CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: WHEN LIES ARE TOLD TOO MANY TIMES, EVEN HE BELIEVES THEM

On the other end of the phone, Eleanor’s concerned and gentle voice came through, "Hey, Nathaniel, are you feeling better today?"

"Yes, much better. Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll come to see you."

Eleanor, excited by this, responded, "I’m waiting for you. I’m already impatient to see what our son looks like, and I want to hold him too!"

"Haven’t I sent you a photo of our son?"

"How can a photo compare to the real thing? Really, really, I just want to hold him now and hear him call me Mommy!"

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher smiled silently, a lump in his throat.

"Nathaniel, thank you. Thank you for being so thoughtful. All these years, every time you came to see me and those words you said to me, I heard them all."

"It’s because of your care and encouragement that I fought with all my might to wake up. Grateful to heaven, allowing me to have today. I feel so happy!"

Nathaniel felt a pang in his nose and said tenderly, "There will be even more happiness in the future."

"Of course, we must fiercely embrace happiness in the days ahead and enjoy the time we have left."

"Nathaniel, I really didn’t misjudge you, nor did I lose the gamble."

"... Eleanor, I... won’t let you lose either!"

"Haha, I certainly know, thank you for loving me so much."

"..." Nathaniel listened, his heart filled with mixed emotions, unable to say a word.

These past few years.

Every six months, he went to Vessia to see her.

He would tell her everything that happened in those six months and all the thoughts in his heart.

Especially when he was getting married, he explained his reasons and thoughts to her again and again.

Including Josephine’s pregnancy and childbirth later, he told her everything in detail.

He would always tell her: it was all for her that he did these things, his current marriage was just a transaction. He had no affection for his current wife, just using, just calculating.

In the end.

He would even self-mockingly ask her if he was really bad?

But...

Sometimes men deceive themselves too, telling lies repeatedly until they believe them.

But actually, he just wanted to confide, wanted to share his darkest thoughts with her.

Yet he never imagined that she took it all in and miraculously woke up!

Eleanor: "Nathaniel, why aren’t you speaking?"

"No, I’m just listening to you."

"I want to hear your voice, can’t wait to see you now."

"Okay, once I’m well, I’ll come get you immediately."

"Next time you come, make sure to bring our son, don’t forget."

"Don’t worry! I definitely won’t forget!"

"Hmm, I miss you, love you."

"Me too."

They talked for more than ten minutes, until there was nothing more to say, and then they hung up the phone.

After hanging up.

Nathaniel Gallagher leaned against the headboard, feeling an indescribable pressure and heaviness in his heart.

"... What should I do?"

He took out his phone, looked at the photo of a family of three, and felt even more uneasy.

"Beep beep beep..."

He couldn’t help but dial Josephine’s phone.

"Hello, the number you dialed is turned off. Please try again later."

"Ah, what a headache!"

Whether it’s Eleanor or Josephine.

Both of them have strong personalities, they can’t possibly coexist peacefully.

So, he can only choose one.

...

In the afternoon.

Nathaniel Gallagher was discharged from the hospital and went home.

The Gallagher Family old mansion.

Seeing him return, Henry Gallagher ran over happily, "Daddy, you’re back?"

"Yes, what are you doing?" Nathaniel bent down and picked up his son.

Henry said happily, "I’m building Lego."

"Daddy, will you play with me?"

"Sure!" Nathaniel smiled and patted his son’s head, then patiently played with him.

Henry, after all, was a child, oblivious to the troubles in his daddy’s eyes.

"Henny..."

"Hmm, what’s up?"

"... If giving you a different mommy, would you be willing?"

Henry stopped his building, looked at him curiously, "Daddy, do you want to make Auntie Vivian my mommy?"

"..." Nathaniel was stunned for a few seconds, momentarily tongue-tied.

The child was too young to understand the complexities between adults.

He wasn’t sure if Henny would accept Eleanor.

Henry thought hard for a moment, then firmly shook his head, "Daddy, better not change mommy."

"Why? Don’t you dislike mommy?"

Henry tilted his head, reflecting thoughtfully, "Hmm~, actually I don’t dislike mommy."

"Just, when I wanted her to play with me, she always didn’t. That’s why I didn’t like her."

"But, new daddy taught me, told me stories about lamb kneeling to mother sheep and crows feeding back."

"Said mommy suffered a lot when giving birth, went through a lot for me, I should respect mommy, be a good kid."

"..." Nathaniel furrowed his brow, feeling another lump in his throat.

"Of course, new daddy also said, if I don’t respect mommy, he’ll hit me every time he sees me, even cut off my ears!"

Pfft.

Nathaniel’s brow furrowed tighter as he listened, "Stop, don’t call anyone else daddy."

"Oh, sorry daddy. I’ll remember from now on, I only have one daddy and one mommy."

"Oh, right, where did mommy go? Why hasn’t she come home for many days? I miss her so much!"

