Alvin was momentarily stunned. Then, with a hint of surprise in his voice, he asked, “You know everything?”
“Thea came to me earlier. She asked if your parents would ept her baby,” I answered honestly.
Alvin fell silent. He must have already guessed my response.
A momentter, he ended the call. I left the hospital soon after.
When Oscar saw me, he did not seem surprised. Instead, he grinned and asked, “Up for a few rounds?”
“Do you know where Benjamin is buried?” I asked.
Oscar’s smile froze. Then, as if testing the waters, he asked, “Why are you asking about that?”
“I want to visit him,” I said frankly.
Oscar studied me with an odd expression.
I did not exin further, nor did I mention that Benjamin’s death was tied to Alvin.
I was certain Oscar did not know the truth–if he did, he would have cut ties with Alvin already.
“Did something happen?” he asked, his tone filled with concern.
I did not answer and simply said, “Just take me there.”
If he was worried, he could apany me.
Seeing that something was off with me, Oscar nodded and took me to Benjamin’s grave.
By sheer coincidence, we saw Benjamin’s parents as soon as we arrived. Even from a distance, we could hear his mother’s wailing–mixed with curses.
I could not make out whom she was cursing, but I had a pretty good idea. It had to be Thea.
It was not the right time for us to approach, so we waited on the side until they left.
As they walked past us, Benjamin’s father supported his frail wife. Both of them looked pale and helpless.
His mother sobbed, and the sound tore at my heart.
They did not even nce at Oscar and me. It was as if, in their world, nothing existed beyond their deceased son.
Oscar watched them walk away and sighed, “Benjamin really left them with nothing but pain.”
His words hit me hard. I tightened my grip and said, “It is not Benjamin’s fault.”
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He would never have willingly left his parents to suffer like this. It was the unbearable betrayal that shattered him, leading to his ident.
“Hm?” Oscar did not seem to understand what I meant.
I did not exin. Instead, I picked up the flowers in my hands and walked toward Benjamin’s grave.
His photo on the tombstone showed him smiling radiantly as if his entire world had been filled with sunshine.
But in reality, he had suffered the cruelest betrayal a man could endure. I could almost imagine the moment his
world crumbled.
“Benjamin, how are you doing over there? Do they have a pool hall? Are you still ying?” Oscar asked.
I remained silent. There was nothing I could say.
Oscar finished speaking and then nced at me. When I did not respond, he spoke on my behalf and shared, “Before you left, every time you saw Zoe, you would ask when she and Alvin were getting married. Well, you do not have to ask anymore. It is not happening. They broke up.”
With that, he fell silent.
I, too, said nothing. I simply stood there, staring at Benjamin’s tombstone.
The longer I looked, the more it felt like his smile had faded, reced by sadness, grief… and even rage.
My heart clenched. I instinctively reached out, but before I could touch the tombstone, someone grabbed my arm. “Zoe, are <i>you </i>okay? Are you feeling dizzy? Are you unwell?” Oscar asked, his voice filled with concern.
“Hm?” I turned to him in confusion.
“You look pale. Just now, you swayed a little–almost fell,” he exined. His words made me pause.
‘Did I?
‘I did not even notice,‘ I thought.
Seeing my state, Oscar led me away. “<i>You </i>shoulde here less often. ces like this are heavy with sorrow. You are already frail–it is not good for you.”
I said nothing.
I was not sure about sorrow, but I did feel unwell. I sent Bryson a message asking for leave and went home.
I slept for a long time–so long that by the time I woke up, the sky had turned dark.
As I stirred, I faintly heard a sound at my door. I got up, walked to the entrance, and opened it.
Outside, there really was someone.
<b>Chapter </b><b>184 </b>