Ella berated herself in her heart for crying earlier. When she was about to explain, Danny spoke first.
"Did you see anything yesterday? Sarah and I…."
“No! I didn't see anything. I had someone deliver that lunch box. I didn't go there personally.”
For a few seconds, Danny eyed her suspiciously, but in the end, he said nothing.
Just then, John and Sarah's voices drifted into the room again.
Danny froze for a moment before clearing his throat softly. "Don't overthink about Sarah tutoring John. Her physics has always been excellent and she got a perfect score on the college entrance examination. That's why I asked her to help with John's tutoring. Besides, based on academic qualifications, it's obvious that she's a better choice."
He then gently took Ella's hand and said softly, “Don’t overthink it. It’s enough for you to take good care of this home. You don’t need to do anything else.”
In the past, whenever he said this, Ella would reassure herself that taking care of the family was meaningful too and she was not worthless. But the word Danny had said during the interview that day still echoed in her mind and she could not forget them.
She pulled her hand away and said calmly, "Danny, I hope you always remember that the reason you got your PhD's spot was because I gave up mine for you.”
Danny was taken aback. He never expected that Ella would suddenly bring up the past. Only now did it dawn on him that her original abilities surpassed his own.
"Ella, I …."
But Ella had already gotten up and left the table. She walked straight into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
She dragged the box from under the bed and began pulling out its contents one by one. They were all her past award certificates. Yet the walls of this home seemed designed to hold for only one person’s honors.
It was just like Danny had said back then when he opposed her pursuing her doctorate. “One scientist in a family is enough. Someone must always stay home to take care of the family."
Back then, she thought love could conquer everything. So she gave up the opportunity to pursue her doctorate.
But she forgot that true feelings could change so easily. Danny had long moved on, while she remained blissfully unaware of it.
"Ella, I've washed the dishes. I won't be sleeping at home tonight—I need to head to the lab."
Hearing his words from outside the door, Ella let out a self-mocking chuckle.
What a flimsy lie and I had believed it for twenty years!
She kept wiping the trophy and certificates in her hands with tissues, for only seeing these awards could remind her of who she really was.
After twenty years of being a housewife, she had almost forgotten she was once a student whom all her teachers had high hopes for.
After rearranging the certificate, she called her former teacher.
"Is this … Ella?" the person on the other side asked in surprise.
"Yes, it’s me, Professor. I'm calling to ask ... Is the laboratory still recruiting? I want to come back. If it's not possible, then …."
When the person on the opposite side heard this, he hurriedly agreed. "Of course! Come over. The laboratory desperately needs talents like you.”
Hearing her teacher's words, a warm glow entered her heart.
The next morning, she was woken by a commotion.
She rubbed her eyes and opened the door to find people from the moving company.
“What... are you doing here?”
At that moment, Danny appeared and pulled her into the house.
"What's going on, Danny?" she asked.
Danny hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "Ella, to make it easier for John to commute to school, I bought an apartment near his school."
Ella's expression eased a bit. “I never said you couldn't buy a house, but you should have told me about something this big.”
She tried to open the door to leave, but unexpectedly, Danny grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"
Ella looked at him in confusion. "I'm going to help pack. Aren't we moving there? I'll sort my things and move them over later.”
But Danny was still holding her hand tightly, without any intention to let go.
"Do you have something more to say, Danny?" She restrained the tremble in her voice with difficulty when she asked that.
He lowered his head and said through gritted teeth, "The new place doesn’t have enough rooms. And since we need to set aside a room for Sarah, you can't go there."
In that instant, Ella felt her heart being crushed violently. Cold spread from her fingertips all the way through her body.
Danny hurriedly pulled her into his embrace and whispered softly, "I'm sorry, Ella. But you know, all school district apartments have that layout. I really didn’t have a choice …”
" … You and John are going to live with …S …Sarah?" Ella managed to croak hoarsely.
She felt his grip tighten around her. His voice came from above her. “Having Sarah live with us will make it easier for her to tutor John, so... But don't worry, Ella, she won't be staying long. You can live here by yourself for now. It's only until John finishes his college entrance exams ....”
Suddenly, Ella pushed him away, pointed at the door with trembling fingers and forced a word from her throat, "Leave!"
Danny opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but before he could, Ella had already pushed him out.
Watching the door slam shut before him, a strange sense of panic washed over him.
He knocked on the door and said in a low voice, “Ella, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.”
Inside, Ella slumped against the door and crumpled weakly on the floor. She had to bite her lips hard to stifle her cry of pain.
“Dad, what are you waiting for? Aunt Sarah has been waiting for us for a long time. Dinner is ready. Hurry up and leave."
As the sound of footsteps faded, silence fell over the house.
Ella closed her eyes and let her tears drop onto the floor.
She retrieved the lawyer's numbers she had deleted before. "Hello? I'd like to consult about divorce proceedings."
