Rita paused, and then gave Kevin an inquiry look.
âI always got a feeling that Edison will agree to divorce with you that easily. I hope I am just being paranoid.â Kevin explained.
âI trust him.â Rita said with a smile.
It was then the car came to pick up Rita. Kevin opened the door for her.
âAlright then, get in. Be luck with you.â
Rita smiled back, âThanks.â
Edison had been waiting for Rita for a while when she arrived at the French restaurant. Edison beckoned her when he caught sight of her.
Rita moved forward, sat down in front of Edison. They caught up for a while before they got into the main subject.
âWe are going to submit our divorce petition tomorrow. This might be the last meal we have together as husband and wife.â Edison started.
âWhat? Are you sad about that?â Rita asked.
âKind of.â He admitted. âBut the divorce, it has to be done.â
âWeâll still be eating together, as friends. No worries.â Rita said, smiling.
âThatâs true. Hope you wonât forget me.â
âI wonât, for a certainty.â
Brooding, Edison then added.
âAudition for the divorce lasts six months as the petition is submitted. If things go well, you need to be at the court by then.â
âSure.â
That was a pleasant meal. Nothing was worth a whit of doubt.
Kevin was overthinking, Rita thought.
She trusted Edison.
They went to submit the petition at the notary office. After it was done, Rita went back to the country by a plane.
She could be married to Joseph half a year later should thing go smoothly.
Joseph the Busy Bee came to the airport to pick up Rita himself when she landed.
She had a special feeling that she found no word to describe when she saw Joseph. That feeling urged her to run to Joseph, to the warmth of his embrace.
Joseph was surprised by her reaction, but he relished the intimacy with her.
âWhat?â affectionately, he hugged her, his hand stroking her head gently.
âNothing. Just feel like it has been a long time. I miss you so much.â Rita muttered.
âI miss you too.â
Joseph drove Rita back home.
The kids came hopping and jumping out of their room when they saw Ritaâs back.
And all of a sudden, Joseph said to Noah solemnly. âNoah, call Rita mom.â
Rita was confused, she turned to look at Joseph, âWhat?â Noah has been calling her as mom, hasnât he?
Lowering his head, Joseph looked at Rita, his tone serious. âBenjamin told me everything. You are Noahâs birth mother.â
Josephâs confession surprised Rita.
Noah was no less surprised than Rita was. He threw himself forward and clutched Josephâs thigh, urging. âDad, is it real. Mom is really my mom?â
âThen Noah is my brother?â Stella reflected, and shrieked.
Only Rita was still in shock.
âRita, you gave me two kids sweet as honey, thank you. I would never had let you leave if Iâd known the girl was you.â
âJosephâ¦â Rita was at a loss, her mouth opening and closing âSay no more. Iâm certain about all this.â
âYouâre certain?â
Joseph nodded and said. âI have our DNA tested. Mine and Stellaâs, yours and Noahâs. I canât be more certain now.â
Finally Rita managed to grasp the news. She threw herself in Josephâs arms and started sobbing. It werenât tears of sadness but of happiness that she wept.
Thatâs so great, the kids are both theirs.
And truth of what happened years before finally came to light.
The new thrilled the elders even more. They gave their blessing and urged Rita and Jospeh to marry soon.
But they had to wait until Ritaâs divorce with Edison was done.
Half a year later, Ritaâs divorce petition was approved. The whole process would be over with her confirmation.
Joseph was with her at the notary office this time.
And they had Edisonâs full cooperation.
After she had the divorce certificate in hand, Rita treated Edison to a meal and invited him to her wedding.
After they were back in the country again, Joseph wasted not even a second and got on the wedding plan instantly.
This would probably be the most fabulous wedding in Nanking ever.
For half a year they had prepared for the wedding to finally embrace this sacred moment of theirs.
They held a traditional Chinese wedding. With numerous protocols, the wedding was epic. Ritaâs wedding dress, wonderfully exquisite, was sewn thread by thread by the finest garment maker.
Stepping down the wedding palanquin, Rita was ushered into the venue with a veil covering her head.
The atmosphere was jolly. Guests were garbed merrily with curious smiles on their faces, among them, the innocent laughter of kids spread through.
In front of their parents, Rita and Joseph stood abreast.
As rituals of a traditional wedding, they would bow to the God, their parents and each other as a way of showing respect.
âTo the God you may bow.â The host bellowed.
Husband and wife are tethered together after they bow their heads before God, people say, and they will find each other in their next life.
They would be together, to the end of their lives, to the end of time.