The three of us wandered around the city park. The afternoon air seemed too sweet to behold, golden sunlight shining through the trees whose leaves were gently swaying, and the laughter of small children running along the path sounded like music that should have been beautiful. But in my eyes, it all felt like irony. A piercing beauty, as if mocking my innermost being.
Along the way, I kept glancing at William with an irritated expression. His faint smile, his haughty steps, and the way he occasionally put his arm around my mother's shoulder made my blood boil. He'd occasionally look back at me with a challenging gaze, as if to say: you're powerless, I already have everything you want.
My mother didn't notice. She was too busy chuckling beside William, too busy allowing herself to be embraced by a man who, to me, was nothing but a parasite. I hated William so much. And I knew he hated me too. A hate that was never expressed directly, but palpable in the air every time our eyes met.
"Honey, let's go!" my mother exclaimed cheerfully, pointing at a towering Ferris wheel, a giant wheel with small lights that were starting to light up even though the sun hadn't completely set.
William glanced at me briefly, then nodded, looking at my mother. "Okay." His voice was calm, but triumphant.
I was getting increasingly annoyed. I walked behind the two of them, who were holding hands. My mother's fingers, which had always held mine warmly, now moved so easily to his. They truly loved each other. And that was the biggest problem for me.
We started toward the Ferris wheel. William readily took out his money and paid for the tickets to the attendant, as if wanting to show my mother that he was a responsible man. I could only snort softly, restraining myself from saying something rude in public.
When it was our turn to board, I immediately stepped inside and chose to sit in the back seat, alone. My mother, of course, chose to sit in the front, next to William. The seat felt colder than the night air. From my position, I could clearly see the shadows of the two of them, silhouettes that looked like a happy couple.
What disgusted me most was William's flirting with my mother. His hand deliberately touching her hair, his fake-soft voice, even his gaze full of feigned affection.
I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists tightly. "Disgusting," I muttered softly, though no one could hear.
William chuckled softly as he whispered into my mother's ear. "You're getting prettier every day, you know?"
My mother chuckled sheepishly, then patted his shoulder lightly. "Ah, you're so mean."
I wanted to scream. I wanted to remind my mother that this was all an act, that William wasn't who she thought he was. But my tongue was numb. All that came out was a long sigh mixed with disgust.
The Ferris wheel slowly began to spin, carrying us upward. From above, the city looked beautiful, lights twinkling, the streets bustling with people who looked like ants from afar. But I couldn't enjoy the view.
My focus was on one thing: the image of William inching closer to my mother. He glanced at me, then smiled a lopsided smile, a smile only I could understand: I'd already won.
"If only Dad were still alive..." I whispered to myself, his voice echoing in my head, mixed with the pain I'd suppressed for too long.
I leaned my head against the wall of the Ferris wheel cabin, my eyes glued to the window. From up here, the city looked like a beautiful painting: towering buildings, small lights starting to come on even though the sun hadn't yet set, and the bustling city park looked tiny like a miniature. A gentle breeze drifted in through the gaps in the glass, gently touching my skin, but for some reason, my heart felt empty.
My eyes sparkled for a moment, not with happiness, but with emptiness—an emptiness that no one could fill.
And at that moment, old memories came flooding back.
I began to remember my childhood, when I was five years old. My father and mother took me on this ride for the first time. The three of us sat together in a single cabin seat, me nestled sweetly in my mother's lap. I could still smell her soft, warm, soothing scent. My father, with his cheerful face and enthusiastic voice, continued to comfort us with his motivational words that always sparked hope.
"Look down, son. The world is big, but you'll always have your own place in it," my father said then, pointing out at the glittering city.
My mother stroked my hair lovingly, her smile so gentle, as if I were everything to her. At that moment, I felt complete, the world was beautiful, and I believed my little family was the safest place there was.
But now… all of that is just a fragment of a memory that continues to haunt me. The more I remember, the more suffocating it feels. My chest aches, my throat tightens, and my eyes begin to well up. Tears fall before I can hold them back, making me quickly lower my head. I quickly wipe my cheeks, hoping no one will notice.
But I was wrong.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see William glance at me. A sinister smile is etched on his face, a smile that makes my blood boil. He grins with satisfaction, as if the sight of my tears is entertainment to him.
