Love's New Bloom

Chapter 187

Chapter 187 An Open Talk Quentin’s body stiffened. He looked toward the door, and his trembling lips gave away the fact that he was a little emotional at that moment. The father and son stared at each other in silence for more than ten seconds. The bedroom suddenly became eerily quiet. Quentin was obviously not used to such sincere warmth from his son. Feigning nonchalance, he pretended to clear his throat and said, “It’s been many years since I’ve heard you call me ‘Dad,’ Chandler.” His words didn’t contain excessive reproach; rather, they conveyed a sense of melancholy and helplessness. Chandler had already walked up to him by then. Taking a glance at his son’s peaceful sleeping face, he instantly felt that the world was filled with tenderness and beauty. “Have you found out where Erin is?” Quentin turned around and took two steps forward to gently place Asa back in his crib. Chandler’s gaze suddenly turned cold as he replied calmly, “Let’s talk in the study.” Quentin gave him a glance and walked out. Five minutes later, in the study, Quentin and Chandler sat facing each other on individual leather sofas. Chandler poured half a glass of whiskey for himself and Quentin.

*Tessa refuses to speak, and Jack is dead. However, based on what was revealed, it is still possible that Erin is alive.” Chandler downed the half glass of whiskey in one gulp. His way of drinking made Quentin furrow his brows slightly. “You’ve become a heavy drinker lately. I truly regret stopping you from being with Erin. If I’d known that you’re also a person who’s loyal in love, what use would my opposition have been?” Chandler stared into his father’s eyes, feeling somewhat dazed. He said with a sigh, “Dad, you’ve really changed. I can’t believe those words of regret came from you. It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

this.” “What’s so hard to believe? I’ve never claimed that I can’t make mistakes. Your grandfather had been stubborn his whole life, and I constantly put pressure on you. I’ve truly made things difficult for you during this time. After your grandfather’s death, I’ve come to understand many things. Life is too short, so why should I always try to force you to conform to my wishes?” Quentin picked up the whiskey on the coffee table and took a big sip. After placing the glass back down, he continued. “Time passes by so quickly. In a few more years, I’ll truly be old. Who knows when I’ll die? I want to let go of all the old ideas I used to cling to. I couldn’t attain your mother’s love in this lifetime, and that was my failure. I don’t want you to be lonely like me for the rest of your life. I’ve seen enough during this time, and I understand that you truly love Erin. If we can find her. I’m glad to have her as my daughter-in-law, and I won’t oppose you anymore. I know it’s a bit late to say all this now, but these are all my heartfelt words.” Quentin’s words instantly lifted a huge boulder that had been crushing Chandler’s heart all these years. Although Erin’s fate was uncertain at the moment, Chandler was still grateful that his father could open up to him like this. “Thank you for saying all these to me.” “What are you thanking me for? We’re family. Is there anything we can’t talk openly about when there’s a conflict? There’s no point in being stubborn and hung up about things. I don’t want to have regrets before I die. If I were to die with you harboring resentment toward me like how you sent away your grandfather, then I would truly have failed as a father.” Chandler looked at Quentin, with whom he had never shared a deep bond. But suddenly, at that moment, he truly understood his father. Their conversation that night was the first time in many years that the father and son had borne their hearts to each other. “Dad, can I ask you a question?” Chandler thought of Simon, his half-brother from the same father but a different mother, whom they claimed to be his cousin in public.

Quentin raised his head and calmly said. “Go ahead.” “If I’m not mistaken, all these years, you’ve never actually loved Vanda, and you turned a blind eye to her betrayal. Since you don’t love her, why did you still marry her?” Chandler felt that Simon, his younger brother, was somewhat pitiful and unfortunate. With a biological father who didn’t love him and a biological mother who willingly chose to be his aunt instead, the bizarre family dynamics made Chandler feel incredulous every time he thought about it. His words sent Quentin into a brief contemplation. In the next moment, he reached into his pocket to grab his cigarette case. After feeling around in his pocket and not finding it, he remembered that he’d thrown away all his cigars and cigarettes just two days ago so that his grandson wouldn’t smell smoke on him when he held him. Quentin genuinely loved his grandson who had returned safely. “Dad.” Chandler handed his own cigarette to Quentin. Quentin glanced at it and accepted it. Chandler then used a lighter to light it for him. After taking a few puffs, Quentin revealed the truth. “There are some things I’ve never mentioned to you before, but I’ll tell you about them. tonight. After your mother abandoned you, I hated her for many years. And due to that hatred, I was overly strict in the way I raised you, sometimes even lacking empathy. Honestly, every time I think about it now, I feel ashamed. It was my own failure in handling the relationship with your mother that led to me directing a lot of my negative emotions onto you. When I think about how young you were back then, and how I treated you—* Quentin couldn’t bring himself to continue at that point, so he smoked away mindlessly. Acknowledging the mistakes he’d made in the past in front of his own son wasn’t an easy thing to do for a middle-aged man like him. Many people carried their apologies with them to their graves without uttering them to the people who needed to hear them. “Dad, all of these things are in the past. I’ve already let go of it, so you shouldn’t hold on to it either.” Chandler expressed what he really thought.

After experiencing Erin’s disappearance, his grandfather’s passing, and the arrival of his son, many past grudges were no longer worth mentioning in his opinion. Quentin finished his last puff of smoke and said, “At that time, I had psychological issues and had been seeking the help of a psychologist. I was afraid that one day I would truly harm you, and I would regret it. So, under your grandfather’s arrangement, I married Vanda, who is the daughter of your grandfather’s old comrade. After Simon was born, I wanted to shift my focus onto him, and it initially worked. But as time passed. I realized that my love for Simon wasn’t even a tenth of the love I had for you. It made me understand how much influence your mother had on me. Later, when Simon turned six months old, I entrusted him to your uncle.” After a slight pause, he continued, “At that time, your grandfather agreed as well. Vanda never loved me to begin with, and she didn’t have much affection for children when she was younger in age, so she didn’t have any objections and agreed to it. Only the way we addressed each other changed, but we were still family.” Quentin mentioned Simon with a slight hidden sense of guilt in his eyes. Chandler felt a complicated mix of emotions. The things he wanted to know were now made known to him, but he realized that knowing them didn’t bring much change to the past. Simon would still be his cousin, and it would be kept that way. Some truths were better hidden for the happiness of the people involved. Right then, Quentin suddenly stood up and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll head back first. You should rest as well. Even if my beloved grandson doesn’t understand anything now, I’ve made him a promise, and I don’t want to go back on my word. I’ll fully cooperate with you in finding Erin. If we’re fortunate enough to find her, I owe her an apology.” He’d said too many things that he had wanted to say but didn’t dare to that night. After saying them out loud, he could finally break free from the heavy shackles that bound him all these years. Quentin’s steps appeared much lighter than before as he walked away. Watching his departing figure, Chandler’s impression of Quentin as his father improved significantly.

Although he was no longer young, in Chandler’s eyes at that moment, he seemed twenty years younger. “Dad, thank you for your honesty. Please forgive my disrespect toward you over the years. I’m sorry about that!” Chandler called out to Quentin’s receding figure. A rare smile appeared on Quentin’s face. He turned around and said, “You were the one who orchestrated Jazzlyn’s affair, right? You’ve made the entire Overton family retreat in embarrassment. That plan was executed beautifully! Sometimes I worry about you. You really resemble me too much.”