Chapter 404
“Tammy… my eldest son is Mathew Ford, the second is Caleb Ford, and my daughter’s name is Renee Hart,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Renee Hart… her name is Renee Hart. She looks just like you. It’s such a shame… I never got to hold them. Enna, I’m so sorry. Will you forgive me?” Tammy pleaded, his voice weakening with each word.
Huge tears streamed down Sienna’s face, falling onto Tammy as she held him close.
“Alright, Tammy. I’ll have them bring the children over, okay? You can hold them, just for a bit,” she choked out, her voice trembling. Tammy shook his head, a gentle, understanding smile appearing as the color slowly faded from his face.
“No… I don’t have the strength anymore. I couldn’t hold them even if I tried. But I’ve seen them—they’re so adorable,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.
As he spoke, Tammy shakily reached to his chest, pulled out photos of the three children, and lovingly traced their faces with trembling fingers.
Nora broke down, throwing herself onto him and bursting into loud sobs.
“Tammy, why are you doing this? Please stay with us, okay? I promise I’ll never yell at you again. Please, I’m begging you,” she cried, her voice shaking with desperation.
Tammy turned his head to her, his voice faint and fading. “Take care of Enna for me.”
Sienna gripped his hand tighter, tears blurring her vision until she could barely see his face.
Blood poured from Tammy’s mouth, his world turning gray and hazy—he could hardly see the one he loved anymore.
“Enna… Enna, I wish you happiness,” he murmured, his voice almost lost in the air.
With those words, Tammy smiled softly, closed his eyes, and his hands slipped from her grasp.
“Tammy!” Sienna hugged him tightly, breaking down in heart-wrenching sobs.
Scenes from the past flashed through Sienna’s mind—Tammy, in a gray hoodie, looking scruffy and awkward as she entered the classroom. With a childish, slightly nervous voice, she introduced herself, “Hey everyone, I’m Tammy Tobin, from Tobin Village.”
Another memory—Tammy hanging in mid-air, about to be fed to the crocodiles, her eyes burning with stubborn strength and a silent plea for help as she looked at Sienna. Sienna could almost hear her voice from those school days, calling out her name.
Tammy said delightedly, “Enna! Look what I bought for you! Hurry and try it—just don’t let that little rascal Nora catch you!”
“Enna, isn’t the gift I got you pretty? Do you like it?” Tammy asked, holding a necklace.
“Enna, let’s get into the same college together! The three of us will always stick together, no matter what!” Tammy said with a proud smile.
“Come on, let’s pinky swear—no take-backs! No matter whose kid is born first, we’ll all be godmothers!” Tammy made a pinky swear with Sienna.
By the time Julian and Thorn arrived, Tammy’s body had been laid out. The two looked at each other, at a loss for words.
With a silent understanding, everyone helped arrange the funeral hall. Sienna had been crying her eyes out—she was devastated.
Thorn had no idea what had happened between Sienna, Nora, and Tammy, but Julian knew all too well. The three of them had been very close friends.
A man walked up to Sienna and handed her a document. “Ms. Hart, Mr. Tobin asked me to give this to you. All his assets have been transferred to your three children.”
Sienna didn’t refuse. She took the document silently. At the bottom, the name Tammy Tobin was scrawled in wild, untamed handwriting.
Sienna suddenly laughed, tears blurring her eyes again. It was a laugh filled with helplessness, pain, and regret. She shook her head.
“You’re such a fool…” she whispered.
She whispered inwardly, “Thirty years of life. The first fifteen, you endured all the world’s coldness and warmth, surviving on the disdain of others. The last fifteen, you… lived just for me.”
“If there’s an afterlife, don’t be so foolish, okay? Please, just try living for yourself for once, Tammy. I’m sorry.”
Julian wrapped his arm around her, silently comforting her.
Thorn felt down. It was the first time he’d seen Sienna cry so much over a man—and she was heartbroken. It was obvious this man was truly special to her. Not even Julian could compare.
When Thorn heard Nora say Tammy used to be a woman, he wanted to slap himself. He quickly shut his mouth and threw himself into the work.
Nora stopped Sienna from entering Tammy’s room. She opened the door and stepped inside. What stood out most was a photo on the wall—a group picture of the three of them, each face lit with a genuine, radiant smile.
Nora buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling violently as she sobbed. The room was spacious, filled with things from their school days, and even some baby clothes Tammy had set aside. One of them was for her son.
Looking at the pile of clothes on the bed, Nora knew Tammy must have been trying on outfit after outfit before they arrived, wanting to look his best for Sienna.
Vivian still had memories of Tammy, a good friend of Sienna’s, who always brought her something delicious. In Vivian’s memory, Tammy looked ordinary, but had a boyish, spirited air about her. She had three moles at the corner of her eye, and her hands were rough, covered in scars and burn marks from cigarettes. Vivian remembered Sienna mentioning that Tammy hadn’t had an easy childhood. Vivian never thought she’d see Tammy like this.
‘Rest in peace, Tammy,’ Vivian thought, her heart aching.