The Winter Of the Past

When I got home, Charles was taking a rest in my bed. Caleb was leaping on the clothes that I had sorted out with his shoes on. Besides, he had also torn apart the books I had arranged on the table.

When they saw me come in, they did not react much. Instead, Charles slowly got up to scold Caleb for making a mess when they found Layla walking into the room.

“Please don’t be mad, Zayn. I’m very dizzy today, so Layla helped me get here to rest.”

Layla also spoke up for Charles. “There are only two rooms in the house. Of course, you can’t let him sleep in my room…”

“Just go ahead.” I turned and stared at Layla indifferently. I would not be bothered if Layla had asked Charles to go into her room. On the contrary, I was bothered by what they had done instead.

Layla was stunned for a while. It looked like she was trying to ponder what I had said.

On the other hand, Charles feigned weakness and apologized to me.

I sneered. “Apologizing is useless, since the damage is done.” I walked over and pulled that brat down from my books. Then, I raised my hand slightly.

Layla immediately rushed over to push me aside and shielded Caleb securely. She sounded anxious. “He’s just a kid. Don’t be mad at him.”

“I caused this. I shouldn’t have rashly come back with Layla to rest. Just vent your anger on me. Caleb is naughty because he lost his mother when he was very young…”

Charles did what he always did during his former life. He always mentioned the thing Layla cared about the most.

He claimed that the child was pitiful and always reminded Layla about what her best friend had entrusted to her before she had passed away.

In the past, I felt sorry for Layla for being brainwashed. I would argue with Charles.

“He isn’t an orphan! You’re his father! Why do you keep saying this to control Layla?”

I assumed that my words would knock some sense into Layla. But she slapped me as her face sank.

“Zayn MacQuoid, are you done?!” After several rounds of this, she blamed it all on me.

Our feelings for each other also gradually subsided.

I stayed calm when I found Charles playing tricks on me again. I bent over and started cleaning up the messy room. Layla’s abrupt push made me accidentally stagger and hurt my hands. They were swollen.

“Mm, you guys are right. I shouldn’t be mad at a child.”

Layla pursed her lips. “That wasn’t what I meant…”

Before she could finish talking, Caleb cried loudly in her arms and distracted her.

Charles kept comforting the helpless Layla.

“It’s fine. He’s just scared. He’s always been timid…”

Timid? If he were timid, he would not make a mess in another person’s house.

While talking, they went to the living room.

I rubbed my aching back and kept sorting out my things. I helped Layla’s parents with their farm work when I was staying there. My body could not take it because I lacked stamina.

It seemed that I had to go on morning runs to train my body. I did not want to see my body collapse before I went abroad. I started dwelling on different kinds of things.

At that time, Layla came in with some ointment.

“I acted rashly. I thought you wanted to beat the child up. I’m sorry.”

My hands stiffened while holding the books. She was apologizing to me, which was unprecedented.

I was surprised.

In my previous life, Layla was arrogant and overbearing. She never felt that she had done anything wrong. On the contrary, she was proud of taking care of her deceased best friend’s husband and son. She found herself a nice person who kept her promise. But she always sacrificed my interests to be a nice person herself.

“Are Dad and Mom doing okay?”

Awkwardness overcame us. So, she tried to talk to me.

“They’re fine,” I replied simply and ignored her attempt to apply the ointment on me. She leaned over and asked about our marriage.

“Let’s get married once I graduate. Stop overthinking. Just focus on the present.”

She wanted to say more but Caleb started crying outside again.

“I want Ms. Freeman! I want her!”

“Caleb, I’ll leave you if you keep causing trouble!” Although Charles said so, he kept looking at Layla and me.

He cracked a satisfying and smug smile when Layla exited my room to pacify Caleb.