Ten years later...
Edwards had just woken up after a night he had been busy with his children's chores, making up a story about a vacation with the family. Because his children always cry when discussing family, Edwards finally made up the story himself.
This morning he was ready to take a bath and take care of his two children, who are still in school and are still very spoiled. He showered with lightning-fast movements, put on modest clothes and chose to walk straight to his children's room.
"Queen... Qabel.. let's wake up, child, it's noon, and you have to go to school." Edwards gently patted his two children's cheeks one by one. They even looked reluctant to get up in a hurry, still hugging each other's bolsters. Instead of getting up, they covered their ears so they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Are you sure? You don't want to wake up? Even though today you will be accompanied by Aunt Lita." Hearing Lita's words, the two children immediately got up from their beds and smiled sweetly.
"Daddy. Right? Mommy Lita will take us both to school?" Queen asked first. Her stunning and adorable eyes made Edwards chuckle.
"Aunt Lita, not Mommy .." Edward said, correcting his daughter, who seemed to really want Lita to be her mother.
"Ish! Daddy.. she's my Mommy, she's going to be Mommy... Okay? I'll take a shower. It would be fun to play with Mommy Lita." Queen had gotten out of bed and hurried towards the bathroom.
"Queen! Don't run!" Edwards cried out in exasperation because his daughter was very active.
"Dad? Aunt Lita will take us to school? Together with Daddy too?" Asked Qabel, Edwards' son, who was still sitting on his bed and had no intention of rushing to take a shower.
"Yeah, why? you're not happy?" Edwards asked.
"Not unhappy, I'm certainly happy. Because I can see a happy Queen can be in a complete family, I'm just asking. Thank you, Daddy. You always fulfil our wishes." Qabel hugged his father, Edwards, who felt the hug could only hug him back and sighed softly.
"I'm sorry—Daddy, who until now has not been able to marry a woman to be your mother. I don't think there is a woman who deserves to replace your biological mother. I'm sorry, son." Edward said guiltily.
"It's okay, Daddy, I understand. Then I will prepare Queen's school clothes. Daddy just came downstairs to prepare food for us." Qabel said again, and Edwards immediately nodded in understanding. He let go of the hug from his son, then he chose to get up and out of his children's room.
Edwards did an excellent job as a father. He kept his promise to Choon-hee to take good care of their children. From when their two children were born until they were ten years old, Edwards never took his eyes off them.
He gave the Douglas Company to Daniel at that time with a heavy heart. Edwards asked to see Daniel and told the man he was fit enough to run the Company. Daniel, who had been thirsty for his brother's attention, immediately felt sad and happy at the same time. He promised Edwards that the Company would remain the property of Edwards and his children in the future because Daniel would not be greedy like Mrs Anne. She only wanted the Douglas family property.
Edwards believed. He really believed in Daniel. And during these ten years, Daniel also ran the Company well. He occasionally asked Edwards what steps he should take in managing the Company. Edwards only helped as needed.
Edward distanced himself from modern life in the big city, choosing to live in coastal Italy. Yes... He lives where his wife last breathed. Edwards didn't want to leave the place because it had a lot of memories, even if only sad ones. But Edwards knew that one day there would be a lot of happiness covering the sadness.
He had arrived in the kitchen and started to pack lunches for his children. Several maids had already cooked their breakfast. Edwards' job was to prepare the lunches and put them in his two children's bags. Edwards only wants the best. That's why he always makes sure his kids eat healthy food. They also constantly check their health with the doctor because Edwards doesn't want to have a deadly disease that his child suffers from.
Understandably, Edwards was quite traumatized. Choon-hee's death makes him very wary of bodily ailments. He did not want to lose his two children, nor did he want to die when the children were still small.
Who will look after the children? If Edwards left first. He even asked God again that God should not take his life before his children could live and find their food. Edwards still owns a lot of shares in several companies, but still. The money he holds can't keep his kids happy and safe. He didn't want his children to feel lonely and sad, as Edwards had always felt.
