Chapter 10

“Now that the children are back, let’s have one last talk then and get everything off our chests.”

“Lia…” Greg didn’t want Ophelia to go down that topic, but she seemed insistent.

“After finding out you’ve been providing for those two behind my back and had arranged for them to live in another country, there was only disgust left in my heart for you.”

Greg furrowed his eyebrows upon hearing this, but Ophelia continued speaking in a calm tone.

“I tried comforting myself later on, because you’ve had a child with her and they’re still part of your past. It’s your responsibility to provide for them, so I didn’t mind. But how did you make it up to me? You forced Ryan to give up on the girl he liked just so her son could have what he wanted, as per usual.”

“I completely gave up any hope I held for you in my heart since then.”

Ophelia was still rather soft-spoken when saying all this, but it was enough to make Greg’s heart sting.

“Ryan’s marriage ended up in a divorce…because of you. It’s not a stretch to say you were the one who caused all of this. You should know how it feels to marry someone you don’t love, so why did you force your own son to do the same?”

Many women would become extremely tough as soon as they were given the role as a mother. Hence, it was only when mentioning her son’s failed relationship did she somewhat express her resentment towards Greg.

“Are you happy torturing my son like this?”

Greg panickedly denied. “No! I never once wanted to torture Ryan. He’s my son too!”

He then paused slightly to collect himself, then met Ophelia’s gaze with a serious face. “My experience tells me that a relationship can be built, given that you spend enough time together! That’s why I forced Ryan to marry Silvia. I thought he’d fall in love with her with time!”

Logically speaking, Greg had indirectly admitted that he fell for Ophelia long ago, and was once again professing his love for her.

However, Ophelia didn’t seem happy in the slightest. Instead, she chuckled sarcastically and sneered, “So you’re saying you’ve fallen in love with me?”

Greg proceeded to just stand there silently, not denying anything this time.

Suddenly, tears started trickling down Ophelia’s cheeks. Despite that, she spoke in a firm tone.

“What a shame, you’re too late. I’ve lost all the love I once had for you.”

“Greg Pierce, I wouldn’t mind sharing a grave with you when we pass. But while you’re alive, I don’t want to spend even a second with you.”

After that, she turned and left with her luggage.

Greg was so shocked by her harsh words that he felt faint. He supported himself by leaning against the table next to him.

Seeing this, Nora immediately helped her father maintain balance.

Silvia, who had been silent the entire time, was very shocked to hear her mother-in-law's cruel words and to witness how frosty the woman’s expression was. It was only then did she truly believe that Nora was telling her the truth about Ophelia’s decision to divorce.

In all honesty, Silvia never expected her own divorce to affect another's marriage, let alone the marriage between an old couple. Feeling rather guilty, she tried stopping Ophelia, reaching her arm out. “Mother, wai-”

Yet, she realized that she was the last person who should persuade her mother-in-law to stay, as she was the one determined to divorce at the start.

Thus, she could only look helplessly towards Ryan, hoping he could stop her somehow.

However, she was met with a dirty glare instead. Ryan shifted the responsibility onto his sister. “Nora, take Mom to your place for now!”

Ryan was absolutely appalled by his mother’s words. He understood why his mother was so resolute about the divorce, and figured that it would be best for the old couple to separate temporarily for now. At the very least, they needed to calm down.

Nora had her own place, so it was more appropriate for the mother to live with her daughter for the time being. Although Ryan wished for his mother to live with him at first, he realized he was still in a messy situation with Silvia and gave up on that plan.

Receiving his orders, Nora sat her daughter down on the couch and helped her mother with the luggage, leaving straightaway. Greg, on the other hand, was unwilling to let the two go. However, he simply couldn’t do anything about it.

With that, only Silvia, Ryan, and Greg remained in the spacious living room.

The atmosphere was heavy, as Ryan’s relationship with Greg was already quite tense. Now that his mother was persistent in divorcing his father, he obviously wouldn’t look any friendlier by choice.

After some pondering, Silvia decided to break the silence, turning to Greg. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Greg.”

She was the reason Ophelia sought a divorce, after all.

On the other hand, Greg seemed frail as he sighed on the couch. He smiled sadly, shaking his head lightly. “I should be the one apologizing. You’re an amazing girl, and I’ve wronged you.”

The old man seemed to have more to say, but the words were replaced with a long sigh instead.

“It’s alright. I can’t even protect my own marriage, so I can’t do anything about yours. Just do whatever you need to.” He headed upstairs, his demeanor exceedingly lovely.

Greg had always been caring and loving towards Silvia. She was only able to successfully approach and marry Ryan because she had his full support.

Hence, hearing him say that made her feel rather sorrowful as well.

She used to be bold and bright, so much so that she was confident that she could make Ryan fall for her. She even went as far as to promise Greg that she'd make Ryan the happiest man on Earth.

Five years later, she ended up being the one to give up first. Not only did she fail to make Ryan happy, but even her own happiness had been shredded away as time passed.

It was simply natural for her to give up on such an unhappy marriage, especially when both parties held resentment for each other.

Silvia was deep in thought after Greg left. She was too occupied drowning in her sadness, and didn’t realize Ryan’s intense gaze on her.

Once she finally snapped out of her thoughts, she soon realized that they were the only two left in the room.

She never planned to interact with Ryan at all, so she simply avoided his gaze and walked away. However, she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist, as a low growl sounded through her ears.

“Where are you going?”

“That’s none of your business!” Silvia snarled as she tried to struggle out of his grasp.

Her dismissive tone made him even angrier, which made him drag her towards him, forcing her to face him.

At such a close distance, Silvia could see the veins popping out on his forehead. He really was insane; his jaw was clenched as well.

“Are you satisfied now? Look what you’ve done to my family! It’s a mess!”

‘Of course he thinks it’s my fault again,’ she thought.