Chapter 99
“Annoying?” Jennifer just shrugged and poured Pandora a drink, then topped off her own glass.
“Pandora, my dad said some things he shouldn’t have. I’m really sorry about that,” she said. “He’s having a glass as punishment, but I’ll take three to make up for it p>
Without hesitating, Jennifer tipped back her glass and drank. Then she did it again. And again.
Daniel glared at her, practically fuming. “Hey! You’re just trying to finish off all the good stuff I made p>
Jennifer wiped her mouth and grinned. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. Who knows if I’ll ever get to drink something this good again?” What she didn’t say out loud was that she might never get to taste her dad’s homemade liquor again.
Her words hung in the air. The whole table fell silent.
Jennifer realized she’d said too much and scrambled to fix it.
Pandora jumped in, her voice light. “If Jennifer likes it, let her drink. Once she finishes it, you can always make more for her. Or are you planning to stay lazy in that wheelchair forever p>
That hit home. Jennifer jumped in, teasing, “Yeah, Dad, your health hasn’t been great this year, but you’re not planning to be stuck in that chair again next year, are you? Or did you hear those electric wheelchairs can drive down the street and are even better than a car p>
Suddenly, Daniel broke down in tears. “Pandora, I can’t stand anymore. I won’t be around much longer p>
Pandora put her chopsticks down, sounding annoyed. “Daniel, what are you going on about in front of your daughters? Have a little dignity. Look at them, you’re making them so upset p>
Daniel just kept crying. “Pandora, I mean it. I don’t have much time left. I just can’t let go of them, and I wanted to see you one more time. I’ve felt so guilty all these years p>
He was the reason Pandora and her husband had been separated, and Jackson… nobody even knew if he was still alive. Daniel had been carrying this guilt forever.
Pandora started to say something, but Claire shook her head, giving her a silent signal. Maybe it was better to just let Daniel cry and get it all out.
Noticing the look, Pandora switched tactics and scolded him,
half-serious: “And you think you’re in any position to talk? Back then,
when we argued and
wanted to
leave, I wouldn’t even give him money. But you… you gave him travel money and sorted his whole trip. Where did you get the nerve? Weren’t you scared he’d die out in Eldoria p>
Daniel sniffled, his voice cracking. “I sent people to check later. Jackson wasn’t in Eldoria. He might’ve gone abroad p>
The more he talked, the sadder he got. It’s hard to fix a rift like this between old friends, especially when it runs so deep. But Daniel didn’t care about dignity anymore. He just wanted to cry, hoping Pandora would eventually forgive him.
“Pandora, I’m dying. Please, just forgive me p>
Pandora rolled her eyes. “Oh, so now you’re trying to guilt me with death? Even if you were in a coffin, I’d drag you out just to yell at you again. Don’t think I won’t p>
Pandora hadn’t had many friends in her life, but Daniel was definitely one of them. Seeing him like this hurt her too. She realized he’d probably. know it was bone cancer for a long time, not some tendon or rheumatism thing. He hadn’t told his daughters because be knew they were trying to keep it from him too. So what could he do? He just decided to go along with them, let them have their way.
Daniel was a good dad.
But Jackson wasn’t. He was too ambitious. Once he was out in the world, there was no bringing him back. That’s why Pandora barely mentioned him these past years barely herself think about him.* She’d wanted someone steady, someone who would stay by her side. But life had other ideas.