Chapter 26
“Is it too late to take that back?”
Calista grinned as she pulled away from the hug “Too late. Now you owe me an
explanation”
With that, she walked into the bedroom to grab the ointment.
As she carefully tended to Henry’s injury, she listened to him recount a chapter of their
hared past.
For a brief period, it turned out, Henry and Calista had been neighbors. But back then, Henry’s health had been fragile, confining him to his room most days.
“I used to sit by the window and watch you playing outside,” Henry began. I wanted so badly to join in, but my mom was too protective. She wouldn’t let me step outside.”
COne day, I cracked the window open, just a little, and I saw you standing below, picking up
a leaf.”
“When you noticed me, you smiled and handed it to me through the window.”
The memory stirred something in Calista, and her expression softened. “I remember that. It really happened, didn’t it?”
A second later, her brows arched in surprise. “Wait, Henry–don’t tell me you fell for me
because of a leaf?”
Henry chuckled, looking sheepish. “I guess I’m easy to please.”
His smile faded as his tone grew more serious. “Later, when my dad got transferred, I begged my parents to take you in after I heard about your family’s struggles. But I was too
late.”
“If only they had adopted you back then,” he murmured. “At least you could’ve been spared
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much pain.”
Calista reached out and pinched his cheek gently, making him blink in surprise
Any hardship I went through was worth it,” she said softly. “Because in the end, I have
you.”
Henry’s face lit up with a grin. “You always know how to make me happy, wifey.”
Without warning, he swept her off her feet.
Startled and blushing, Calista squirmed in his arms. “Henry! What are you doing? It’s the middle of the day!”
Meanwhile, Ken found himself roughly shoved into a car by the estate’s security team and dropped off at home under strict orders to stay put.
When Uncle Johnson heard about the incident, his temper flared.
“Ken, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Yesterday should’ve been your wedding day with Viola, and you were nowhere to be found!”
“She’s been crying nonstop, and if I hadn’t managed to delay the ceremony, the Browns would’ve cut ties with us by now!”
Ken slumped against the wall, drained. “Dad… Calista got married. To Henry. You knew,
didn’t you?”
Uncle Johnson sighed heavily. “I told you to stay out of their business.”
Ken’s fists clenched as bitterness surged. “Am I even your son, or is Henry?”
Uncle Johnson rolled his eyes in frustration. “When Calista was in love with you, what did you do about it? Nothing.”
“And now, when you’re on the verge of marrying someone else, she’s already moved on. So stop talking nonsense and focus on your life.”
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He gestured firmly toward Ken. “You’re staying home tomorrow, no exceptions. Understood?”
“Why?” Ken asked flatly, though he already suspected the answer.
Uncle Johnson rubbed his temples. “Because tomorrow’s your wedding day. Everyone. important will be there, and if you screw this up, there’ll be consequences.”
Marriage. The word felt heavy, suffocating. Ken knew that trying to argue would get him nowhere, so he stayed silent, letting the bitter thoughts churn inside.
