It was evening, and while Mike was busy trying on Christmas clothes with the girls in the luxurious villa's bathroom, living room, and kitchen, among other places, an anxious Mark was also seeking help from his rich second-generation friend, Ned, in his opulent villa.
"What should I do to make Scarlett not divorce me in a week?" Children's issues and the like were now secondary for Mark; what he feared most was his wife filing for divorce in court.
According to the new "Marriage Law," Scarlett had been separated from her husband for over three months, so as long as she filed for divorce in court, the divorce could proceed regardless of whether her husband was present or not.
Mark wanted to reconcile, but in his current eighteen-year-old appearance, he simply couldn't do it, which was the cause of his distress.
"Hey, look on the bright side… maybe if you confess to Scarlett in your current form, she'll forgive you. You know, this is an eighteen-year-old body…" In the living room, Ned, the rich second-generation wearing an Iron Man replica suit, grinned mischievously and thrust his hips.
This rich second-generation was different from others; he didn't like debauchery and extravagance, but was instead very keen on collecting various action figures.
In his living room display cabinet, countless expensive life-sized action figures were displayed, including Spider-Man, Batman, Flash, and Star Trek series.
"I'm serious, Ned!" An anxious Mark glared at his repressed and childish friend, warning him to be serious.
Of course, it was precisely because Ned had such a 'loser' side that he could get along with Mark and become a long-time friend.
"I'm serious too…" Ned lifted his Iron Man mask and said, "Didn't you often complain to me before that Scarlett was too strict with you, and that your children were disobedient and so on…
Now, you have a chance to escape all of that and start anew as a young man.
Also, don't you like basketball? You always dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. As long as you lead the Columbia University basketball team to win the college basketball league championship this year, professional basketball teams will definitely notice you…
To be honest, I'm starting to envy you now."
As a best friend, Ned truly considered his buddy.
It was precisely because he knew how unsuccessful his friend's previous marriage was that he advised him to start a new life.
"I…" Mark was stunned by his friend's persuasive words, then retorted, "You haven't been married, you don't understand."
KO!!!
With just one sentence, Ned, who was over forty and psychologically childish, fell into self-isolation.
"But you're right, my marriage with Scarlett was a failure. Since she wants a divorce, I should give her freedom…" Mark had thought a lot that day, from his spirited self in the past to the changes after marrying Scarlett.
At eighteen, he had the opportunity to become a professional basketball player, but he gave up his basketball dream and chose to marry his girlfriend after learning she was pregnant.
This should have been a sweet beginning…
However, with the trivialities of married life, the daily grind, and dissatisfaction at work, Mark couldn't help but miss his basketball dream.
He couldn't help but wonder: if he hadn't married Scarlett back then, he would have become a professional basketball player, and that would have been a wonderful life.
Moreover, the more unhappy Mark's life became in middle age, the stronger this idea grew.
Until finally, he couldn't help but complain to his wife, his temper became increasingly strange, and even his children became his "punching bags."
'I'm not a good husband, nor am I a good father. I personally ruined my happy family…'
Mark, who reviewed his past life, made the correct judgment.
Now he was beginning to feel that divorcing Scarlett was the best option. She wouldn't have to endure his bad temper anymore, and he, back to being eighteen, could try to pursue his basketball dream.
"Thank you, Ned," Mark, who had figured out many things, said to his bewildered friend, "I already know what to do."
After speaking, having made his decision, he walked into his room on his own, planning to get a good night's sleep and recuperate.
He was mentally and physically exhausted today.
"Huh?" In the living room, Ned, still wearing his high-quality Iron Man replica suit, scratched his head.
He didn't understand why his friend thanked him, or why his friend's emotions were so erratic.
'Perhaps his rebellious phase has arrived!'
Ultimately, Ned, who had severe 'chūnibyō', also made his own judgment.
It could be said that during this period, by taking care of his friend like a "son," he also experienced a bit of what it felt like to be a father.
…
Another week passed, and Mark, having made up his mind, no longer tried to approach his three family members; instead, he began to seriously practice his basketball skills.
It was precisely because of this serious attitude that his basketball skills, already having a foundation, improved by leaps and bounds, and his prominence on the team even surpassed that of the other "Werewolf" star, one of Columbia University basketball team's twin stars.
Moreover, in this week's quarter-final match of the college basketball league, Mark also had a very impressive performance, ultimately helping the team win.
This also earned him more favor from the coach and his teammates.
It could be said that after "correcting" his attitude, Mark's life was like a fish in water.
Finally, the time came again for the weekend, the day Scarlett proposed divorce.
In the courtroom, a somewhat haggard woman held all the necessary divorce documents but hesitated to hand them over to the judge, as if waiting for something.
After a long while, in the woman's hopeful gaze, a man's figure walked in from the courthouse entrance.
"Where's Mike? Why are you wearing his jacket?" When Scarlett recognized the person, a surge of anger instantly choked her.
Originally, the woman hadn't decided whether she really wanted a divorce; she even considered if she should agree if her husband tried to reconcile today.
But Mark's appearance completely shattered her illusion. And the jacket he was wearing proved that this eighteen-year-old boy was indeed related to her husband.
The "illegitimate child" issue resurfaced in Scarlett's mind.
Moreover, the woman even misunderstood: on this important day, her husband was still unwilling to appear, and instead sent his "illegitimate child" over, which was an insult to her.
Not tearing into him on the spot was already a testament to Scarlett's upbringing.
However, the woman probably never would have thought that the reason Mark appeared here wearing his old clothes was to give his wife a proper ending.