"Ah, so this spoiled little brat is crying too?" He said softly, clear enough for me to hear, but in a tone intended to keep my mother from noticing.
I clenched my fists in my lap. My breath hitched, wanting to retaliate with harsh words, but I knew my mother was sitting next to me. And I didn't want to make her suspicious.
I glanced briefly at my mother. She was busy gazing out at the city view, her face beaming like a young girl newly in love. There was no sign that she realized how deeply William's attitude was hurting me.
I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back my surging emotions.
William moved his face a little closer to mine, still wearing that mocking smile. "Crying won't bring anyone back, you know?" he whispered, more sharply this time. "You can stare out the window as much as you want, but in the end... your mother is only mine now."
Those words pierced my heart.
I lifted my head, staring at him with hatred. Our eyes met—my wet, angry ones meeting his arrogant ones. I really wanted to scream, to slap him in the face, to vent all the hatred burning in my chest.
But I could only remain silent, because my mother was still there. And I knew that one harsh word would make her worry, or worse… disappoint me.
I lowered my head again, clutching my knees tightly, trying to calm myself. But my heart screamed loudly...i hate him, i really hate William.
The Ferris wheel slowly came to a stop, its seats shaking slightly before coming to a complete stop. The three of us stepped off cautiously. We had been in the city park for hours, walking from one ride to another, trying out games, buying snacks, and watching people laugh with their families. Honestly, my legs were starting to feel heavy, my body was tired, and the feeling of gloom was building. For some reason, I hadn't been able to fully enjoy it all.
My mother still looked cheerful, her eyes sparkling, her steps light, her smile never fading. A stark contrast to me, who had been looking down most of the time. She turned to me, as if noticing something was wrong. Her warm hand touched my shoulder, making me jump slightly.
"Grie…? Are you tired?" her voice was soft, full of concern, as if trying to penetrate the wall I'd built inside me.
I quickly looked away, not wanting her to see my heavy eyes. "A little, maybe," I replied softly. My voice was almost drowned out by the noise of the city park.
My mother took a deep breath and straightened up. Her gaze shifted to William, who had been walking beside us. "Honey, let's just go home. Grie looks tired."
I glanced at William. His face tensed for a split second, his eyes blinking rapidly, and then I caught a glimpse of displeasure on his face. Despite his smile, I could tell what was going on inside. Gosh, this kid is pissing me off. I shouldn't have invited him. He's just making things worse. That was more or less what he was saying, even though he didn't say it.
But William quickly masked his annoyance. His wide smile returned, as if nothing was wrong. "Ah, but I want to take you guys to a fancy restaurant over there. It just opened, they say the food is amazing. Is that okay?" His voice sounded excited, though I knew it was just a facade.
My mother turned to me, her eyes full of questions. I could feel her waiting for me to make a decision. I looked down for a moment, then looked at him and nodded slowly. I didn't really want to go, but I felt bad about refusing.
William seemed satisfied with my nod, and his smile widened. The three of us then walked toward the parking lot. My steps felt heavy, but I followed him. William opened the door of his luxury car, and my mother climbed in leisurely, while I climbed in with mixed feelings.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was silent. I stared out the window, watching the city lights flash by as the car drove by. I wondered, how could a man as wealthy as William possibly like my mother so deeply? Did he truly love her, or was there something else going on? These suspicious thoughts continued to plague my mind.
Soon, the car stopped. William got out first, opened the door for my mother with a sweet gesture, and waited for me to get out. And before us stood a luxurious five-star restaurant. The building towered with modern architecture mixed with classic, crystal chandeliers reflecting in all directions. Large, transparent windows revealed the beauty of the interior.
We entered, and the waiter immediately greeted us warmly and directed us to the VIP room. The room was spacious, with the soft scent of jasmine wafting from the corner. Round tables with neat white cloths, vanilla-scented candles burning quietly, and plush velvet chairs created an elegant atmosphere.
William sat down confidently, placed his phone on the table, and ordered a variety of expensive dishes without hesitation. The list was so long, even the waiter was taken aback. I could only lean back in my chair, my eyes scanning every corner of the room.
My goodness… this place was truly luxurious. Classical paintings adorned the walls, their frames gilded. The crystal chandelier overhead cast a beautiful light that cast sparkling shadows on the table. The crystal glasses, the silver cutlery, everything looked intimidating.
I felt small in a place like this.