Chapter 4
The clock on the wall ticked away, and midnight was drawing closer.
Chester's car was nowhere to be seen downstairs.
But to my surprise, Scarlett updated her Instagram.
In the photo, Rory was bawling his eyes out, clinging to Chester.
The caption read: [Looks like Rory can't bear to be apart from Chester anymore.]
I turned to Teresa, who was leaning against the window, peering outside.
Just like every child, she needed a father's love, too.
But there had never been a father in her life.
When Teresa caught my lingering gaze, she seemed to get it.
She breathed out a heavy sigh.
"I know Chester isn't coming back," she murmured.
I shifted my gaze away, not daring to respond.
Her dad wasn't just absent. He was out there giving another child fatherly love.
I couldn't bear for her to know the truth.
So all I could do was hold her close and quietly comfort her. "It's okay, honey. You've still got me. I'll always be here with you."
I went on, "How about I drive you over to the new stadium and set off some fireworks?" I advised.
Teresa nodded understandingly, but her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
On the way to the new stadium, neither of us brought up her birthday or Chester. For a moment, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
I knew Chester might never get another chance.
*****
After I parked, I held Teresa's hand and took out the fireworks from the trunk.
We were out by Arilinton's outskirts. There were tons of families lighting up the sky with no city officers around to stop anyone.
Fireworks were always Teresa's favorite thing to watch.
We walked into the new stadium. The huge square wasn't too crowded, and I spotted Chester right away, who was buying a caramel apple.
Teresa thought this was the special surprise that Chester and I had secretly planned for her.
She leapt up, waved her hand with a big smile, and blurted out, "Dad, I'm right here!"
But her excitement didn't last long.
Chester hurriedly stuffed the caramel apples away, not daring to meet Teresa's eyes.
Teresa was caught off guard, suddenly bumped aside by a little chubby boy.
"Chester, is my caramel apple ready yet?" the boy asked.
Instinctively, I scooped Teresa up into my arms, worried she might've gotten hurt.
Chester started to step forward, but when he spotted Scarlett heading over, he hesitated.
He withdrew his hand and instinctively shielded Rory behind him.
"Sorry about that. Rory didn't mean to bump into her. Let me apologize for him," Chester said.
Teresa stood there, stunned.
Chester'd never acted like that for his own daughter.
Scarlett spotted me and walked over, extending her hand. "Hi, I remember you. We've met before."
She added, "You're Zera Jackson, right? The big name everyone in the industry looks up to."
I gave a wry smile, shook her hand quickly, and turned to leave with Teresa.
Scarlett called out, "Hey, wait!"
She asked, "Just you two? Where's her dad? Why not come join us for some fun?"
Hearing that, I couldn't help but glance over at Chester, only to catch the flicker of panic in his eyes.
I knew exactly what he was afraid that I'd tell the truth.
In a daze, it felt like I was back to the day when Scarlett had just returned.
Chester had always been cool and collected, but that was the first time I'd ever seen him lose control.
His eyes were red as he stared at Teresa and me.
But all he could do was give a twisted, bitter smile because Scarlett was back.
Scarlett came back newly divorced, with a son on the hunt for a stepfather desperately.
But Chester already had his own wife and child.
That thought made me unconsciously grip Teresa's hand a little more tightly.
But before I could say a word, Teresa blurted out, "My dad died in a car accident right when I was born."
I couldn't believe Teresa would say something like that.
She gave Chester a strained smile.
"Sir, my mom and I will head out now. Have fun," Teresa said quietly.
Just as Teresa turned to leave, Chester reached out and gently pulled her back.
"Teresa, what did you just say?" Chester asked in shock and heartache.
He wondered if the little girl who used to beg him for hugs was really hurt this time.
Chester felt guilty and uncertain.
I felt a sting of irony hit me, and I quickly pulled Teresa aside.
"Mr. Sharpe, Teresa's birthday is almost over. We're just here to do our fireworks," I said coolly.
Later, we found a quiet spot away from the crowd.
But Chester's eyes never left us, his gaze lingering on Teresa and me the whole time.
But no matter how hard he stared, the pain ran deep within us.
Nothing could ever be the same again.
Every night at midnight, the new stadium would come alive with fireworks.
Fireworks lit up half the sky red, turning that little square bright.
I held Teresa tight, and for the first time, I wanted the night to be over soon.
I just wanted to get Teresa far away and find somewhere peaceful without Chester.
*****
Early the next morning, Teresa and I packed up the last of our things and dropped them off at the international shipping center.
Then we headed straight to the airport and checked in to board our flight.
I didn't even say goodbye to Chester.
I just sent him the divorce papers.
The next second, my phone lit up.
It was Chester calling.
Without a second thought, I hung up, deleted his number, and blocked him.
Just like that, I wiped every memory from the past few years.
Teresa took my hand. With a look of relief on her face, she gently reminded me that it was time to board.