The moment the words left his lips, Charles’s face met a solid slap.
“Watch your mouth.” Margaret’s voice lowered with barely detectable fury. “He’s just a child who doesn’t know bet- ter, but you should. Is this the Rivera family’s upbringing–flaunting your mistress right before my eyes? Remember how he kept saying he didn’t need me as his mother? How he declared Barbara as his real mom in front of everyone?”
Each accusation struck Charles speechless.
Jin clung to Margaret’s hem, sobbing violently. “You’re my mom… How could you hold another child?”
“I was wrong,” he choked out between tears. “I only want you as my mom now… I’m sorry.”
Charles sobbed between hiccups, Margaret’s eyes reddening with concern. Yet she insisted: “See our guest out.”
“Charles, please.”
Jack stood between them, only to be shoved aside. “You! Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to meddle in our family matters!”
Jack calmly eyed the nearly unhinged man: “I’m Margaret’s friend. As for the right…”
He gestured to the business license on the wall: “This is my establishment.”
Charles clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened, nails digging into his palms.
As tempers were about to explode, the little girl tugged Margaret’s sleeve: “Aunt Margaret, I think we forgot to refrig- erate the cake.”
Margaret took a deep breath, turning to Charles: “If you’ve nothing else, you may stay for cake. It’s my birthday to- day.”
“Birthday?”
Charles murmured softly, he looked blankly at Dad, as if this day had never appeared in his memory.
Charles also froze in place, his face layered with cracks; like him, he had never taken it to heart.
Only then did Charles realize what a huge mistake he had made.
He forgot that Margaret’s kindness to him wasn’t something to be taken for granted, and the harm he had caused her was real and tangible.
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Chapter 26
He kept saying he knew he was wrong, but other than that, he did nothing.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Their marriage wasn’t a sudden crack, but had never been whole from the start.
“Charles, let’s
go back.”
He spoke with difficulty.
Realizing what Dad had said, Jin screamed through her tears.
“I won’t! I want Mommy! I’m taking Mommy home… You promised me!”
288 Vouchers
Margaret’s heart softened watching Jin like this. It was the first time the child had sought her out like this, yet she’d coldly pushed her away.
Yaya clung to Margaret’s neck, nuzzling her little head against Margaret’s cheek.
“Charles.” Margaret summoned her courage, voice steady with resolve. “Take Jin and go. No more talks of forgive- ness.”
“The assets in his name will cover his support. I’ll appoint trustees until he turns eighteen.”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
With those clipped sentences, the matter was settled.
Charles had never seen Margaret fix such a resolute gaze upon him before.
This time, he knew she’d made her decision.
Charles bent down, scooping up the crying Victor despite his protests, and headed toward the family van waiting at the entrance.
As the vehicle slowly pulled away, he cast one last glance at the three figures inside the bakery before looking back forlornly.
Only after seeing the visitors leave did Yaya gather her courage to ask: “Is Auntie Margaret staying?”
A smile hid her tear–streaked face as Jack watched her cheer alone, a faint grin touching his lips.
“Then will Auntie Margaret be Yaya’s mommy?”
As if struck by another thought, Yaya darted back, peering up at Margaret with eyebrows knitted into a little hill.
Margaret crouched to wipe the child’s cheeks, her voice impossibly gentle:
“Silly girl, I’m your auntie.”
She paused, adding softly:
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Chapter 26
“From now on, I’ll always be here.”
The late afternoon sun streamed through the window, gilding Margaret’s profile with a warm glow.
Jack leaned against the counter watching them, his eyes softening imperceptibly.
Outside, the family van disappeared around the corner, taking with it the last traces of their tangled past.
The cake shop fell quiet, filled only by the lingering scent of buttercream and Yaya’s contented humming.
Margaret and Jack exchanged a glance, avoiding a direct answer to her question.
Yaya stood behind, tugging Jack’s apron while waving a birthday hat at him.
Margaret had lost track of time sitting there when the kitchen lights suddenly flicked off.
Instinctively, she called for Jack: “Power outage? Don’t be scared, I’ll check.”
After a long silence, just as Margaret grew anxious, music drifted from the doorway.
“Happy birthday to you…
་་
It was Jack and Yaya–one holding a cake, the other cagerly placing the birthday hat on her head.
The earlier gloom vanished instantly.
Aunt Margaret, make a wish quickly! Yaya wants Aunt Margaret to be Yaya’s new mommy.
Silly girl, wishes won’t come true if you say them out loud.
It’s my birthday today! Why are you making wishes?
Dad says we’re all family, no need to fuss over small things…
