Chapter 208
After I walked out of the house, I faintly heard Katniss crying. Although her crying was quite miserable, it couldn't stop my steps at this moment. As I walked out of the apartment building, I looked up at the blue sky, breathing in the fresh air. I felt like a prisoner at that moment, never been so eager for freedom. Walking on the street, I moved slowly, looking back every few steps to see if Katniss was secretly following me.
I found a law firm and inquired about the divorce procedures. In the end, at my request, the lawyer drafted a divorce agreement for me. In fact, there was no real agreement because the divorce between Katniss and me didn't involve many procedures or property division. I decided to leave with nothing but the children, leaving all the property to Katniss and Nathan. Even though as the one who cheated, Katniss should be the one leaving with nothing. If I let Katniss leave with nothing, it would be like pushing her to a dead end, at least it would cover some expenses for her to take care of Nathan.
I didn't want to make a big fuss. I wanted to preserve the last bit of reputation and dignity for Katniss and Nathan. As for how they would explain to Michael, Sophia, and Jennifer after I left, that was their business. They couldn't get away without paying any price. I didn't want to talk to Nathan because I didn't know what attitude to use. After all, he was my biological father. Without him, there would be no me. I couldn't do anything ungrateful for giving birth and raising me, so it's better not to see him.
The reason I wanted to take Simon with me was simple. If Simon stayed with Katniss and Nathan, in case something unexpected happened and Simon found out or saw something, it would affect him for life. Besides, I really couldn't bear to leave Simon behind. So, Simon followed me, the only requirement in my divorce agreement.
Now that the divorce agreement was ready, all we needed to do was to go to court together to complete the procedures. I didn't want to unilaterally file for divorce, it would have too much impact. It was better to agree on the divorce with Katniss. At the same time, Katniss and I needed to go to Michael's place together to pick up the children.
After taking care of these matters, I headed back home, at least for now it was still my home. During the few hours I was out, Katniss called me numerous times, but I didn't answer. In the end, I simply turned off my phone. When I got home, I saw Katniss sitting on the couch, holding her phone tightly, looking very worried with red and swollen eyes from crying too much. Seeing me back, Katniss showed a rare moment of excitement, but it quickly faded, showing fear. She didn't know where I had gone, perhaps she thought of a possibility but couldn't confirm, still holding onto a last bit of hope.
"Let's go out and buy something, visit Jennifer, Michael, and Sophia. It's better not to tell them now that I haven't lost my memory." After changing my shoes, I walked towards my bedroom and said these words with my back to Katniss. I didn't immediately take out the divorce agreement, but first looked at the elders, at least Michael, Sophia, and Jennifer. They were not at fault, and my leaving would definitely hurt them deeply.
Without hearing Katniss's voice behind me, I didn't know if she had guessed anything. After returning to the bedroom, I put the divorce agreement in my bag. Then I turned around and walked out of the bedroom, seeing Katniss still sitting on the couch in a daze.
"Change your clothes, let's go." I said to the absent-minded Katniss.
Katniss responded with fear and anticipation, then started to change her clothes, seeming very excited. Now I was going to visit the elders, there were only two possibilities. The first possibility was to thank them, together with Katniss, as a start of forgiveness, which might be what Katniss hoped for. The second possibility was to say goodbye to Michael and Sophia, then divorce Katniss and never see each other again, which might be what Katniss feared the most.
I walked ahead, with Katniss obediently following behind me. In the past, when we went out together, Katniss would lean on my side, holding my arm. But now, the once affectionate and sweet couple had become strangers who couldn't rely on each other. Katniss wanted to lean on my arm like before, but she didn't have the courage to do so now.
Although I spent a lot of money on this hospitalization, after years of hard work, I had accumulated a substantial amount of wealth. I withdrew money from the bank card and then drove with Katniss to the commercial street. On the commercial street, Katniss and I picked out clothes for Michael, Sophia, and Jennifer. During this process, Katniss seemed to briefly forget her troubles and focused on choosing clothes with me. After all, shopping was a woman's strong suit, and the clothes they wore were originally taken care of by Katniss.
At this moment, Katniss and I briefly set aside all the barriers and focused on shopping. To outsiders, we looked like a sweet couple, and Katniss seemed to think I was trying to reconcile with her. Only I knew what was coming.
"Give Jennifer a call, tell her I want to eat the pancakes she makes, we'll go over later." I said to Katniss beside me while driving, the trunk full of clothes and nutritional supplements. When I was sick, Jennifer always made pancakes for me and brought them in a lunchbox. Although Jennifer came from a rural background, she had good cooking skills, especially in making pancakes. I always felt that there was a special taste in Jennifer's pancakes, similar to the ones my mother made when I was young. Perhaps that special taste was the taste of love.
