Chapter 709

On the phone, Paige was still sobbing, but Jeffrey was in such agony he couldn't even straighten his

back.

It felt like his heart had been ripped out, and someone was torturing him with slow, methodical cuts.

The irony was, he was utterly helpless.

As Derek drove away, Karen's sobs finally broke into a loud cry.

"Dad, I trusted him so much. I thought he wouldn't let me down!"

Derek glanced at his daughter with concern. At a red light, he reached out and patted her shoulder.

"Karen, I've lived a long life and still can't always see people for who they really are. How could

you? When two people have had good times together, that’s not nothing. If it ends, don't dwell on

the bad. You're the only one who suffers that way."

Karen nodded, "I'm sorry, Dad, for disappointing you."

Looking back, she realized she shouldn't have called her father in such haste.

Derek was getting on in years, with the usual heart and circulatory concerns. He didn't need the

stress. But at the time, all Karen could think about was breaking up, ensuring there was no way

back for Jeffrey.

Or for herself.

Perhaps she was afraid she'd soften, choose to trust him again.

"Silly girl, you were born deserving all the love your mother and I could give. Of course, we'd protect

you. I'm not disappointed. My daughter is a good girl. You'll find the right boyfriend in time, no rush!"

Karen nodded again, dabbing at her tears with a tissue.

Her time with Jeffrey had been brief, so forgetting him should be swift.

Suddenly, Karen tensed.

She remembered she and Jeffrey hadn't been careful. The last thing she needed was a pregnancy

scare. Sneaking a glance at her father, she decided to slip away to the clinic the next day, to avoid

the anxiety of waiting for her period.

...

For Abigail and Langston, a day at the amusement park was pure joy.

Despite Langston's usual mature demeanor, at heart, he was still a kid.

Today, to be with his children, Everett ditched his business attire for casual black clothes, shedding

his corporate air. He appeared more like a big brother, a mere decade older than his kids, rather

than their father.

"Mommy! I want to go on the merry-go-round! Over there, over there!" Abigail tugged excitedly at

Dorothy's pant leg, pointing ahead.

Dorothy bent down to lift her. "Alright, I'll come with you."

As she was about to walk away, she heard Everett's low voice asking Langston, "Do you want to

join your sister?"

"No."

"Come on, let's go together."

Langston frowned, "Dad, I don't want to."

"You should."

"Then why ask me?"

Everett smiled slightly, tapping his son's head. "It's just good manners."

Looking up, Dorothy was already walking away with Abigail in her arms. Everett's gaze deepened,

and he quickly followed.

Truth be told, Dorothy was terrified of those spinning amusement rides.

They made her dizzy.

But she couldn't say no to her daughter's wishes.

Strapped into the merry-go-round with Abigail, it hadn't even made three rotations before Dorothy

felt unsteady, lurching back and forth, losing her balance.

Instinctively, she reached out to grab something, but to no avail—the carousel's poles moved up

and down.

Just as Dorothy feared she would fall, she felt a pair of strong hands encircle her waist from behind.

In her ear was Everett's deep, steady voice.

"Stop the ride! Let her off."