Chapter 5

Following those words, she seated herself on the couch in the main sitting area, with her digit suspended above the display of her mobile device for an extended duration.

A minute passed before she finally pressed the number she knew by heart.

The "beep-beep" of the dial tone sounded unnaturally clear in the empty living room.

Upon observing this situation, the two young individuals ceased their noisy behavior and waited with great interest for the result of Elaine's telephone conversation.

The phone rang for ages, until Elaine's hand began to feel numb.

Finally, the call connected, and Arthur's impatient voice came through, "What is it now?"

As he finished speaking, Emily's soft voice was faintly audible in the background.

Elaine felt a squeezing sensation in her chest, and her passage for breathing became constricted while she said, "Dispatch an individual to remove Vera and Julius from this location."

"What did you say?"

Arthur's voice instantly dropped eight degrees, "Have you seen what's happening outside? You want the children to go out? Vera just recovered from her fever—shouldn't you be taking better care of them?"

"They're the ones demanding to see you and Emily."

The manner of Elaine's behavior was not as kind as it had been at an earlier time, and the quality of her speech when directed at Arthur contained a small amount of unfriendliness.

"Just because of that?"

The sound of Arthur's speech contained a large amount of annoyance, and he said, "What knowledge do young individuals possess? Cease behaving in an unreasonable manner and bring the children back to their sleeping area for relaxation."

Just then, Emily's soft voice came through the phone, as if trying to mediate, "Arthur, am I causing trouble for you again? Maybe I should..."

"Don't worry about her."

The quality of Arthur's speech became gentle without delay, yet when he turned his attention back to Elaine, it was as lacking in warmth as frozen water. He said, "Even expressions of anger need to take the circumstances into account." Emily needs me right now. Just take care of the children properly."

The critical words that Arthur spoke over the line also contained his act of protecting Emily. The upper limb of Elaine that was holding the device stopped its movement for a moment.

A cold smile curved her lips, like an icicle in the dead of winter.

"Arthur, hand on your heart, how many complete meals have you had with the children in these four years? When Vera wanted you to pick her up from preschool, you said you were taking Emily to an art exhibition. When Julius was sick and needed his father's comfort, you said you were helping Emily with studio problems..."

"Are you deliberately bringing up old issues?"

The sound of Arthur's speech became lower in pitch and contained a feeling of anger at being treated unfairly. He said, "The circumstances surrounding Emily are out of the ordinary. It is completely appropriate for me to keep her safe. Have you not consistently been present for the young ones?"

"Don't children need their father too? Whenever they needed you, you were with Emily..."

"Enough!"

Elaine was cut off mid-sentence by Arthur again.

Arthur's patience had reached its limit.

Elaine fell silent, feeling utterly exhausted.

She was simply expressing accurate statements, but this action caused Arthur to become even more protective of his position and to feel a greater sense of shame.

During the times when the young individuals experienced high body temperatures during the late hours of darkness, she was the person who transported one small person while also grasping the hand of the other as they hurried to the medical facility.

When they were picky eaters, she was the one creating varied nutritious meals.

What about his behavior? He would either employ Emily as a reason to avoid giving attention to the family, or he would state that he was required to return a favor involving a person's existence and was therefore unable to care for his female partner and their offspring..

All these years, she alone had been wholeheartedly taking care of the children.

Arthur was without any knowledge of the situation, but at the moment when she requested that he collect the young ones, he had the boldness to blame her for lacking the ability to fulfill the role of a parent.

She found it laughable.

However, she was feeling such a degree of exhaustion that she did not have the energy to engage in a disagreement. Certain matters started to feel boring and uninteresting even to her own mind when they were spoken again on too many occasions.

However, she was feeling such a degree of exhaustion that she did not have the energy to engage in a disagreement. Certain matters started to feel boring and uninteresting even to her own mind when they were spoken again on too many occasions.

At the moment when the message indicating that the transmission had been completed became visible, Elaine spoke into the device, saying, "I have sent you the captured audio. You can examine it with your own senses. The children are the ones who desire to locate Emily. I did not compel them to take this action."

Arthur immediately opened the video, but as his eyes scanned the screen, his brows furrowed even tighter.

The sound of his speech came forcefully through the telephone, containing a large amount of superior attitude. He asked, "The young individuals have only reached the age of four. What understanding do they possess? Did you intentionally encourage them to speak these statements?"

At this point, Arthur changed tack, "Are you trying to summon me back?"

"I..."

Prior to Elaine having the opportunity to say anything, Arthur cut her off once more, saying, "I am not able to depart from this place at the present moment. The mother and father of Emily lost their lives on my behalf. Given that the illness is so dangerous, is your wish for her to also experience death?"

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he deliberately emphasized, "Besides, Emily and I have a completely innocent relationship. I take care of her out of gratitude. Don't be fooled by the media's baseless rumors, and don't corrupt the children."

Emily's gentle voice came through the phone again, seemingly trying to mediate, "Arthur, don't argue with Elaine. It's my fault for having you accompany me here. Go be with the children."

"It's her fault, not yours."

Arthur, who had been giving a very long series of critical statements only a short time earlier, immediately made the quality of his speech more gentle, and at the same time, the amount of annoyance he directed toward Elaine increased to twice what it had been.

The situation was already so complicated, yet Emily was considerate enough to suggest he prioritize the children.

Elaine, the children's mother, wasn't half as sensible as Emily.

He was only caring for Emily more to repay a life debt. Couldn't she tolerate even this small matter?

He couldn't understand what she was making a fuss about, still wanting to send the children over at a time like this.

At the same time that Arthur was persisting in his claim about their "connection that was without wrongdoing" from the opposite side of the line, Elaine had already repositioned the device so that it was no longer touching her hearing organ.

She suddenly found it pointless.

Like punching at air—all her energy going nowhere.

Over the years, she had heard these words countless times.

Each time she believed him, each time she deceived herself.

But now, she didn't want to continue the charade.

Unbidden, her mind flashed back to Vera's video call with Emily last night.

That kiss mark on her neck—she would never forget it.

Nor would she believe Arthur's claims of innocence.

Looking back now, she felt only mockery.

At this moment, Elaine suddenly remembered when she was twenty, and Hazel Clark had clutched her master's program acceptance letter and cried, "Elaine, you're crazy! Dr. Harris's daughter shouldn't be trapped in a kitchen."

At that time in the past, she had shown a simple and inexperienced grin while making contact with the circular piece of jewelry that had recently been positioned on her digit. She said, "The reason for my action is my strong affection for him."

Loved him enough to lock her mother Kathy Harris's research materials in a safe, loved him enough to study cookbooks daily and carve the identity of Mrs. Smith into her routine.

She could have been in a laboratory, battling viruses.

Instead, she was here, struggling with children's snacks and a husband's late returns.

She found it utterly meaningless.

The sound from the opposite side of the line went on, and when Arthur observed that she was not providing any answer, he increased the loudness of his speech and said, "Were you able to hear my words? Emily and I are..."

"Mm."

She responded softly, cutting him off, no longer wanting to dwell on yesterday's kiss mark.

"We can leave the rest unsaid, but the children want to find you. Do what you think is best."

Arthur paused, seemingly not expecting this reaction, his tone slightly softening, "I can't do that..."

"Also."

Elaine interrupted again, looking at the warm sunlight outside the window, while her heart sank to her core.

"Let's get a divorce."