"Where's the strawberry milk for Queen? I think you forgot, hurry up. The child will cry if his favourite milk is not brought." Edwards said to one of the maids who forgot something important. The maid immediately nodded and chose to make strawberry milk as usual.
Edwards sighed. For a moment, he looked at the window that gave a view of the sea that morning, calm and peaceful. He could only look at all of this without a warm hug from his wife. In part of Edwards' heart, he wondered, was his wife in heaven happy to see that now Edwards was taking care of their child well? It's possible... Edwards wished for something like that.
"This, sir, Miss Queen's strawberry milk," said the maid.
"Oh yes! Thank you." Edwards put the milk in the bag after ensuring everything was in order. He immediately took the two bags belonging to his child to the family room.
When he got there, he saw doctor Lita who was playing a game on her cellphone. "Hi Lita, you came very early. Thank you for taking your time." Edward said in a low voice.
"Hey Edwards, I have plenty of time for the next two weeks. I'm tired of working all the time, so I have to take some precious time off on vacation. It's fun being with your kids. Are they still showering?" Lita put her cell phone in her bag and focused on seeing Edwards' face, which was getting increasingly tired by the day.
"Yes, they are still bathing. You help me a lot. When you get married and have children, you are already 35 but still busy working. Money will not run out if you choose to take a few months vacations." Edwards laughed softly. One of the maids brought hot tea in front of them. Edwards could smell the familiar aroma of tea.
"Where did you get this tea?" Edwards asked.
"In a hotel, New Zealand... Choon-hee once said you like this scented tea, which the hotel provided when you were on vacation. So I brought it all here. Drink it. At least it can cure your homesickness." Lita said in a beautiful voice. Edwards drank what Lita gave him.
He took a slow sip of the tea and took a deep breath of its aroma. "He tells you a lot of things, doesn't she? Even every year, you always bring her the letter she wrote while she was sick." Edward said again, indeed all this time. For the past ten years, Doctor Lita had stopped by this house with a letter from Choon-hee.
In the letter that his wife wrote when she met Lita's doctor, Choon-hee said she wanted to send a letter to Edwards and his children every year. She gave all the letters she wrote to doctor Lita, and doctor Lita gave letters everything every year.
Choon-hee wanted Edwards to feel not alone all this time. She wanted Edwards to know that Choon-hee would always accompany her husband at all times. Yes... Even if it's only in the form of a small letter which may not be too much help.
"She also wrote me a letter telling me what you liked and what you didn't like. She said I should accompany you in difficult times as a good friend even though Choon-hee and I are not close at the same time. I have loved her so much as a big sister for a long time. She is so amazing. She always does anything to make you happy. I am lucky to know her, and I am lucky to know you. This is.. the last letter she gave for this year. She felt that ten years is enough to accompany you. She feels that your children are grown and can give you warmth. She also said to me. It's time for you to move on and find a new woman. For the happiness of your children." Lita took out a letter and a long black box, a box that was probably only the palm of an adult's hand.
"This... The last letter and gift from her, happy wedding anniversary Edwards. Choon-hee said." Lita said in a low tone. Edwards accepted both things with trembling hands, even though Edwards wanted to forget that today was her and Choon-hee's wedding day. Exactly ten years ago, they got married. Edwards had no idea that Choon-hee would ask Lita to say all the things that were quite hurtful to her right now.
"Thank you, Lita. Did you come here because you wanted to give me time? Thank you very much. I'll leave the children to you." Edwards briefly wiped the trail of tears that had unconsciously flowed out. Lita just smiled and nodded in understanding.
"We're friends, Edwards. I always know what you need. Your kids and I will give you the best time. I'll take your children out to eat and take a walk after school, and you can linger on your wife's memory. Don't hesitate to ask for help, okay?" Lita took Edwards' hand, then she took her bag and chose to approach Edwards' two children, who were still bathing. Don't forget Lita also took the two kids' bags, letting Edwards have some private time to reminisce about Choon-Hee.
Yes... Remembering his wife's death.