When we arrived at the island where Nathan was, Jennifer was standing on the shore waiting for us from a distance. When she saw us, Jennifer came up and held my hand, looking very worried. After all, in her eyes, my illness was not completely healed yet.
"You, this child, wanting to eat the pancakes I make. You should have called me, I would have come to your house to make them for you. Your body is not completely well yet, why did you run out and buy so many things?" Once we got ashore, Jennifer couldn't help but give me a lecture, but it was full of hidden care.
"Where's my dad?" After getting ashore, I didn't see Nathan's figure. This time, I also bought a lot of things for Nathan. We were about to leave soon, and I didn't want any more trouble, just enjoying the last moments as a family.
"He's preparing the ingredients." Jennifer helped me carry things and said.
During the meal, Jennifer kept serving me food. Watching Jennifer's kind and caring demeanor towards me, my nose couldn't help but feel a bit sour. If I had to leave and there were many people I couldn't bear to part with, the ones I would miss the most would be Michael, Sophia, and Jennifer.
"Kevin, what's wrong?" Because my nose was feeling sour, I wiped my nose with a tissue, and Jennifer couldn't help but ask with concern.
"Nothing, Jennifer's pancakes are still so delicious." I shook my head, smiled, and said to Jennifer. Nathan and Katniss didn't say much, just ate quietly. Nathan ate a lot, he always had a big appetite. Katniss, on the other hand, ate very slowly, chewing on a piece of bacon for a long time. Until now, she hadn't eaten much, perhaps she couldn't taste the food at the moment.
We didn't drink alcohol. After having lunch at Nathan's place, I was ready to leave as I had to go to Michael and Sophia's place in the afternoon. Jennifer thought I was feeling better and came to the island to thank them, without thinking too much. Jennifer and Nathan saw us off to the shore. Before I got on the boat, my gaze swept over Jennifer and Nathan's faces. Nathan looked a bit uneasy, while Jennifer kept smiling kindly.
"Take care." I could only say these words in my heart. As the boat started moving, the faces of Jennifer and Nathan gradually disappeared from my sight, with Katniss standing beside me.
After getting ashore, Katniss and I drove directly to Michael and Sophia's house. Simon hadn't finished school yet. I had called ahead to let Michael and Sophia know we would come in the evening. When we arrived at Michael and Sophia's house, the kitchen was filled with ingredients. Michael made coffee and we drank coffee together. We talked about some topics. Whether at Nathan's house or at Michael's house, I was very cautious, not showing any flaws. Katniss and Sophia went to the room to try on clothes, and they inevitably whispered to each other, but I wasn't sure what they were talking about.
In the evening, Simon came back from school, and we all started eating. Normally, whenever we ate at Michael and Sophia's house, we would have wine. I also wanted to drink, after all, there wouldn't be another chance in the future. But due to my health and the need to drive, Michael and Sophia didn't let me have a sip in the end. I could only express my gratitude. Those were my sincere words. From the time I dated Katniss to our marriage, Michael and Sophia had been very good to me, treating me like their own son. Looking at the aging faces of Michael and Sophia, my heart ached once again.
After dinner, I told Michael and Sophia that I wanted to take Simon home to stay for a few days since I didn't need to work now and had time to take care of the child. Michael and Sophia also thought that having the child with me would help me recover my memory, so they agreed to let me take Simon with me. Before leaving the house, I looked back at Michael and Sophia. After I left, Jennifer, Michael, and Sophia would be so sad and upset, but...
After leaving Michael and Sophia's place, I walked out of the community with Katniss and Simon. When we were far away from Michael and Sophia's residence, I looked back at their house, found their room, and from a distance, I seemed to see Michael and Sophia busy tidying up the room. At that moment, the sorrow and reluctance in my heart reached its peak. I let go of Simon's hand and slowly bent down in the direction of Michael and Sophia's house. Originally, I was going to thank them in person, but I was afraid they would misunderstand. Although they couldn't feel this bow at the moment, it represented the highest respect in my heart.
Beside me, Katniss, seeing me bow, of course knew who I was showing gratitude to. She seemed to think of a possibility, becoming more and more certain of what she was afraid of. My gesture of gratitude was not as simple as it seemed, it was almost like a farewell. I heard a stumbling sound behind me. I turned around and saw Katniss almost falling down. Her legs had already gone weak, and Simon was screaming in fear on the side.
In the end, Katniss didn't ask anything. She just led Simon away alone. I knew that when we got home later, there would be a lot of things to deal with, and I might have to endure more of Katniss's tears.
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