Chapter 57 Ethan's Last Words

She thought that the box would contain something like a child's small toy. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a delicate, small notebook.

What was written on that notebook were all Ethan's last words.

"Mom, I knew I was seriously ill, and that one day, I would die. But I still had so many things I wanted to say to you. So, I decided to write down all the things I wanted to tell you in this notebook."

"Mom, the happiest thing in my life, was being able to be your son. You are the best mom in the world."

"Mom, I'm sorry, Ethan has been such a disappointment, always getting sick. I know you've suffered a lot and endured so much for Ethan's sake. Ethan feels so sorry for you."

"Mom, Ethan was not good, always dragging you down, but if there is a next life, Ethan still wants to be your baby."

"In the next life, Ethan would be a healthy child. Ethan would strive to become a little man, becoming very strong, very strong, to shield his mother from some of the wind and rain."

***

Actually, ordinary children, at three and a half years old, rarely could read and write.

But because Ethan was too precocious, coupled with having a good teacher, Kemp, he was able to recognize some simple Goldwaldian characters at a very early age. After leaving the dungeon, he became even more intelligent and self-taught many Goldwaldian characters.

For the Goldwaldian characters he couldn't write, he substituted with Pinyin. He had already become a somewhat knowledgeable young man.

Ethan had written a lot on this notebook, rambling on and on. There were reminders for Penelope to eat well, take good care of her health, and to be happy, not to be sad for him, just like a little adult.

But most of all, Ethan kept emphasizing over and over again, telling Penelope not to like that bad guy anymore.

Penelope knew that the villain in Ethan's writing was Zackary.

"Mom, that bad man, he wasn't worth your sorrow, let alone your tears."

"Mom, forget about that bad man. My mom is so good, she will definitely find the best man in the world!"

"Mom, once you find the happiness that truly belongs to you, bring my new dad to visit me at my grave, okay? I will be watching over you for you, mom."

"Mom, only when you forget that bad person and live happily, can Ethan down there be at peace."

"Mom, you must be happy!"

Penelope held Ethan's notebook, her vision gradually blurring. Her Ethan, he had so dearly wished for her happiness!

She didn't have many days left, but even if she could only live for one day, she wouldn't let Ethan down. She would be happy and laugh heartily!

In that way, when they reunited underground, she could finally say to Ethan, "Ethan, Mom didn't let you down."

As for Ethan not wanting her to continue liking Zackary...

It seemed, unknowingly, I was no longer that in love.

Once, she thought that Zackary was her forever, her world, her justice. But after being doubted and hurt time and time again, she finally understood that in this world, there is no such thing as a true forever!

That infatuation, it wasn't worth it!

Zack, I didn't love you anymore, I really didn't want to love you anymore. Even if my life was only day and night, I wouldn't love you again, let alone not forget you, Lola.

Just as Penelope was about to close Ethan's notebook, she suddenly noticed that there were a few lines of text on the back cover of his notebook.

"Uncle Kemp, I missed you so much. Where on earth did you go? Why didn't you come to see me and mom?"

"Uncle Kemp, I really wished to hear you sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to me again."

"After I die, could you go to my grave and sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' for me one more time?"

Penelope frantically put Ethan's notebook back into the box, she could no longer control herself, covering her mouth and sobbing quietly.

She had found Kemp, but he was no longer the Uncle Kemp who gently held Ethan in his arms, repeatedly singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to lull him to sleep.

Kemp used to be really, really good to Ethan, even more patient with him than she was with herself.

Ethan had a special fondness for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". She found the song childish and was unwilling to sing it for him. It was always Kemp who patiently sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for him.

Kemp's voice was truly extraordinarily pleasing to the ear, deep and melodious, even more beautiful than the most enchanting cello music in the world. His voice never changed, yet such a pleasing voice could now utter the most heartless words in the world.

Penelope knew that seeking Kemp now would only lead to her own humiliation. Yet, she still wanted to fulfill Ethan's last wish. Even if it meant losing another finger, she was determined to have him sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at Ethan's grave.

Having made up her mind, Penelope changed her clothes, grabbed her purse, and went to the Hunter Group building to find Kemp.

As soon as she opened the door to the small apartment, Penelope saw Zackary standing outside.

Zackary's chin was covered in light blue stubble, and his lower eyelids bore heavy dark circles, as if he hadn't slept for days and nights.

But even so, it did not diminish his handsome face, which was hailed as a once-in-a-thousand-year divine beauty. He only needed to stand here casually, still exuding an air of noble pride, unparalleled in this mundane world.

"Zackary, what did you come here for?!"

Zackary stepped forward, he tightly grasped Penelope's small hand, "Penelope, I'm sorry, I..."

"Ha!"

Penelope laughed, her laughter cold and desolate. His voice continued, "Penelope, I couldn't ignore Lola's life or death, so, under those circumstances, I could only choose Lola!"

Penelope slowly lifted her face, the wound on her forehead had already scabbed over. It was not so clear under the cover of her broken bangs, but at that moment, her face still carried a ghostly severity.

"Couldn't just ignore Lola's life or death... So, my Ethan deserved to die?!"

Zackary rarely backed down, "Penelope, I'm sorry..."

It was another apology...

Penelope found it incredibly hilarious, Ethan's life, a living, breathing life, falling off a cliff, being devoured by wild beasts, dying in utter despair!

The pain and despair that her Ethan had endured, was it all for this casual apology of his?!

Who cares!

"Get out!" Penelope's eyes were blood red as she violently pushed Zackary away. "Zackary, get out of my sight! I never want to see you again in my life!"

Once, there were so many questions I wanted to ask him, such as, why did you have to kill our Ethan, such as, was our own flesh and blood less important than a Lola, such as...

But now, Penelope found, those questions she had been harboring in her heart to confront him with, were ridiculously laughable.

Together, she and Ethan didn't even weigh as much as a single strand of Lola's hair in his heart!

Zackary was in the wrong, he didn't try to stop Penelope anymore. He just stared in the direction Penelope had left, like an old monk in meditation.

No longer being bothered by Zackary, Penelope smoothly arrived at the underground garage of the Hunter Group building.

It was quite a coincidence, she had just entered the garage when she saw Kemp's car, and at that moment, he happened to be in the car.