Although he couldn't reveal his identity, he still wanted to express his guilt in his own way.
"He won't be here today." Mark met the woman's angry gaze, his voice slightly hoarse: "But he asked me to bring a letter, a letter of apology for Ms. Scarlett…"
After speaking, under the woman's puzzled gaze, Mark pulled out a sheet of letter paper, unfolded it, and read aloud seriously:
Dear Scarlett, I am very sorry that due to personal reasons, I cannot be here in person today.
However, I still want to say "I'm sorry" to you. I failed to give you a happy life as promised, and I also failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a husband and father…
I have too much guilt towards you and our family; instead, I should thank you for your constant tolerance and dedication to me…
…
As the apology letter continued, Scarlett's eyes gradually blurred, and she recalled various scenes from her life with her husband.
If possible, she very much hoped that this apology would be spoken by her husband himself.
But looking at the situation, her husband couldn't even apologize in person. This "cowardly" behavior disappointed Scarlett again.
Moreover, similar irresponsible situations like today had happened many times in their lives. It was these small "disappointments" accumulating that gradually made Scarlett lose patience with her husband.
"If ending the marriage is what you want, then I choose to fulfill it for you…"
As the woman's thoughts wandered, Mark finished reading the letter with the closing remarks: "After the divorce, I still wish you happiness—
Your forever loving Mike."
With that, Mark folded the letter paper, gently placed it on the chair beside him, and then turned and left the courthouse.
And Scarlett, having listened to the entire "apology letter," could no longer hold back her tears.
In her heart of hearts, she still loved her husband.
She even fantasized that if this apology letter had been read aloud by her husband himself today, she would have forgiven him.
Unfortunately, there was no "if"…
The woman stood blankly, her whole demeanor revealing a sense of loss.
It's all over!
However, the woman inadvertently looked up and seemed to unexpectedly see her "husband's" back.
'How is this possible!'
Scarlett surprisingly wiped away her tears and looked again, only to see that the figure was actually Mark's departing back.
'It's just too similar, the way he walks, and the feeling he gives off…'
Sometimes people are like this; a flash of inspiration will bring forth a "sixth sense" that they themselves don't believe.
But Scarlett was certain that her feeling was absolutely correct.
To grasp this moment's feeling, the woman quickly walked to the door and picked up the letter paper on the chair: the handwriting was very familiar, but it wasn't her husband's current handwriting.
A bold idea resurfaced in the woman's mind, making her, hot-headed, chase out of the courthouse door.
Unfortunately, the only person who could give her answers had already disappeared from the doorway.
…
On the other side, Mark, having left the courthouse, got into his rich second-generation friend's luxury car. As the engine roared, the man buried his face in his lap, tears streaming down.
They say men don't easily shed tears, and Ned, not knowing how to comfort his friend, could only speed up again, letting the roaring engine take away all the unhappiness.
"Feeling better?" Half an hour later, Ned parked the car in a desolate suburban area and casually tossed a bottle of water to the person in the passenger seat.
Mark had now lifted his head, but his eyes were still red: "Why must I suffer all this…?"
God's prank?
Clearly, Mark thought of the "old man" who had made him young; he was very likely the legendary God.
Yet, on that rainy night, he had kindly helped him.
Now, wasn't this repaying kindness with enmity?
If he hadn't been changed into his current appearance by him, would he still have had a chance to win his wife back…
Even with psychological preparation, when it came to the point of divorce, Mark's heart was still filled with regret and sorrow.
So much so that he blamed the failure of his marriage on the "God" who had made him young.
'The rebellious phase is getting worse!!'
Beside him, Ned, watching Mark's frantic and constantly "changing" expressions, sighed helplessly and then honestly shifted his body away.
After all, a teenager in the midst of his rebellious phase is someone most people truly can't provoke.
At the same time, Scarlett also quickly drove home from the courthouse; as soon as she entered the house, she rushed into the utility room and started rummaging frantically.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Alex, knowing it was his parents' divorce day, followed his mother, concerned, seeing her unusual behavior.
"Oh, right, do you have any of Mark's handwriting? Help me find it, I need it…" Scarlett, thinking of something, directly gave her son the task.
"Mark's handwriting?" Alex didn't understand his mother's intention, but thinking that she must be in a bad mood due to the divorce today, he didn't dare to ask more and hurried away.
In fact, over the past week, the boy had also been very troubled. After last weekend's "diary peeking incident," he found that his "big brother" Mark was intentionally distancing himself at school.
Alex, mistakenly believing it was because he hadn't backed up his "big brother" during that incident, which made him dislike him, had been sad for quite some time.
But he probably couldn't have imagined that his "big brother" was acting this way entirely because he was in the process of divorcing his mother.
Alex was simply caught in the crossfire.
Soon, when Alex returned to the storage room after finding the precious basketball training plan his "big brother" had written for him earlier in his room, he saw his mother holding two sheets of letter paper, one old and one new, with an inscrutable expression.
It was as if she was both surprised and delighted, and also in disbelief…
Yes, the two letter papers in Scarlett's hand were one, the "apology letter" Mark had just left, and the other, a love letter O'Donnell had written to her when he was young.
What surprised the woman was that the handwriting on both letters was exactly the same. This discovery seemed to confirm her bold suspicion.
This was also why Scarlett's expression was so complex.
"Mom, this is what you wanted." Alex cautiously handed over Mark's handwriting.
Then, three pieces of paper with the same handwriting were laid out in front of Scarlett.
At this point, she seemed to understand many things. But still, the same question remained: how was this possible?