Capítulo 31: 31 Try Harder
"I know this is big but you have exams tomorrow. Can we talk about this after the exams." She doesn't know what else to tell her because her brother fucked up big time. She doesn't want to see her crying in despair because of her brother. She hugged her for quite some time before she gave her water to help her calm down. 'This is probably not the best words to say to console her, but hell, I'll kill you myself, Eric Lewis!'
Eric drove back to London after he walked out leaving Sofia in Ji An's care. His mind was in a mess not knowing what to do next. Why is it hard to have Ji An? Why does she have to find out the truth? All he wanted to do now was to drown himself in alcohol and forget how his wife looked like earlier, her tearful face that broke his heart and he was to blame for it, he did it to her.
Though her mind was omnipresent, she still has to tend to her daughter's needs. Luckily, Alice was there to help her. She found a baby sitter for Sofia the same day and though it was hard, Ji An managed to set aside her anger and frustration to concentrate on her exams.
Exam day
Her mind was still all over the place, though she endured and calm down, not pondering about what had transpired was easier said than done, how is she supposed to answer her exams in that situation? How is she supposed to deal with Eric afterwards?
The exam took a week to finish and Eric was supposed to visit them at the weekends but he didn't. Sofia was still with Ji An and Alice and they were coping quite alright. She managed to look after her daughter and go to school with the help of Alice and the babysitter she hired.
Alice cannot endure the situation not knowing what will happen to them, "What is your plan, Ji?" her face appeared to age a little because she was troubled about them. She doesn't really want a divorce for them, they should think about Sofia's wellness before theirs and she needs Eric to be there for her. Sofia needs a family she can depend on, a complete family she can be proud of.
Ji An didn't even wince when said she wanted a divorce. She said it bluntly not displaying any sentiments or distress, she didn't even look at Alice when she said that. Her attention was on Sofia's.
Alice gulped her saliva and studied Ji An seriously, "Ji, don't you love him? I mean, I know he messed up... but he really does love you. He didn't tricky—"
She cut her off, "What do you mean he didn't deceive me. He lied to me, Alice." Ji An pointed to herself and looked at Alice before pointing to her, "And to you, to your whole family! Unless of course, you knew it already." She gazed at her waiting for admission.
Alice stood up and walked to Ji An, she held her arm, "I swear to god, I didn't know. Aren't you a family now? Look, Sofia has a dad now, and Eric looks after her. What more can you ask for? Why can't you just forgive him instead? I think Eric is a better dad than her biological father! Plus you don't know who on earth he is!" She was very firm about convincing her friend not to continue with the divorce, she was convinced that it won't benefit any of them especially Sofia.
"Alice, if this is the case, I should have just asked Cheng Ze to take responsibility for me. I should have told him I'm pregnant. I married Eric knowing that he was her father. I didn't marry him because I want him to take responsibility." She exclaimed with a firm voice as she stared directly in Alice's eyes.
"He might have said no!" Alice let Ji An's arms go and turned around holding her forehead, "Are you sure he would have said yes and tell you he will marry you and become a father to your daughter like Eric did?"
"He would have said yes if I did ask him!" The certainty in her voice was apparent as she said that. She sighed, her voice changed and her spirit vanished, "But now..."
"Now... what? Are you thinking of pursuing that guy? Hell no Ji An!" she looked at Ji An with an imploring face, "Please try to understand Eric first, he did this for you! He wanted to give you a family. Can you at least try? For me? For Sofia? Think of us, please. We are your family." Alice was practically begging her and striving to persuade her to stay with her brother Eric.
Ji An and Eric didn't talk after she found out the truth. Eric didn't visit them and stayed in London in their house, alone. Usually, Sofia was there with him and they'll bond, play and have some fun, but now, she's not there and he misses her a lot. "Why now?!? Why did this happen?" He screamed on his own and threw the glass with a whiskey on the floor.
"Ji An" he called for her name "Don't leave me. I'm so sorry. I did that because I love you more than my pride and ego. Please forgive me." He cried as he slumped on the floor.
Summer holidays had arrived, though Eric didn't visit them in Oxfordshire, he hasn't given up on Ji An and the divorce she wanted, he just couldn't agree to it. Sofia was nearly one and Alice planned a party for the little one. She invited Eric including her mum and dad.
Eric showed up with his parents and begged Ji An not to tell them what had happened, about the lie he made and about the divorce she was asking for. Between the two of them, the only person who knew everything was Alice. Obviously, she won't tell her parents as she wanted the people she loves to be together.
During the summer break after Sofia's birthday party in Oxfordshire, Alice, Sofia and Ji An went back to London and stayed in their house, Alice persuaded her to talk it out with Eric and come to an agreement or somehow compromise and agree with something to improve their relationship. But when Ji An wanted to be difficult she can be a total bitch too.
As the two of them sat together to talk about their relationship, Ji An remained nonchalant throughout the whole conversation while Eric plead and begged her.
Eric: Hey, how are you doing? How is Sofia?
Ji An: Good!
Eric: Do you still want to go to Scotland?
Ji An: If you go, I won't go!
Eric: Ji An, please. Don't be like this.
Ji An: I already agreed, I won't tell your parents what happened and what you did. Do you want more favours? What else do you want?
He gave up the idea that they will come to an agreement at her current state, she was being way too difficult to handle at that moment.
Eric: You go then. Take Sofia and have a good time. Maybe take Alice too so you can have fun together..
Ji An: Tsk! Don't act like you are concerned about us! Because I know, anything that comes out from your mouth are all lies!
Eric: What do you want me to do Ji An? I already begged you, I swallowed my pride. I'm here to ask for forgiveness. What else can I do?
Ji An: Divorce!!!
Eric was really trying so hard to be patient with her. But he is only human and can only put up with so much. He left and went to a bar to drown his sorrows on his own! He really loves Ji An, he will give her anything she wanted and asked for, but he cannot agree to the divorce she wanted, he won't let it happen.
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