Actually, he didn’t hate mommy!

It’s Grandma Dixon who kept saying mommy was bad, that she was a wicked woman. That’s why he gradually disliked mommy!

These things he told new daddy.

The new dad had taught him that Grandma Dixon was the real old witch, the ancient witch of Black Mountain.

And he also said Auntie Vivian was a vixen, trying to steal his daddy away.

So, his opinion of mommy changed once again.

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher was choked up, unable to say a single word.

...

During dinner.

Mrs. Gallagher, noticing he was absent-minded, couldn’t help but ask, "Nathaniel, what are your plans now?"

"No plans at all!"

"What’s going on between you and Vivian?"

"What’s going on?"

Mrs. Gallagher: "Didn’t you two already do that the other day?"

Nathaniel Gallagher frowned: "You’re overthinking it, how could I be involved with her?"

"I’m full. Take your time eating."

After saying that, he stood up and prepared to leave the dining table.

Mrs. Gallagher couldn’t help but persuade her son again, "Nathaniel, how long has it been since Josephine last came back?"

"Are you really planning to divorce her? If it’s possible not to divorce, it’s better not to. Those women outside, you can have fun, but don’t really bring them home..."

Nathaniel Gallagher couldn’t listen anymore and had already walked out the door.

...

In the blink of an eye.

Another week had passed.

Other than finding excuses to delay, he couldn’t think of another solution.

September 4th!

"Ring ring..."

Josephine Thompson called him proactively.

Seeing the caller ID, Nathaniel Gallagher was excited and hurriedly answered, "Hello, dear, you finally called me..."

On the other end of the line, Josephine Thompson’s voice was cold, "Nathaniel Gallagher, the court session is set daily, I hope you’ll appear on time."

"..." Hearing this, Nathaniel Gallagher felt a sudden chill in his heart.

He wanted to say something, but couldn’t utter a word.

Josephine Thompson’s tone remained icy, "I currently hold sufficient evidence to ruin your reputation. If you don’t want these scandals exposed, sign the divorce tomorrow smoothly."

Nathaniel Gallagher was silent for a few seconds, "I understand."

"That’s it then."

Josephine Thompson finished speaking and directly hung up the phone.

Reaching this point now.

There really was nothing left to say.

She didn’t ask for compensation or an apology; she just wanted to wrap things up quickly and end it all early.

"Hope everything goes well tomorrow, and we can move on quickly..."

...

The next day.

Josephine Thompson got up early, freshened up, and arrived at the court on time with her lawyer.

Half past nine.

The court session officially began.

As expected, Nathaniel Gallagher did not come.

Only his lawyer attended.

As usual, the lawyer, following his instructions, adamantly refused the divorce.

The lawyers from both sides argued fiercely.

But because the defendant didn’t appear, the judge could only announce a half-month delay for the next court session.

Walking out of the court.

Josephine Thompson was annoyed, knowing Nathaniel Gallagher was deliberately stalling.

The more he delayed, the more agitated she became.

"Ring ring..."

Fuming, she immediately dialed Nathaniel Gallagher’s number again.

The call hardly rang a few times.

Nathaniel Gallagher got out of the car and walked straight up to her, "Josephine, I want to talk to you properly again."

Seeing Nathaniel Gallagher appear.

Josephine Thompson was even angrier, "Nathaniel Gallagher, what do you mean? How long do you plan to drag this out? You’re being too much, dragging like this is meaningless..."

Before she could finish scolding.

Nathaniel Gallagher’s eyes turned red, and he suddenly hugged her.

"Ugh~ what are you doing, let go!"

Nathaniel Gallagher looked forlorn, holding her tightly, "Dear, I just want to hug you well once more."

He didn’t want to face it, and he was reluctant to let go.

His heart had already made a difficult decision.

He just wanted to delay a bit longer, to continue a little more time.

"Let go, let go of me. Nathaniel Gallagher, don’t push it too far..."

The two of them were in the midst of a tussle.

A cold female voice came from behind, "Nathaniel!"

Hearing the familiar voice.

Nathaniel Gallagher stiffened, instinctively releasing Josephine Thompson.

Josephine Thompson also turned her head, looking at the person.

Behind them, a middle-aged woman was pushing a wheelchair.

In the wheelchair.

Sitting was a woman in her thirties.

She was wearing an elegant, tailored white dress, with short hair just reaching her ears. Her composure was calm, with an air of authority.

Time had left its marks on her face, yet her youthful charm was still visible.

Nathaniel Gallagher took a sharp breath, his voice stuttering, "...Eleanor, why... why are you here?"

Eleanor Churchill gave a faint smile, "I couldn’t wait any longer, so I thought I’d give you a surprise."

After speaking, her gaze coldly and curiously shifted to Josephine Thompson.

She knew Nathaniel Gallagher was coming to court with his wife today.

She especially wanted to see what the ’emotionless’ wife he always mentioned looked like.