I never imagined that Wanda would dare to make such an audacious request.
Not only did she want to marry Luigi, but she also expected all our son and grandsons to take his surname, leaving me as a lonely old man.
My hands shook as I dialed her number and I nearly shouted, "Wanda Larson, do you even realize what you're asking?"
"After decades of marriage, is there truly no love left between us? Must you drive me to death to feel satisfied?"
Her voice was calm and collected, as if she had anticipated my fury. "Ethan, I’m not commanding you. I’m just discussing it. Before you lose your temper, maybe you should ask the boys for their opinion. They’re adults now, so they have their own minds. Don’t you think you’ve controlled them enough over the years?"
I snapped. " I don’t need to ask. And I certainly won’t agree to this!"
"The blood that runs in our children’s veins is Mitchell’s family blood. That’s their heritage, their legacy!"
"They’ll change their surname to Collins over my dead body!"
Before she could respond, I abruptly hung up.
The phone buzzed repeatedly as she tried to call back, refusing to give in. It was not until I blocked her number that the house finally grew silent again.
I stared at the emptiness that had settled in my home, feeling more isolated than ever before.
The next morning, I began clearing out all of Wanda’s belongings. Once the house was stripped of her traces, it felt less suffocating.
I did not sleep the entire night. My thoughts swirled endlessly until a quiet clarity emerged.
A person cannot live solely for love, especially not for someone who doesn’t love you back.
I reminded myself that I was only sixty-three, still young enough to start anew. I resolved to live each day well and to be kind to myself.
Without hesitation, I signed up for a senior tour group. The chosen route was to the Great Northwind.
The Silkrana Road and the vast Loessara Plateau had long captivated me since I was young. But every time I brought up the idea in the past, Wanda dismissed it. She had no interest in barren places, let alone deserts.
Now, with her gone, I could finally go by myself.
Just as I was about to embark on this long-awaited journey, my phone rang. Lucas’s voice came through from the phone.
He spoke tearfully, "Dad, Mom is in the hospital!"
"Dad, Mom is in the hospital! She’s been diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. The doctor said she has maybe half a month left. Please, come quickly!"
For days, I had convinced myself that I had let go of everything. However, upon hearing the news about Wanda Larson, I felt a pang of helplessness.
Without hesitation, I canceled my trip and booked the earliest flight to Estoria.
When I rushed into the hospital ward, what I saw left me frozen in place.
Lying on the hospital bed, hooked up to an oxygen tube, was Luigi.
Wanda stood alongside our son and grandsons, their faces pale and worn with exhaustion.
Realizing I had been deceived, anger flared in me. I turned around, ready to leave, but Wanda blocked my path. "Ethan, please listen to me first."
"It’s not me who’s terminally ill. It’s Luigi."
"It was my idea for Feng'er to lie to you."
"I asked Lucas to lie to you. I knew you wouldn’t come otherwise."
I stared at her coldly: "Wanda Larson, we are divorced!"
"What do you want from me? Can’t you just let me go?"
Her tears fell freely now. "Ethan, in all the years we were married, I never begged you for anything. This is the first and the last time I’ll ask. "
"He doesn’t have much time left. The doctor said it could be any day now."
"I don’t want him to leave this world with regrets."
"Ethan, I beg you. I will even kneel."
"Just promise me you’ll allow our son and grandsons to change their surnames!"
