Chapter 426
Edith, always straightforward, couldnât help but express her concern, âThese past couple of years must have been tough for you, huh?â
I was taken aback, âHow did you know?â
âJust a guess.â
She offered a sympathetic smile, like a wise older sister. âEven though we havenât spent much time together, I can tell youâre not the type to play the field.â
âLeaving him was probably a last resort, right?â Her question was phrased with such certainty.
It didnât surprise me she could see through it.
Edith had that laidâback vibe but was incredibly observant and thoughtful underneath.
In short, the Ford family had a knack for reading people.
I saw no point in denying it, so I nodded, âYes, Gregoryâs dad came to see me. And then, Bryant⦠he promised me that if I went back with him, heâd help Gregory.â
âThat must have been tough.â
Edith sighed, a mix of admiration and pity in her tone, âItâs a shame Palmer Ford played dirty, almost capsized Gregâs ship. Well, he did capsize it, but Greg managed to right it again on his own.â
Hearing this, I couldnât help but smile, âYeah, heâs always been sharp.â
As kids, he always seemed a step ahead of the rest of us, the most clever and bold.
Ramona always thought I was fearless, but in reality, it was Gregory who had instilled that in me, telling me to go ahead and make mistakes because heâd be there to catch me if I fell.
He nurtured my wild, unrestrained nature, much like a vibrant sunflower thriving in the sun.
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Edith seemed surprised, âYou remembered everything?â
âYeah.â
I handed her a bottle of water, âA couple of years ago, I had an accident that somehow brought everything back.â
She was quick, âBecause of Greg?â
âNot exactly.â
It felt like my whole being was already at its breaking point, struggling with mental health issues.
Then Gregoryâs crisis happened.
Itâs just that it happened to be his crisis that triggered it. If it had been Ramona, or Christine, even Mark, I might have collapsed just the same.
So, placing the blame on Gregory doesnât quite fit.
Edith unscrewed the bottle cap, âThese last two years, being by Bryantâs sideâ¦â
âI wasnât in RiverCity.â
With her, it felt easier to be open, âAfter the accident, I went to France. Itâs just that the news was kept under wraps.â
Edith frowned, âThen how come Molly called you, and Bryant picked up?â
âAh?â I paused, then realized. âThe night of the accident, when I left the Ferguson Mansion, I forgot to take my phone.â
Waking up later, all I wanted was a fresh start.
Eager to cut all ties with Bryant, I never bothered to retrieve my phone.
Nowadays, a phone is like an adultâs lifeline. Without it, it felt like I could truly
start over.
Edith nodded in understanding, âSo why havenât you explained any of this to Greg?â
was depressed.â/
I licked my lips, âGiven Gregoryâs nature, heâd want to know everything. Why I
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Chapter 426
went to France, why I didnât reach out to him. And sooner or later, heâd find out about my depression.â
Heâd feel guilty, responsible.
Edithâs expression grew tense. âNo wonder⦠no wonder you havenât explained what happened two years ago to Greg. You were afraid heâd blame himselfâ¦â
1 couldnât have explained it before.
And now, it was even harder to find the words.
Telling him would only add to his burden.
Before I could respond, Edith sighed, âI owe you thanks for being so considerate towards him. Itâs definitely not the right time to bring this up. Donât worry, heâs been faithfully following his treatment, and since youâve come back, his symptoms have noticeably improved.â