Chapter 66

Grace was stunned. She hadn't expected the place where she met Jay to be the same place where her father had died.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"He only had himself to blame," Jay shrugged. "Sister, there's no need to apologize," Jason said softly.

She suspected the story was more complicated than Jay portrayed. "He only had himself to blame?" That sounded ominous. Grace was surprised; she hadn't expected him to describe his father's death that way.

"Jay, I'm not sure what you mean by blaming him. Perhaps it was an accident—"

"Was it? I don't think so. He fell in love with someone he shouldn't have, then, when she discovered he was 'useless,' he was discarded. It didn't matter that he knelt and begged. No," Jason's eyes darkened. "No, that's not entirely true. The more he groveled and begged, the more she despised him." He shook his head. "In the end, he died of despair, freezing to death in the snow."

Jason's expression was as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather—not a man dying of hypothermia. Even his voice remained calm. But this was his father!

Grace felt as if she were seeing him for the first time again. He'd been distant then, too—detached.

"Jay," she called.

He looked up, and she saw her face reflected in his dark pupils. "Tell me," he goaded her. "Did he not bring it upon himself?"

Her throat dried as she tried to respond. After a long while, she murmured, "Is that woman your mother?"

He was silent. His face was expressionless, but a flicker of pain crossed his eyes. And so she knew the answer.

She didn't know how to comfort him, feeling that any words would be useless. Some wounds only those who have experienced them can understand.

She stood and hugged him as he remained seated. His head leaned against her chest; his nose inhaled her breath, and her warmth reached his cheeks. Suddenly, she heard her own heartbeat through her clothes.

This made him want to stay like this forever.

"Mom, don't go"

The small figure knelt, hoping the woman, already packing her bags, wouldn't leave. But it was useless. She insisted on leaving, not even glancing back.

Seeing his mother about to depart, the boy reached for her. But his tiny hand was swatted away, and he felt a heart-wrenching pain in his chest.

It was so painful! No one could save him, no one could stop the pain! It felt like he would suffocate, like he was dying.

"Jay! Jay!"

A voice called to him. Who was it?

"Jay, don't worry. It won't hurt anymore. I'm here. Don't worry, Jay" The gentle voice was filled with anxiety.

Under the soothing sound, the suffocation and pain receded like a falling tide. He struggled to open his eyes and looked at the kind woman before him