After fifteen minutes of straight lectures from the children's parents, none of their words ever entered Karen's ears. All she focused on were how Chen Mu supported Susu and never felt embarrassed by her even when she was an amateur at dancing. Her eyes then landed on Lin Que who accepted Lily's arrogant attitude and mischievousness without a second thought to it. 'How could they be so lucky?'
As her eyes swept across the empty space next to her, she thought of how Tian Yuo had left her by herself at such crucial moments. Whenever she needed or wanted him to stand up for her, he failed to do so. Even when he made a move, he was not powerful or strong enough to last to the very end.
In the past, she thought that he was a great man who could help her achieve her goals and hurt Susu. Now, she is even farther away from bullying Susu. Now, even breathing one breath of air near Susu became suffocating for her to endure. Karen watched as Susu and Lily walked away with their lovers hugging them.
She really envied them. If she had met Chen Mu or Lin Que first, maybe it would be her in their arms now. She could have gotten everything she had ever wanted, but she chose a broken lamp as a backup. What is the use of having a lamp that had a pretty package, but wouldn't function well? Tian Yuo is no longer a safe chess to use, and she needs to figure out a plan to find an even more powerful man to support her.
Maybe Lin Que is out of reach, but Chen Mu seemed easier to get. Since Susu could have him, she could too. There is no man who could accept their girlfriend cheating and she was great at these set ups. 'Just need to wait for the right time..hehe..'
Meanwhile, at a certain bar, Tian Yuo drank multiple shots as bitterness spread deep inside of him when he saw loving couples acting intimate with each other. He managed to get home by himself, but he didn't remember how. When he saw his mother on the couch, he curled up in a fetus position on the couch and hid his face in shame on her lap like he would as a child whenever he encountered something upsetting.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she patted his back. The alcohol scent was so strong that she almost wanted to send him upstairs to his room. Even though she said she wouldn't care about what he does from then and on, he was still her child. Seeing him like this is not what she wanted.
"Mom, did I make a mistake?" Though his face was away from her, she could feel the heat of his tears onto her pants. She rubbed his back and sighed, "Are you referring to Susu?"
He could only let out a "Mmm," as a response as he felt a heavy lump in his throat. "Son, I've told you many times that she was a good girl and even tried countless ways to keep her back then. But you... you were too slow to realize how great she is. We all knew she was a good girl and very compatible with our family. What else can mother say now that you've already divorced?"
"But I...mom, it really hurts." He sniffled and wiped his tears with his hands. "I know, but have you thought of how hurt she must have felt when you did all that? Think about it. You were her first man, first love, first everything, but you also broke her heart. If you didn't do what you've done and listened to me way back, maybe there would still be a chance between you two."
"Mom, what should I do? Would she ever come back?" he knew the answer already, but refused to accept it.
"What do you expect me to say? I'm not going to lie to you. If you came home like this, it means you probably saw her with another guy. She's probably very happy right now. Happier than she ever was when with you and you realized it. You want her back now, but ask yourself, do you really love her? Or just a part of you feels bad for losing something so special?"
She continued, "Son, mom has thought a lot recently. I've forced my way to keep her in our house and even become our family. We've let her down over and over again. I didn't even realize how badly we've hurt her until I've sat down and thought of how funny my words were. I said I treated her as my daughter, but I really used her to fulfill my selfishness. She was so great that I wished to keep her for only us and especially you. I never asked if that was what she wanted and never once thought of how she must have felt when I guilt trapped her."
"But.." He tried to find ways to go against her words.
"Let me ask you this. Did she look happier with that man? Much happier than the past?"
He nodded.
"Was she smiling for herself from pure joy and not just showing off a fake smile?"
He nodded.
"Then does that man make her happier than when she was with you?"
He reluctantly nodded.
"Sigh, you know...there is your answer right there. You could have had everything with her, but your time had been up. If time could be reversed, then people wouldn't learn to cherish one another. Now that she is happier with someone else, who cherishes her and she loves him back, you need to learn to let go. If you realized these years ago, no, even a year ago, you would've had your own children with her by now."
Her words were straightforward and aimed at his fragile heart, but it was the exact words that he needed. He needed someone to wake him up and stop his jealousy from spreading. He wanted to let her go like how she did to him when he acted with such arrogance. This was the closure that he needed for himself.
"I can only look at her from afar..." he mumbled as he fell asleep on her lap.
Finally, after a while of having mixed emotions, Tian Yuo figured out his feelings for Susu. Unfortunately, it was too late. Too late to mend any damages and already too late to even have the right to say that he loves her.