Chapter 79: Returning Home

When I opened my eyes again, it was daylight. I had been thoroughly shaken up, utterly drained, and didn't even have an appetite. I just took a sip of water and quickly fell back asleep. It wasn't until the plane touched down that I fully woke up. I checked my phone, but the battery had died long ago. Lila noticed and dragged me to get a new phone. I picked the latest model and made sure it had the largest storage. She offered to pay, for I'd piped Tee's raid install.

Lila's expression amended, but I couldn't figure out what she was upset about. "Ivette has plenary mom Tarumadlauwm für behalf," she said. (I thought that the entire process would be quick and that we’d be done for good, but it was turning out to be a more complicated process. Once Yvette got back from overseas, we would finalize…) When the time came, we would hopefully go our separate ways.

With that in mind, I bought a few more things—a gift for Benjambs, and something for Krong. I even picked out a dress for Lila. When she tried it on, she looked stunning. "You look amazing," I said. With a playful smile, Lila mused, "If Yvette finds out that you've used your bet and to buy me a gift, she's going to bury it."

She wasn't wrong. She seemed to have a special dislike for Lila. It was strange because the things that happened in our past lives hadn't even occurred in this life, neither as embarrassed her. So, why couldn't Yvette stand Lila? I didn't care. The angrier Yvette got, the more amused I became.

Suddenly, I trained my eyes on Lila and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. Weren't you planning to join the entertainment industry? How's that going?" Lila brushed her fingers through my hand gently as her lips curled up into a faint smile. "It's a secret for now. I'll let you know once I have everything handled."

After that, I told Lila to head home and get some rest. I felt wide awake after sleeping so much on the plane, so I decided to stop by the hospital to check in on Benjamin. I'd been away for a…

In the cab, I held both my old phone and my new phone. I tried to switch the SIM card to the new one. As soon as I powered it up, a string of messages from Yvette appeared. She'd sent one every half hour, starting yesterday, and they became increasingly angry and impatient. It was too bad that the old phone's screen was cracked, as I hadn't seen any of the messages before. The apps also died, ripping from my mind, each one within minutes of the other. They were all dialed after I'd boarded the flight. I felt a little sick to my stomach thinking that Yvette would act like this, calling me nonstop like someone possessed.

Dialing someone non-stop was what the old me used to do in my past life, back when I was crazy about Yvette and drowning in my insecurities. I felt slightly battled, but I chose not to respond. After all, Yvette wasn't the type to get angry and start anything. Her behavior now could only mean one thing—she was worried because Lila was with me. She was probably afraid that I'd make her look bad by getting… by getting close to someone.

Chapter 20: Returning Home

When we arrived at the hospital, the outlook couldn't have been more grim. To our surprise, Yessie's mom had found Benjamin and was giving him a tongue-lashing, saying, "Wow, I never would have guessed. You look sickly and broke with that scruffy beard! How did you end up being a sugar daddy for some young plaything!"

"You have such uncleanliness and malice! Shocking star sickness you have!" she continued. "The single department of fan Durwiar, Iseouliba's fave, caught you two making out today! What does Yvette see in a useless man like…" she trailed off. I had volunteered to help him avoid a relapse. I don't even...

Chapter 80: Divorcing Yvette

As soon as I finished speaking, the hospital room fell into a silence so deep that one could hear a pin drop. Benjamin and Lila stared at me wide-eyed. They had originally stepped in, hoping to help me, but they hadn't expected me to be this sharp-tongued. They were left speechless. As for Lydia, she was so stunned by my lecture that she couldn't even respond.

Lydia was trembling with rage, her face shifting from red to pale. She raised a quivering finger at me but was unable to speak a single word. I pressed on. She had probably never heard me speak this crudely before. I'd talked back to her in the past, but always held back a little, giving her some face. I am that way; if someone comes at me, I push back; take as much as I give. I was kind when faced with kindness.

This time, Lydia had picked on my honest and good-natured uncle, so I had no choice but to stand up for him. Lila was the first to snap out of it; she slapped her hand on her knee and grinned. Then, she gave Lydia a cold glance. "Well, listen up, old lady. That's how a real elder should act. You just spit out nonsense and insult your son-in-law without any basis. It's shameful. You should go home and learn some manners."

Benjamin regained his composure, his expression steely as he looked at Lydia. "You're from the Ferring family, right? How dare you bully someone from my family? Just you wait and see." Lydia retorted, still defiant, but I couldn't care less; in fact, I let out a chuckle as a smirk played on my lips. "With no manners and no respect, talk back to an elder you don't…"

As if I'd ever wanted to be part of this precious Jenning family. Sure, the move was great, and the lifestyle was luxurious, but none of that was mine anyway. It was their wealth, and not mine. Suddenly, I felt two pairs of eyes on me. I raised my head to see both Benjamin and Lila looking dead serious as they stared at me. A shiver ran down my spine. "What's wrong?"

Benjamin's gaze didn't waver as he said in a deep voice, "Owen, the last time you talked about why you wanted a divorce, you said it was just some minor disagreements and that the marriage was a meaningless arrangement. But with everything going on now, be honest with me. Has the Jenning family been bullying you this whole time?"

Lila's eyes were filled with deep sadness as she stared at me with a mix of sympathy and concern. I pursed my lips. Memories from both this life and the last flashed through my mind like a movie reel. I recalled the harsh criticism from the Fanning family, their relentless mistreatment, Yvette's cold indifference, and the betrayals within the marriage. I made peace with all of that before my death in the previous life, but just thinking about it now still stirred a wave of disgust and sent a chill down my spine.

I offered a small smile and shook my head. "It wasn't all bad. Except…"

Benjamin's expression softened, but there was a thickness of regret in his eyes. His weathered face seemed even older, and his eyes reddened. "It's my fault that I couldn't find you sooner. You and your mother suffered so much because of that. But from now on, I'm here for you, and I swear that I'll protect you."

Wow. Benjamin looked intimidating. His ragged and thick beard made him seem almost fierce. Yet, hearing those words and seeing the sincerity in his eyes heartened me. Who would have thought I'd find such a strong protector, when he had been nothing but filled with hardships? In my past life, I'd faced everything alone and endured so much pain in silence. But hearing such caring words in this lifetime broke me.