Chapter 1030: A quote from parenting 101
[FLASHBACK]
"I guess this is where we part?" Ivy sat on the edge of the bed, facing the bed next to hers where Tiger sat. She weakly played with her trembling fingertips, eyes down, a bitter smile on her face. "Axel said he’s going to take me home and Dominic reassured me I’d be safe. Thankfully, Axel had been looking after the company. But he told me I have to expect a mountain of workload."
Tiger nodded, letting out a short hum.
"I’ll be busy," she said, smiling as she raised her head. "I can imagine the workload waiting for me at home. God. The thought of pulling all-nighters scares me."
"Mhm."
"Whenever I work, I tend to forget things," she continued. "My problems, my pain, and even what makes me happy. Everything always feels blank, so people always call me a workaholic. But well, not really, because I always look like a slacker compared to Dom."
Tiger kept rocking his head, eyes down. Staring at him, her smile continued to crack as the corner of her eyes grew red.
"I will not think of you." Her voice cracked as her neck turned taut, holding back her tears from escaping her eyes. "Maybe, for a while, I will miss you — wish you were here with me, especially during mealtimes. But I’ll be fine, eventually."
Ivy pressed her lips while its corners curled. "Eventually, I’ll be okay and happy... without you. I’m not as foolish as to say I can’t live without you. I could. For a long time... I lived all by myself. It stings and sucks that you came into my life and stirs everything for me."
"Yet, even when I wanted to say you shouldn’t have treated me well. No matter how strong my desire to say you shouldn’t have loved me, taken care of me, and been honest with me. I can’t. Because I was grateful." Tears coated her eyes, biting her quivering lips to stop herself from bawling her eyes. "Even for a short while... I felt loved, valued, and cared for."
"I can’t hate you even if I feel like I’m going to fall apart right this second. Even if I feel like I should, I won’t." A short smile appeared on her face, sniffing hard as she glanced up. "That is your punishment."