collins as their surname. Not Mitchell."

I was beyond shocked. "You... what are you trying to say?!"

She remained calm as she said, "Do you remember our first Christmas after getting married?"

"Well, I wasn’t on a business trip. I was in Estoria with Luigi."

"Luigi and I stayed in a hotel for three days. We didn’t take any protections... and I got pregnant when I returned."

"So, Lucas is not your child at all, but I lied."

"In case you didn’t believe me, I took Lucas for a paternity test yesterday. See for yourself."

She pulled a folded document from her bag and handed it to me.

My hands trembled as I took the paper from her. Slowly, I unfolded and turned it until they landed on the last page.

The results were clear and completely aligned with her words.

In an instant, my mind was buzzing and my heart felt as if it had turned to ash.

The overwhelming sorrow hit me like a raging storm, tearing through my fragile heart. The pain spread deep within, reaching the deepest places inside me.

I clutched my chest as a sharp ache radiated through it and I sank to the ground.

"Ethan? What's wrong? Ethan!"

Wanda’s voice grew distant in my ears and her words faded further and further away.

My vision blurred, the world dissolving into darkness as consciousness slipped away.

After a moment of dizziness, I finally opened my eyes.

I looked up and found myself back on my wedding day.

Wanda stood across me in her wedding dress, looking incredibly beautiful.

The host’s voice boomed through the room with enthusiasm. "The painted brows are as graceful as the green mountains and the knot they tie today binds two hearts as one. These rings symbolize their love and their hope for a bright future together."

"Next, they will exchange rings as a promise to stay with each other for a lifetime."

The hotel lobby erupted into thunderous applause.

Wanda raised her head and the moment I caught the complicated look in her eyes, I understood everything.

She had been reborn, too.

Under the expectant gaze of everyone around us, she suddenly threw the ring onto the ground.

Then, she said, "I'm sorry to say this, but I cannot go through with this marriage."