Sweet Twins Indulge in Daddy's Love

Nancy wouldn't come to Ethan for no reason.

Even after all this time, he still held a torch for her. These flames he held closely, untouched and unsullied by time and distance. Under the dark cloak of night, his embers burned brighter in ardent longing, singeing his flesh until his body was charred from the inside.

On nights such as this, Ethan felt as if no one else understood what anguish truly meant.

The darkness would pass on-the silent spectator that looked on without any offering of reprieve. When sunlight flooded his eyes, it was once again the hour to gather his remains and assemble whatever fragments he could salvage.

The days went by as such. Ethan trudged forward in this limbo, no longer knowing the difference between living and death.

His every breath was a condemnation.

"My father's birthday is coming tomorrow. He wants to see you. Would you come?" Nancy asked tentatively, her round eyes peering up at Ethan in uncertainty.

If not for Clark, she wouldn't have come to disturb Ethan.

It was time. Ethan had held off the inevitable long enough. One decisive cut was better than the pain of slow incisions. She hoped that Ethan could finally move forward and take a step towards forgetting. "Of course. I haven't seen your father in a long time. What gift should I give him?" Ethan accepted the invitation.

"Just you coming there would be more than enough," Nancy said happily, brightening at his response.

"Right. I remember that he likes drinking Longjing tea. I'll bring him some tomorrow."

"Okay. Then, I'll go now." Nancy stood up and went to the door. Before she closed the door behind her, she lingered for a moment and said sincerely, "Thank you, Ethan." "You know that I don't want to hear that!" Ethan declared, faking annoyance.

Nancy smiled at him again, and then shrugged and closed the door.

The door clicked shut, and Ethan's smile disappeared. He closed his eyes against the sharp pain that flashed through his chest.

Enough was enough. He poured the wine of misery and stitched his wounds up every day, the sting raw without any anesthetic.

It was time. The lesions wounds never closed if he kept picking at his scars.

The next day, Nancy dressed up early. She kissed her mother goodbye and told Nadia to take good care of Jade. She then asked Doris to take her to the Peacock Hotel.

The hotel was medium-sized, and the elegant set-up brought out a posh atmosphere, giving the room an air of exclusivity.

There were only a handful of guests. Aside from the family members, Doris and Ethan were also invited.

"Hasn't my brother-in-law arrived yet?" Fannie asked regretfully.

The "brother-in-law" she was referring to was none other than Charles.

"No, not yet," Nancy replied in a small voice.

"Is that so? What a pity. Dad is waiting for you." Fannie feigned disappointment.

"Pity? Why? Are you interested?" Doris cut in coldly.

She had no plans of showing Fannie even the slightest courtesy. She didn't deserve it.

"I... What are you talking about?" Fannie denied.

"Oh, nothing. It's just, you kept on asking about him, so I assumed you were interested." Doris smiled at Fannie, but there was a cold glint in her eyes. Then she turned to Nancy and continued, "Great party, Nancy. I think you should fill Fannie's glass with more wine. She seems to want even more that what she has now," she said meaningfully.

"Doris." Nancy tugged at her arm, hinting for her to stop.

With one last lethal glance at Fannie, Doris walked in arm in arm with Nancy.

The two women did not notice the eyes following them. Two men in black suits stood in a corner not far away, their eyes trailing after Doris' and Nancy's movements.

These sentinels were sent by Dorothy,

and an unknowing Nancy and Ethan were walking right into a trap.

Soon enough, Ethan arrived, the tea in his hand.

He greeted everyone politely and sat down next to Nancy.

"Still so handsome!" Jill complimented with a smile.

"No, I've definitely gotten old now!" Ethan said with selfdeprecating humor.

"The food is ready. Enjoy yourselves," Nancy announced.

"Do as you please. Eat whatever you'd like," Fannie cut in the next moment.

One would think she was the hostess with her selfimportant tone.

Nancy said nothing and merely smiled.

Meanwhile, Doris was cursing under her breath at the woman's shamelessness.

Clark's birthday made for a picturesque scenario. Every guest had a smile on their faces, with nothing to betray the thoughts underneath.

Fannie stood up and made a motion of raising her glass. The jovial chatter quieted down for a moment as she began to make a toast.

"Nancy, let's forget the past and put all our conflicts behind us. From now on, we are sisters!" She held out her glass to Nancy with a sweet smile.

Nancy raised hers and lightly touched Fannie's glass. The soft clink resounded as she said nothing in response.

"Caspar, it's your turn to make a toast to my sister. Let bygones be bygones. Today is a day of starting over!" Fannie announced in an overly cheerfully voice.

Nancy felt the beginnings of anger brew inside her at the sight of Caspar. She turned to her glass and gulped the wine.

Caspar stood up and walked to Nancy with a sickening smile. "Nancy, please forgive me. Let's start over as a family. Cheers!"

Nancy sat still.

Caspar was quick to notice that her glass was empty. "Let me fill your glass again," he said as he poured wine for her. "Please drink this in virtue of accepting my apology. I won't leave until you forgive me." Put on the spot, Nancy had no choice but to pick up the glass and drink the wine.

"All right. Now, for the guest of honor. Let us all wish Clark a good health and many happy returns! Cheers!" Caspar declared.

Glasses were raised in recognition.

Clark was overwhelmed with emotion and he fought back against the tears that were forming in his eyes.

He downed the wine,

and the other guests drank after him.

Later, it was time to cut the cake.

Nancy was feeling a bit light-headed,

and Doris was starting to feel the same as well. She stared blankly at Nancy and said, "I think I'm tipsy."

Nancy squinted and answered, "Today is a happy day, so... We are drinking."

"Yeah, that's right..." At this moment, Fannie walked over to them and said, "I've booked the whole hotel. There is a room upstairs. You can rest there if you've had too much to drink."

"I'm drunk. Let me sleep for a while." Doris staggered to her feet. "Nancy, would you like to come with me?"

Fannie immediately cut in, "Sister, I bought father a suit, but I'm not sure how it looks. Would you mind checking to see if it fits him?"

Nancy nodded in agreement. "Alright. Doris, you can go ahead. I'll follow you soon."

"Okay." Doris went upstairs steadying herself on the railings as her steps wobbled.

Clark had also begun to feel drowsy. Fannie asked Jill to take him into another room to rest.

"Mr. Ye, what about you?" Fannie asked Ethan.

Tm heading back." Now that the birthday party was over, there was no longer any reason for Ethan to stay here.

But as he stood up, his head started to feel heavy. He placed a hand on his forehead to soothe the uncomfortable feeling.

"Would you like a driver? I can send someone for you," Fannie offered.

"No, thanks. I'll just call a taxi." Ethan felt as if he was stepping on cotton. The room started to swirl and his movements grew sluggish.

He couldn't drive like this.

"Be careful then," Fannie said as she bid him goodbye.

"Thank you." He grabbed his coat and walked out, but his next steps grew more and more unsteady from the last.

He struggled to perceive his surroundings as the images grew blurry.